Woman steps out to get DoorDash order only to be immediately asked how much she tipped. Then the driver insisted the 20% tip was not enough

A recent interaction between a customer and a delivery driver restarted the debate about tipping culture. Nicole Townsend (nicolebreaksitdown) took to Instagram and TikTok to share her confusion about what she thought was a good tip after an order from Panda Express. As she asked in the caption, “What the heck are people tipping delivery drivers these days?!?” The video resonated with many and has already racked up over 200K views in a few days.

In her video, Nicole claimed, “My DoorDash driver just got on to me saying I didn’t tip enough. This is. Tell me if I’m in the wrong here. I saw her pulling down my driveway, so I went outside to meet her to get my order. I go, hi. And she immediately looks at me and says, ‘How much did you tip?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I. 20% is what I usually click on.’” The driver wasn’t satisfied with that answer. 

According to Nicole, the driver pressed further: “No, not percentage. How much did you tip?” Nicole was confused, stating, “‘Ma’am, I don’t know what that would be. I clicked on 20%. Did it not go through?’ The driver allegedly insisted on checking her phone, and then told Nicole, “You tipped $6.” Still confused, Nicole responded, “‘Okay, that would have been 20% of my order. Did you not get the tip?’ Then the driver bluntly replied, “That is not enough.”

The cost of delivery

Nicole alleged, “She said, ‘You got me driving out here, and that’s all you tip? You should tip more.’ And she just stared at me. I just looked at her. I’m like, I’m not going to my wallet. I said, ‘Thank you. Have a good Day.’ And I just went inside, and she drives off and I. I don’t know how to process this.” It should be noted that this is just Nicole’s version of events and shouldn’t be treated as verifiable fact.

Nicole then explained what was throwing her off. “I know tipping culture is out of control for those of you who are about to say that, but am I really in the wrong here? Are you supposed to be tipping more than 20% of your order for a DoorDash driver?” 

She explained her rationale behind tipping. Nicole explained, “Because in my eyes, if I go to a restaurant, I’m tipping 20% and they’re waiting on me, they’re bringing me drinks, and they are waiting on me while I’m in a restaurant. So it seems proper if they’re bringing me my food to do the same amount. I wouldn’t imagine that would be too low. This whole thing just blows my mind.” Interestingly, a food reviewer asked a similar question after he was called out on a 14% tip.

Most of the commenters sided with Nicole. One user on TikTok suggested, “I’ve been a DoorDash driver before and six dollars is an average tip. I don’t think you did anything wrong.” Another commenter on Instagram pointed out, “She saw the amount before she took the order and chose to take it.” 

Others were even more critical of the driver’s behavior, with one person writing, “That’s unacceptable. 20% is the top level tip. That’s the job she signed up for.” As one TikToker shared recently, a 20% tip once had the server thanking her multiple times.

According to an article by Delish, there is no single rule of thumb for tipping. However, many experts and drivers agree that the traditional percentage-based model we use at restaurants doesn’t always translate perfectly to delivery apps. 

National etiquette expert Diane Gottsman told Delish that while there isn’t one right answer, a tip should be a “fair and respectful gesture.” She suggests that factors like distance, weather, and the effort required to make the delivery, like carrying heavy bags or navigating a complex building, should influence the tip.

Some delivery drivers echoed this sentiment, arguing that distance is the most important factor. One TikTok user explained, “As a dasher, it’s not recommended to tip based on your order percentage. It’s better to tip based on your mileage away from the restaurant and then double it. If you live 5 miles away it should be a $10 tip, regardless of what you ordered.” 

Whether you agree with tipping by percentage or distance, the consensus seems to be that a confrontation at the doorstep is never the right way to handle it. As one commenter put it, “I’m happy to tip but I’m certainly not going to be arguing with someone about how much I’m tipping. That’s crazy.”