How the DoorDash tip-swiping policy is even worse than it appears

DoorDash defaults customers to a 15% “tip” which is in fact a voluntary additional payment to the company.

The internet is raging over DoorDash’s indefensible system of swiping tips customers intended to give to delivery workers. (They way their system works: when a customer tips more, the company just pays less — so in effect, the customer is tipping the company.)

But there’s something that makes it even worse: the way DoorDash presents it all to the customer. Customers don’t just “add” a tip: DoorDash in fact sets customers to a default 15% tip. Leave that at the default of 15%, and it adds $0 to what the worker gets paid.

It’s a remarkably manipulative way to use social engineering and misleading design to default customers to giving a free 15% contribution to the company in the guise of a “tip” that doesn’t add a penny to what workers get paid for the job. Instead, DoorDash does what it can pay just $1/per job — yes, their base pay is just $1 — as often as possible.

Swiping tips is bad enough. Making it the default is even worse.