So.... I see we can now choose DoorDash drivers for online delivery orders. And that the price is $6.99 for 3-5 miles. That’s cool. However you don’t mention what the price is for 0-3 miles. So, can I assume that is free delivery? LOL. Or should I assume we can’t get delivery for 0-3 miles through DoorDash? I’m confused, obviously.
Thanks,m
Chip
Hey @TheRealChipA! 🌟
Good to see you around the Seller Community.
I've seen the following sellers mention using DoorDash with Square Online:
@tyler @anhmazingfood @vhovar @GeorgeX @ryanwanner @PitmasterPaul
Perhaps they can provide some valuable information about DoorDash pricing and use. If not - I'll circle back with some research of my own.
@anhmazingfood So if your assumption is correct, then it’s just the wording on the Square Online web page that is misleading. They are probably saying that $6.99 is a flat fee, no matter the distance. And, that the maximum delivery radius is between 3 and 5 miles. If so, that makes sense, and someone needs to reword it to make it more English-like.
Instead of “$6.99 flat fee for eligible deliveries within 3-5 miles driving distance” maybe it should say “Flat delivery fee of $6.99; delivery radius of 3-5 miles depending on restaurant location.”
That would remove some confusion, I think. Thanks for the reply.
@vhovar I use DoorDash in two ways — as a merchant on their app, and as one of my delivery partners for orders through my Square Online store. I agree that the added cost of being on their app can be very prohibitive. In my case, I actually increase my prices through DoorDash and UberEats apps to help make up some of that cost. The rest I consider a marketing cost because I get orders from people I would not otherwise see, and some of them even become regular in-person customers. Still that kind of delivery is not for everyone, and it doesn’t always make sense for all business models.
These days, I’m pushing my guests to place delivery orders through my Square online store, and using either Postmates or DoorDash to deliver them. I tell guests that the delivery fees will be higher, because I’m only willing to eat 50% of those fees. And I remind them that delivery is not free, nor cheap, and that the big national delivery companies have lied to and spoiled them into believing it is free and/or cheap. Delivery is an expensive way to eat, and should be treated as such, not as a primary way to feed your family. Slowly that is sinking in.
Delivery product quality? First anyone who expects delivery food/beverages to arrive in perfect, white-tablecloth condition needs their head examined. It won’t happen. I’ve had my share of complaints about broken over-easy eggs. My go-to response these days is “learn to cook eggs yourself.” LOL. Before the pandemic I knew that some people were crazy. Since the pandemic, I’ve realized that most people are crazy, and that the customer isn’t even close to always being right. Ha.
Next year we will be dropping the food portion of our business and greatly expanding the frozen treats line. So we won’t do delivery anymore precisely for the reason you probably don’t — it doesn’t make sense to delivery ice cream, shakes, ice cream cakes, etc. My recommendation is never feel pressured to do something that doesn’t make sense for you. Your products are not made for delivery, really, just like my new business model won’t be.
As my husband always says, “just because you can do a thing, doesn’t mean that you should do a thing.”
Good luck. I hope you’re weathering the madness of 2020 as well as you can.
Chip
PS — If you DO decide to dip your toes in the delivery waters with DoorDash or UberEats, etc, DO NOT pay anyone to integrate your orders into Square. It is very expensive to have a computer do something that you can probably do for the few delivery orders you will get, especially at first. It is a needless expense unless you are getting LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of delivery orders. Key them in on your Square POS yourself, at least at first. My recommendation would be to set up your Square Online store to accept delivery orders, split the delivery costs with your customers or make them pay all of those costs, and use either of the current delivery partner options (Postmates or DoorDash) to deliver them for you. It’s a good way to see how your customers even feel about delivery.
