Published on May 28, 2025
Let’s get one thing straight. Tipping used to mean something. It was a “thank you” for going above and beyond. Staying late, smiling through the stress, making the moment better. It wasn’t a mandatory surcharge layered on top of an app transaction like a guilt tax. But that’s exactly where we are now, and delivery apps like DoorDash are leading the charge into this entitled abyss.
The Setup
You open an app, order a burrito, and boom—before the driver has even picked it up, you’re being asked to tip. Based on what? Mind reading? Teleportation? I haven’t seen the food, I haven’t interacted with anyone, and yet I’m expected to fork over 25% in advance “just because.”
It’s not about being cheap. It’s about common sense. If the driver is already being paid above minimum wage—and many are, thanks to surge pricing and incentives—then no, a tip is not automatically owed. This isn’t 1950s table service. This is gig work. Flexible hours, no boss breathing down your neck, and the freedom to take or reject orders.
Let’s Talk Numbers
The average DoorDash delivery driver in the U.S. earns somewhere between $15 and $25 an hour depending on the market, mileage, and order volume. That’s already well above the federal minimum wage. Meanwhile, I’m on the hook for a service fee, a delivery fee, and the food itself. And now I’m supposed to tip like I’m dining at a white tablecloth steakhouse?
Add all the fees together, and that $12 burger just became $22—with a polite little screen nudging me to toss in a few more bucks… “to support your Dasher.” It’s not support. It’s pressure.
Manipulated Generosity
These apps design their interfaces to make “no tip” feel like a crime. Want to skip the tip? Fine. We’ll gray it out, bury it in the “custom” tab, or hit you with a pop-up asking, “Are you sure?” It’s not an ask—it’s emotional extortion.
Let me be crystal clear: if a delivery is quick, accurate, courteous, and actually does exceed expectations, I have no problem tipping. But I won’t be shamed into it by UX design or an app built to gamify generosity for corporate gain.
Respect Works Both Ways
Gig workers deserve fair compensation, no question. But respect is a two-way street. Don’t expect automatic praise for doing the minimum. You’re not a hero for handing me my Chick-fil-A at the door and texting “enjoy.” You’re doing a job—one you chose. That deserves baseline courtesy, not a forced donation.
If tipping is truly optional, then stop designing systems that punish people for skipping it. Don’t pay workers below livable wages and expect the customer to cover the gap. That’s not a tip. That’s wage laundering.
The Bottom Line
Want a tip? Earn it. The rest of us are over being nickel-and-dimed to death by middleman apps pretending they’re small businesses. I’m not anti-worker. I’m anti-bullshit. Big difference.
Until the system gets honest about what tipping is—and isn’t—I’ll continue tipping the old-school way: based on service, not on app pop-ups and pressure tactics.
Like this post? Share it, comment below, or just keep tipping with intention instead of obligation.
Past The Static 