- Some delivery drivers are shaming customers who leave tips that they think are too small.
- DoorDash said it's looking into a TikTok video that appears to show a delivery driver complaining about a $5 tip.
DoorDash said Monday it's looking into a video that appears to show a delivery driver complaining about a $5 tip.
The video was posted by Tiktok user Ethan Melillo, whose username is millennialrx. It shows a screenshot of an apparent text message from a DoorDash delivery driver.
"Nice house," the text message reads. "Thanks for the 5$ for 20 min ride."
Melillo did not immediately respond to a request from Insider for comment on the video. DoorDash told Insider that it was looking into the video.
The video comes as debate rages over tipping in the US. Many people say tipping culture is "out of control," and they are tired of being asked for tips at every point of purchase — even self-checkout counters. Some workers, meanwhile, are becoming more vocal about gratuity that they think is too stingy.
DoorDash recently fired a driver after he was caught on camera complaining about a customer's $5 tip on a $20 order. The driver cursed and said: "It's a nice house for a $5 tip." In a statement on the firing, DoorDash said, "respectfully asking for a tip is acceptable but abusing or harassing someone is never acceptable."
In some cases, delivery workers have been asking for higher tips before customers even get a hold of their orders, as Insider reported in May.
@millennialrx @DoorDash tipping going too far? #doordash #doordashdriver #tipculture #tipping #tip #tips #food #trending #fyp #millennialrx ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
As questions swirl around tipping etiquette, Insider asked more than a dozen drivers what they consider to be a good tip.
The drivers generally agreed that the baseline for a good tip is between 15% to 20% of the total bill — including taxes and fees. Some drivers said, however, that customers should boost pay even more for longer routes.
Some DoorDash drivers have told Insider that they are highly dependent on tips for their earnings.
DoorDash told Insider that base pay "generally ranges from $2 to $10 per order, depending on various factors including the estimated duration, distance, and desirability of the order." With tips and base pay, DoorDash said on average, Dashers make $25 per hour on active deliveries.
"Dashers on our platform are earning more today than ever before on delivery and have earned more per active hour every year for the past four years," DoorDash told Insider.
Are you a delivery driver and have a story to share? Contact retail@insider.com.