FOLIO
Submission by “The Razer”
Food delivery services have continued to grow over the last five years after becoming so popular during the pandemic. It was the easiest way to stay socially distanced and the safest way to avoid exposure. DoorDash reports that 86% of Americans order food delivery on a third-party app at least twice a month. That’s quite a bit jump from 2019. Apparently, food delivery services have grown by an average of 17% year over year since 2020.
We wanted to hear from someone about their experience being a delivery driver. We found a woman we will refer to as “The Razer” who has been delivering for a few years now, here is what she had to say.
Whether delivering food is a side hustle or full-time job, any dasher would agree: There is cash to collect! Sounds too good to be true: work any time of day and get daily payouts! Customers are the management in the dashing world. Ratings hold dashers accountable, and the higher ratings unlock better offers and larger payouts. Dashing is like a video game, playing to unlock rewards and level up to reach platinum status while making money. Being over 21 to deliver alcohol is a bonus and accepting shopping orders helps get higher offers.
I was introduced to “Dashing” right after Christmas last year. Originally, I laughed at the thought, but once I downloaded the app it felt more like fun! Within three weeks, I quickly climbed the ladder reaching platinum level. I was constantly toggling between the earnings and ratings tab, relishing in my 5-star reviews. As a side note, I made six figures in 2023 and again in 2024 working at a local hospital. Dashing is purely a side hustle. It felt exciting and I started making risky driving decisions. Making random U-turns due to poor GSP signals on drop-offs or speeding to make deliveries faster. I learned a great deal about traffic light sequences in different areas of town. I guiltily ran yellow lights and made a few accidental curb hops. No matter what, my main objective would be to get the food or items to the drop-off faster than the expected time. Several times I received additional tips for fast service which boosted my ego further.
I discovered amazing restaurants in Jacksonville: Mr Flounder, Hook Fish and Chicken, Huey Magoos and Belle Vista to name a few. I realized not all people treat dashers well and the side of town you dash on often determines whether you will be tipped appropriately or not. I have been disrespected by disgruntled managers at local fast-food chains for errors they made with orders. Certain store employees completely ignore dashers and appear to despise us for keeping them so busy. I wonder to myself how they would react to knowing what I did at the hospital all day. Too many of these fast-food workers act like they have such a hard job. I’m literally saving lives, and they are irritable about making food orders. Then there are the customers who think we are getting some giant pay out from DoorDash to bring them food at 1 a.m. and do not tip at all. Tipping three dollars for a gallon of gas is the minimum one would expect. Overall, it has been an adventure, and my side of town never disappoints. Dinner and lunch rush hour is always hot.
With a dash here and a dash there, I will continue my quest to add another 30k to my earnings in 2025. Paying for gas, tires and oil changes is inevitable and now it’s tax write-off! While I don’t think it’s an ideal permanent job, dashing earns fast cash, and the pros outweigh the cons so far! So even though you don’t really need that Taco Bell at 2 a.m. or that wine from Walgreens, I’m happy to go get it for you!
Just don’t forget to leave the light on!
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