Thanks to a partnership between DoorDash and Walmart, some Walmart orders are now delivered by DoorDash—and Uber Eats, too. Convenient, right?
But there’s a problem: Many DoorDash drivers hate doing Walmart orders. Take one visit to the DoorDash subreddit you’ll see daily posts like these by drivers complaining about Walmart orders.
- “Walmart orders are making me lose money”
- “I decline all Walmart orders”
- “200 items up to a 3rd story apartment and no tip”
- “Just remember, Somewhere in the world right now….someone is on a $3 Walmart order”
The disdain for Walmart orders is so strong that some drivers even request to block all Walmart orders (pic).
So what are the main complaints from drivers? Low pay, slow service at Walmart, infrequent tipping, and simply too much work for too little money.
Just check out these estimated payouts to see why drivers are upset: $3-$5 to spend 30+ minutes hauling heavy groceries, with no guaranteed tip. Normal food deliveries are faster, easier, and typically pay more.
Haul 43 items for $5 with no guarantee of a tip. Would you accept?
It’s clear that DoorDash drivers don’t like Walmart orders. To get to the root of the issue, let’s look at how Walmart orders on DoorDash work, and what DoorDash and Walmart can do to improve the situation.
How the pickup and delivery process works for Walmart orders on DoorDash
Here’s what the overall delivery process looks like for a Walmart order:
- Accept or decline the Walmart order request
- Navigate to the Walmart pickup area
- Wait for Walmart employee to load the order into the car
- Navigate to the customer
- Drop off the order at the customer’s door
Walmart orders might not look too different from a typical DoorDash food delivery, but the problems lie in the execution.
Problems with the DoorDash/Walmart delivery process
A Walmart order request looks similar to other requests: Drivers see the location of the Walmart, the customer drop off location, and a payout amount that includes a base payout and any electronic tip.
Walmart customers can now tip when they place an order, and DoorDash updated the Dasher app to include tips in the overall estimated payout on the order request screen.
A lot of complaints are with the pickup experience. Drivers say that pickup areas can be disorganized, and wait times vary wildly. It’s not supposed to take more than 5 minutes to get the groceries, but DoorDash drivers regularly report that it can take 20+ minutes.
Drop offs are another point of friction for drivers: Food deliveries are typically just a light bag or two, but Walmart orders can contain dozens of heavy items that must be hauled to the customer’s door.
Imagine taking several trips to the car to haul cases of water up the stairs at an apartment complex. It’s a lot more work than a food delivery for the same, or sometimes less, pay.
6 stops? This is more like a UPS delivery route. Credit essejpatterson on Reddit
Related Articles about DoorDash
- DoorDash Driver Requirements
- Are DashMart Orders Worth it for Dashers?
- The problem with Petco orders on DoorDash
- How to Schedule More DoorDash Hours
- DoorDash Deactivations: How to Get Reactivated
How DoorDash Drivers Get Paid for Walmart Orders
Payouts for DoorDash orders work the same way as a typical food delivery order: Drivers receive base pay + promotions + 100% of tips. Base pay is an algorithm that accounts for time, distance, and ‘desirability.’
The issue is that base pay can be quite low, sometimes as low as $3, and tipping for these orders seems to be less frequent than regular orders. Many DoorDash drivers share screenshots of orders in the $6 – $8 range, which isn’t terrible as long as the entire order doesn’t take too long. But when wait times are 20+ minutes with a long drive & delivery to follow, $6 doesn’t look so great.
It used to be that Walmart customers could only tip after an order was completed, but that has changed. Walmart customers can now leave a tip when they place an order, and the tip will be included in the order payout estimate that drivers see.
Which would you accept: A food delivery that shows a $10 payout to deliver a bag of food, or a Walmart grocery order with 25 items that shows a $5 payout?
Controversy: Does Walmart ‘Keep’ Tips on DoorDash Orders? (No)
Tips on Walmart orders can be so few and far between compared to food delivery that some drivers suspect an issue with the payment might be preventing them from receiving tips.
