8 years DoorDashing & I take $3 orders

@terranlikekaren

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SoundTikTok sound · Touchin’ (Instrumental)

Promoted product

DoorDash

Why it worked

The creator shares practical, actionable advice for gig workers, framed within a relatable "day in the life" narrative. The content is educational and offers a unique perspective on a common problem, encouraging viewers to think critically about their own strategies.

Summary

A DoorDash driver explains their strategy for accepting orders, emphasizing that low-value offers should be evaluated based on efficiency and potential for future orders, not just the immediate payout. They advocate for understanding market dynamics and personal business goals over simply chasing mileage.

Structure

1Introduction to accepting low-value orders
2Analyzing the first $3.75 order
3Analyzing the second $3.50 order
4Explaining the strategy behind accepting low-value orders
5The importance of efficiency and future opportunities
6Concluding with market knowledge as the key strategy

Product placement

DoorDash (app): Acts - used to receive and manage delivery orders. Removing it would change the video's subject. Starbucks (store): Appears - a pickup location for a delivery order. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. Speedway (store): Appears - a pickup location for a delivery order. Removing it would not change what happens in the video.

Original caption

After almost 8 years of DoorDash, I’ve learned that a “bad order” isn’t always as simple as the dollar amount on the screen. 👀 I’m looking at the restaurant, time, mileage, drop-off location, what’s around me AFTER the delivery, and how the order fits into my overall hour. I don’t need you to take the orders I take. I need you to understand why you’re taking the orders YOU take. 💯 Learn your market. Build your strategy. #doordash #doordasher #doordashdelivery #doordashdriver

More from @terranlikekaren

On-screen text

8 years DoorDashing & I take $3 orders I'M A DOORDASHER AND YES, THREE DOLLAR OFFER. BEFORE Y'ALL START HARD ON ME I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE ORDER. $3.75 Guaranteed (incl. tips) 1.0 mi - 7 min Pickup Starbucks Customer dropoff Accept $3.75 DOOR DASH IS ESTIMATING THAT IT TAKES SEVEN MINUTES TO COMPLETE. THIS STARBUCKS, I KNOW HOW THEY MOVE AND WHERE THIS ORDER IS TAKING ME. NOW THIS ONE, $3.50 Guaranteed (incl. tips) 3.6 mi - 14 min Pickup Speedway Customer dropoff Accept THREE DOLLARS AND 3.6 MILES. ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT BOTH OF THESE ORDERS ARE LIKE THREE BUCKS. WHY AM I DECLINING ONE AND ACCEPTING THE OTHER ONE? CAUSE I'M NOT THINKING OF IT AS JUST SOME THREE DOLLAR NON-TIPPED ORDER. I'M THINKING ABOUT MY ENTIRE HOUR. I CAN KNOCK THIS ORDER OUT IN SEVEN MINUTES, PROBABLY FIVE. AND A CLUSTER OF RESTAURANTS POSITION TO CATCH ANOTHER ORDER. YEAH, I'M TAKING AND 75 CENT ORDER IS LOOKING REAL GOOD FOR MY BUSINESS. AND HERE'S ANOTHER THING I THINK MOST DASHERS DON'T DOOR DASH CAN SEND ANOTHER ORDER WHILE I'M ON THIS ONE. SO LET'S SAY I ACCEPT THIS $3.75 ORDER AND THEN DOOR DASH TURNS AROUND AND SENDS ME SIX DOLLAR ORDER GOING ADDITIONAL TWO NOW I'M NOT LOOKING AT IT AS ANOTHER $3.75 TIP ORDER. LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE DELIVERY OPPORTUNITY. MAKING 9.75. ORDERS I'M COMPLETED TWO ORDERS. GET THEM DONE EFFICIENTLY, THEN I'M STILL IN POSITION TO CATCH ANOTHER ORDER. REALLY CARE ABOUT NOW. IS DOOR DASH GUARANTEED TO SEND ME ANOTHER STACK? ABSOLUTELY NOT. HAVE TO KNOW ORDER IS GONNA MAKE SENSE REGARDLESS IF THEY SEND YOU ANOTHER ONE. BUT THAT'S WHY AUTOMATICALLY DECLINE EVERY ORDER THAT SAYS $3. THE PAY OUT, THE MILES, I'M LOOKING AT THE RESTAURANT. I'M KNOWING THEIR RESTAURANT PATTERN, IS TAKING ME CAN GET ANOTHER DROP IT OFF. ONCE THAT ORDER IS SECURED IN MY CAR, BAG, I'M THINKING ABOUT MY NEXT OPPORTUNITY EVERY TIME. I'M NOT SITTING HERE GETTING EMOTIONAL IF THE CUSTOMER TIPPED OR DIDN'T THE OFFER DOESN'T MOVE ON. AFTER DOING EIGHT YEARS OF DOOR DASH, $2 A MILE IS NOT MY PRIMARY STRATEGY. IS NOT MY PRIMARY STRATEGY. WHAT IS MY PRIMARY STRATEGY IS KNOWING MY MARKETS. ME WRONG, MILEAGE IS A IT'S JUST NOT THE WHOLE FORMULA. YOU DON'T HAVE ORDERS I TAKE. ORDERS THAT MAKE SENSE FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR MARKET. GIRL T WITH A T. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME DOORDASHERS GAIN CLARITY ON THEIR EMOTIONS. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. PEACE.

Transcript

I'm a DoorDasher and yes, three dollar offer. Before y'all start hard on me, I want you to look at the order. $3.75 Guaranteed (incl. tips) 1.0 mi - 7 min Pickup Starbucks Customer dropoff. Accept. $3.75. DoorDash is estimating that it takes seven minutes to complete. This Starbucks, I know how they move and where this order is taking me. Now this one, $3.50 Guaranteed (incl. tips) 3.6 mi - 14 min Pickup Speedway Customer dropoff. Accept. Three dollars and 3.6 miles. Absolutely not. But both of these orders are like three bucks. Why am I declining one and accepting the other one? Cause I'm not thinking of it as just some three dollar non-tipped order. I'm thinking about my entire hour. I can knock this order out in seven minutes, probably five. And a cluster of restaurants position to catch another order. Yeah, I'm taking and 75 cent order is looking real good for my business. And here's another thing I think most Dashers don't DoorDash can send another order while I'm on this one. So let's say I accept this $3.75 order and then DoorDash turns around and sends me six dollar order going additional two. Now I'm not looking at it as another $3.75 tip order. Looking at the entire delivery opportunity. Making 9.75. Orders. I'm completed two orders. Get them done efficiently, then I'm still in position to catch another order. Really care about now is DoorDash guaranteed to send me another stack? Absolutely not. Have to know order is gonna make sense regardless if they send you another one. But that's why I automatically decline every order that says $3. The payout, the miles, I'm looking at the restaurant. I'm knowing their restaurant pattern, is taking me can get another drop it off. Once that order is secured in my car, bag, I'm thinking about my next opportunity every time. I'm not sitting here getting emotional if the customer tipped or didn't. The offer doesn't make sense for my business. Move on. After doing eight years of DoorDash, $2 a mile is not my primary strategy. Is not my primary strategy. What is my primary strategy is knowing my markets. Me wrong, mileage is a it's just not the whole formula. You don't have orders I take. Orders that make sense for your business and your market. Girl T with a T. For those of you who don't know me, DoorDashers gain clarity on their emotions. I'll see you tomorrow. Peace.