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Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

nytimes.com

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Re: Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

#201

Post by 8ytecoder »

WrtCdEvrydy wrote: post #180
Tactic wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have spoke up in similar situations several times at a number of companies. Not once was what I said a revelation or surprise. The business people knew already what the possible results would be. They had assessed it and decided to move on regardless. Clearly the potential results were worth the risk in their assessment. I have learned that my code of ethics are just not the same as a number of business persons'. T…

Unfortunately, we reward bad behavior by not having the hammer be swung down hard and fast. Look at the ridesharing companies, all of them started by defying local laws. Couple of people get assaulted here and there, doesn't matter as long as Silicon Valley gets it's money.

And riders get their cheap rides. Why are we not blaming the customers who can simply choose an alternative even if it's less convenient. We don't need Uber or Lyft or Instacart or Door dash. Why are these companies even in business after breaking laws repeatedly and with impunity? May be there lies the answer. If customers don't care enough to put a dent why would the business people care about it?

Re: Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

#202

Post by gene91 »

rconti wrote: post #104

I've never used Instacart, but I've used GrubHub and DoorDash and the like a couple of times -- I can never remember which one I have an account for, or which one has the restaurant I want, so it's always a hodgepodge. But one thing is clear as day. When I use DoorDash, the tip box says "100% of tip goes to Dasher". Look, I know all of these places either charge me a service fee, or if I'm not being charged a service…

But isn't this exactly what happens when a charity allows you to specify how your donation gets used, or when a government calls for vote on a new tax that will benefit only X (e.g. education)?

I don't have any proof. But I have always assumed that this is the case. I hope I'm wrong. But I don't see why a charity or a government wouldn't do this.

Re: Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

#205

Post by ErikVandeWater »

crushcrashcrush wrote: post #4

This is a great example in my opinion of the apathy we need to combat as technologists. Why did NO ONE in any meetings when designing this "feature" or process say anything? "This is wrong/greedy/will have blowback." No one voiced concerns? Or, more specifically, if they did, no one listened? They didn't think this would leak out, with all the hatred regarding wage stagnation, income inequality, corporate greed? A ma…

Blame the biggest VCs. They have enough market power and smarts to enforce ethics on their portfolio companies, but probably encourage these ideas.

Re: Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

#206

Post by greenleafjacob »

paulgb wrote: post #32
skrowl wrote: post #10

Just tip $0 in the app and tip in cash, just like Uber / Lyft

Speaking of Uber/Lyft, do we have any verification that they aren't doing this? I would expect them to take a 2-3% cut to cover the card processing cost but hope that the rest goes to the driver.

Service fees are not charged on tips to drivers [1].

[1] https://www.uber.com/drive/partner-app/how-tips-work/

Re: Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

#207

Post by airstrike »

dba7dba wrote: post #158
airstrike wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an MBA, I really take issue with this cynicism of MBA programs. It's not like we're cold greedy bastards. Stop generalizing. People can make great and terrible decisions, regardless of grad school degree choice.

Someone signed off on that feature that stole $4 from a $5 tip given to a person making minimum wage. Was that person an MBA graduate or not?

Let's blame all males if that was their gender too!

Re: Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

#208

Post by dv_dt »

8ytecoder wrote: post #201
WrtCdEvrydy wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, we reward bad behavior by not having the hammer be swung down hard and fast. Look at the ridesharing companies, all of them started by defying local laws. Couple of people get assaulted here and there, doesn't matter as long as Silicon Valley gets it's money.

And riders get their cheap rides. Why are we not blaming the customers who can simply choose an alternative even if it's less convenient. We don't need Uber or Lyft or Instacart or Door dash. Why are these companies even in business after breaking laws repeatedly and with impunity? May be there lies the answer. If customers don't care enough to put a dent why would the business people care about it?

The customers don't have perfect information of a company's full behavior and dealings. Fully checking every company you ever interact with would be exhausting and nonproductive - so people rely on news and word of mouth, but even then the information doesn't reach every potential customer.

Companies that facilitate business checking, have their own problems too. E.g. yelp, BBB, et al.

Re: Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

#209

Post by nerdponx »

geoelectric wrote: post #185
rconti wrote: post #104

I've never used Instacart, but I've used GrubHub and DoorDash and the like a couple of times -- I can never remember which one I have an account for, or which one has the restaurant I want, so it's always a hodgepodge. But one thing is clear as day. When I use DoorDash, the tip box says "100% of tip goes to Dasher". Look, I know all of these places either charge me a service fee, or if I'm not being charged a service…

I quit tipping on DD as soon as I found this out about a month ago because it'd almost always be less than $4.50, so wouldn't affect the dasher's bottom line anyway. If I start again it'll be cash, but I don't typically carry that in small bills. But I'm pissed . I've been a heavy DD customer for years and I'm an excellent tipper. Apparently I've been offsetting DD's costs for quite awhile now thinking "100% goes to…

Isn't this typically the job of an Attorney General?

Re: Instacart and DoorDash’s Tip Policies Are Delivering Outrage

#210

Post by ilaksh »

crushcrashcrush wrote: post #11
jonknee wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why did NO ONE in any meetings when designing this "feature" or process say anything? Who's to say someone didn't? All we know is they decided to steal tips, not that everyone thought it was a great idea.

I address that later in my comment... Is this a function of schooling? MBA programs? Corporatism?

Its a function of money. The people who make the decisions (CEO, board) are judged on how much money the company makes. They are paid based on it. They keep their job only if they make more money.

Basically imagine you are an investor who spent $70 million on this company. That money could represent anything. Money can be used for anything so people can imagine it will all be used for altruistic purposes if they want. Sometimes a portion of it is. It can represent 50 or 500 or 5000 people who are counting on that money to grow.

The point being, it is very easy for a person in charge of a large sum of money to come up with a moral justification for maintaining or increasing that sum of money. The least of which is keeping their job or social standing -- but that one alone is usually enough for people to justify many things.

In this case, they will probably just say something like "well, its not our responsibility to make sure that people earn a good wage". In the end, the only thing they are really being held accountable for is how much money they make.

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