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Comment by JeremyBanks | Hacker News Reader

I used to use DoorDash, and tipped very well since I knew the workers could really use it.

And then I learned that the company has been stealing tips from the workers who need it, so that they can make their finances look better in anticipation of this IPO.

https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/8/20/20825937/doordash-tippi...

I haven't used the service since.

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I don't really know the precise details, but I'm pretty sure their pay model changed after the backlash(and being sued) to the tip-stealing.

Still, I wouldn't choose DoorDash unless it was the only option in my area. When I was driving for GrubHub I met a lot of other delivery drivers and everyone considered DoorDash to be the the worst in terms of treatment of drivers. In other words, bad support and tip stealing. We referred to it as "DoorTrash" or "PoorDash" for that reason. Postmates has pretty much nonexistent driver support but at least they didn't steal tips and it was pretty difficult to get fired from it randomly.

A company that would allow that in the first place should not be trusted later on, claiming they "fixed it". It's such a clear violation of ethics and morals. I don't get how a corporation can literally steal money from it's employees, say it's "sorry" and it "fixed the problem" and get off freely.

Well spending millions of dollars on Prop 22 ensured that they're technically not "employees"

The "technically" in that sentence is the evil part of their argument, IMO.

I'm pretty sure an organization willing to play with that sort of dark pattern has any number of other dark patterns in the wings.

They eventually changed it but they defended their behavior repeatedly as if it was fine and not exploitative to their delivery drivers.

Very much agreed; while I try to avoid food delivery services as much as I can (knowing drivers are generally making sub-minimum wage after vehicle depreciation) this brazenness of DoorDash's tip garnishing is a bit of a black mark on YC. I won't even take DD up on the "free meal" promos they're running in my city.

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