Dasher Diary: The Never Ending Mixed Messages in Amarillo

One of the things I love about DoorDashing in Amarillo is all of the great stories I get to tell. When I tell people I deliver food I also tell them that it gives me a lot of stories and I love it. I get to spend time meeting new people which is another part I like about it. Again the stories.

When I am out dashing I run into a lot of other people doing the same thing I am. We exchange horror stories. We discuss the great restaurants that we pick up from. We mention some of the nightmare customers and vice versa. There are always stories.

Oh and then there are mixed messages. The main one I get is when I pick up food and go to drop it off and I am instructed to hand it to them. Ok, I just think this is always an awkward exchange. I don't know why. I prefer to leave it at the door because then I have to take a picture of the food at their front door. That one picture is proof that I delivered. So I feel that I have some protection.

On a hand it to me order you just click the button that says you handed it directly to the customer. No proof. No protection. So a lot of times I try to snap a photo just in case. When you get a hand-it-to-me order there is nothing worse than receiving a message when you arrive like this. A door that is not very welcoming.

OK, there is nothing really wrong with the door. There is an issue when you are supposed to hand it to the customer and there is a note on the doorknob like this:

What am I supposed to do in that situation? This happens a lot when delivering to a hotel. I get a lot of hand-it-to-me orders and then the nice note on the door to not disturb them. This is the first time it happened at a house.

So when I get mixed messages like this I make sure I protect myself. I don't want to get dinged from the customer or DoorDash. So I take a photo and text it over to the customer. I leave it at the door. I do not disturb them but I make sure I have proof I delivered it.

I am ok with everyone wanting us to leave their food at the door. I really am. Just don't tell me to hand it to you and then tell me when I get there to not knock or ring the door. Make one decision and leave it at that, please.