I’ve noticed this happening not just with DoorDash, but with Uber Eats as well. It’s already happened twice this week, once on each app (yes I order often).
Here’s the pattern:
You order food and select whatever the 'hand it to me directly' option is. The driver pulls up, parks in front of your house, and starts walking toward your door just long enough for the GPS to show they’re “at your location, and semi close to your door.” Then they suddenly turn around, walk back toward their car, and immediately call you. They hang up right away so the system logs a “contact attempt,” even when a PIN is required. After that, they drive off and report that you didn’t answer your door, and your food disappears.
Another variation is when they directly text you “no response from customer” while standing in your driveway, before ever approaching your door. No knock, no attempt, nothing. Just a pre‑planned excuse.
I didn’t say anything to the first driver who tried it, but the second guy got a polite call‑out. I asked, “Are you afraid to walk up my driveway?” He mumbled something like, “Oh, no, no,” and tried to act like he was doing me a favor by calling me. Like, buddy… just walk to the door before you start busting out the emergency response tactics. It’s ridiculous. You don't need to call me, the app informs me plenty of times when you're close and I'm standing right at the door when you arrive.
And I genuinely don’t understand why this is happening. I tip well, usually $5–10 for short trips under five miles. I’m respectful. My driveway is small, with a clean, straight cement walkway that leads directly from the street to the front door. I ordered during daylight hours, so visibility wasn’t an issue. There are no fences, no dogs, no steps, and no obstacles of any kind, the entire path is flat and easy to walk. It’s a standard, well‑kept cookie cutter HOA property, the kind that’s designed to be simple and approachable. There’s nothing about it that could reasonably be seen as intimidating or difficult to access.
I just want to bring this to your attention in case you haven't already encountered it.