The way payments for Walmart orders are handled might also cause a delay in tipping, or potentially missed tips. With a typical food delivery order, payments are directly handled by DoorDash. With a Walmart order, payments are first handled by Walmart, then are completed by DoorDash. Walmart seems to settle orders more slowly than DoorDash, so the extra step can cause delays.
I asked DoorDash for more clarity on how the payment system for DoorDash/Walmart orders works, and if it’s possible for Walmart to ‘keep’ tips that are intended for drivers.
A DoorDash rep said, “[Walmart order pay] is the base pay plus 100% of the tips. However, for Drive and Grocery order, the customer’s are placing the order directly to the store. We cannot see here in our system if there’s a customer’s tip or none. It still depends on the store if they will provide the tip or not.” [Pic of conversation]
Some DoorDash customers have complained that they tried to tip DoorDash drivers, but an app bug prevented them from doing so. One customer said, “The app will show that the tip went through, however, the following day after delivery there’s an error message in the app that says “sorry your order is no longer eligible for tipping, your tip has been removed.”
My take: Walmart isn’t keeping tips, but they might be slow to deliver them, and app issues may prevent them from going through.
Some Walmart Customers are Unhappy with DoorDash Deliveries Too
Down in the comments section of this article, you’ll find comments from Walmart customers who were unhappy with a DoorDash delivery. The main complaint is that they weren’t notified that their order would be delivered by DoorDash. Some orders are split between shipping companies, so some items in the order are delivered by DoorDash others are delivered by FedEx.
Many Walmart customers don’t feel that they need to tip DoorDash because they were never notified that DoorDash would be fulfilling the order. If they didn’t request DoorDash, why would they tip? And if they don’t tip UPS or FedEx, why would they tip DoorDash? This is a common customer outlook on the DoorDash/Walmart situation.
One customer said, “The current system is not set up to even make customers aware of HOW/WHEN their items will be delivered. Most will just assume it’s through USPS FedEx or UPS.”
And it’s hard to argue with this customer’s logic: “I can’t justify a tip for something I was not advised was going to happen.”
Walmart Workers Chime in
DoorDash drivers don’t like Walmart orders, and it turns out that the feeling is mutual for Walmart workers. Walmart employees complain of impatient DoorDash drivers who become rude when wait times are longer than a few minutes. And then there’s the time a frustrated DoorDash driver dumped a load of groceries in the Walmart loading area without telling anyone.
Another point of friction is that Walmart instructs workers not to load an order into a car if the driver or vehicle appears disheveled or unclean, or if the driver has young children in the car who can’t be left unattended. Imagine how uncomfortable it is for employees to turn a driver away, or to be turned away as a driver!
How DoorDash and Walmart Can Improve The Situation
DoorDash drivers don’t like them, Walmart workers aren’t big fans either, and customers feel like they are in the dark too. What can be done?
Walmart should let customers know that their delivery is being completed by DoorDash. Too many Walmart customers have no idea what DoorDash is, or why part of their delivery was done by DoorDash when another was done by FedEx. If customers know what to expect, they’ll be a lot more satisfied.
Walmart orders are much less appealing for Dashers compared to restaurant orders, so Dashers either need more tips or higher base to make it worth their while. Walmart could try to encourage tipping, but it’s understandable that adding a new cost won’t go over well with Walmart customers who already pay for shipping or delivery memberships.
The remaining option is a higher delivery fee for drivers that is paid for by Walmart and DoorDash, or their customers. In the end, someone will need to pay more.
Another necessity that’s easier said than done: Improve logistics. One of the major complaints from DoorDash drivers is that they have to wait far too long at Walmart to pick up an order. Some type of logistical upgrade is needed to streamline the process, but there’s no guarantee that DoorDash and Walmart will be able to sort that out.
