u/Oogie-Boogie-6:

Last weekend some friends and I were in New Orleans and ordered in one night. I got the message from my dasher that they were outside, but when I went out to get my food the guy was being a little aggressive saying “You seriously ordered from a place near Bourbon st?? You know they close that road down at night. You’re lucky I’m familiar with the area and got it for you. Most people would have seen that and canceled your order”.

I told him I wasn’t from the area and honestly had no idea where the restaurant was located, just that I wanted the food from there. I took my food and told him to have a good night. I felt a little bad, but my friends assured me he was just trying to get me to tip him more than the 20% I already left.

A couple of days ago it was 4am on a Monday and I couldn’t sleep, so I put myself available to dash. I deliver by bike and I live downtown, so most trips are short and easy.

I accepted an order without looking and it turned out I had to pick up at a location 3Km away. Sigh. I get to the store, pick up the order, and the app tells me I have to bike another 5Km away from home to get to the client! Between the pickup, delivery and coming back it would be around 14Km.

I’m new at Dashing but I now understand I should have contacted support and refused this trip because it was $4 pay and $1 for the tip, heck, I would have paid for the hamburger and eat it myself. On the upside the route takes me along a beautiful canal, there’s a full moon and the night is beautiful, so when I arrive I’m no longer fuming at the client.

I leave at the door as per instructions and as I’m taking the photo a young fellow comes out and says thank you. I say “You’re welcome” and turn around to leave. I know better now than to make a fuzz about tips (it won’t get you one) but I couldn’t resist turning back and saying “you know, that was a very long trip for a $1 tip”. And the guy just kinda chuckles nervously and closes the door. But I wasn’t really looking for a complimentary tip.

I think, what a Dasher wants in that circumstance an acknowledgement for going beyond duty. It’s on us if we accept bad trips (even if by mistake). It’s like signing a bad contract. But a little acknowledgement goes a long way.

If you told the guy “Oh, I had no idea it was so complicated picking up from that street, you’re right I was lucky to have someone who knows the city, thanks for your effort I appreciate it” he would have left with a smile on his face. I know it’s super difficult to be kind to someone who is mad at you and these kind of reactions are difficult to have at the spur of the moment (usually we get defensive), I’m just conveying an experience I can relate to.

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