DoorDash drivers: If the payout doesn’t look right, decline it! You can’t be deactivated for a low order acceptance rate, so you’re free to decline any order that doesn’t meet your standards.
Jeff says
I ordered a laptop from Walmart last week as part of their holiday sale. The original delivery date was tomorrow 11/18, and I had planned to be home all day as we have been victims of porch thefts several times.
This morning I received an email update from Walmart that the laptop would be delivered today 11/17 since it was available at a local store rather than having to ship from a warehouse. Fortunately I was working from home and would be available when the delivery arrived.
This afternoon I received an email update from Walmart that the laptop delivery was delayed, and would be delivered after the expected delivery date, so I was anticipating it to arrive after the original expected date of 11/18. This was getting frustrating as I didn’t know when I should plan to be home.
Finally this evening just before 7:00PM I received a text from a random number out-of-state indicating that it was Door Dash and that my delivery was left on the porch. Our family was not expecting a food delivery, so I thought it was a scam text, and was about ready to mark it as such. For some reason I went outside and looked around on the porch and found the box. I was shocked to see the laptop sitting out there. Absolutely no warning that it was on the way, no communication that it would be delivered by Door Dash rather than UPS or FedEX. I certainly didn’t coordinate this with Door Dash, so there was no way to provide a tip or review. Very frustrating. Happy that the delivery was on time and I can’t blame the driver at all. Walmart’s poor communication was disappointing.
Michelle S says
I ordered a Shop Vac on Walmart Online…. It was in stock and the Door Dash Driver called me to get my address to deliver it. I told him the address (He could not speak English very Well) and I tried to tell him that he needed to use WAZE to find my home as it is new and not on Google Maps yet. He still didnt understand. I asked him for his cell Number so I could text him directions….. He never showed and the next day I went on Walmarts ordering site and the Door Dash guy cancelled my order !!!!!!!! Now the item is out of stock and I am stuck……. I am so mad. I will NEVER USE DOORDASH for anything. What gave him the right to cancel my order?????
Lisa says
I am a Walmart customer. I ordered 2 40 lb boxes of cat litter. For years Walmart has delivered these to me via Fedex. On my last order a couple of weeks ago I was surprised to see a delivery person bring them (I am assuming Door Dash). Walmart did not tell me someone would be delivering in person. I just happened to be at home. I just happened to see her bring my order. Therefore, she just happened to get a tip for this trip. I was caught off guard. I didn’t have time to think about how much to tip. I grabbed $5 and gave it to her. After the fact, I realize that she lugged 80 lbs up my front porch steps and my tip should have been more. I blame Walmart. Walmart should have told me someone would be delivering. What if I wasn’t at home? What if I hadn’t seen her?
What if I hadn’t had cash on me? She would have been out a tip and I would have missed an opportunity to tip (I love tipping – it’s a blessing for me). I don’t blame Door Dash drivers for rejecting Walmart orders. Walmart needs to inform customers and allow us to tip up front.
AllDuesPaid says
This just happened to me I was totally caught off guard. I ordered three items and was expecting them by FedEx, but two of the items were delivered by one DoorDash driver and the third was delivered by another delivery driver. WTH??? I understand Walmart is trying to out compete Amazon but this is a mess.
Rachel McBride says
I have been wondering if Wal-Mart was keeping tips and today it really struck me as odd. I waited 2 hours for a stacked order (2 orders). I drop them off then get 2 more orders. I get there and one of the customers was the same lady I had just dropped off to, so I text her through the app asking if she had another order. She tells me no that she just went in and added another $5 tip. So this tells me she had, in fact, tipped, right? So I had to unassign her order and continue to the other customer, who tipped $4 and it showed up within 10 minutes. Dd tells me that they take 2-3 hours. Well why is the first customer tip still not showing up hours later?! Seems fishy to me!
Kris says
I had a Walmart grocery delivery today and the customer paid me a $40 tip on the app but on my phone on my app it shows zero tip was paid so I believe Walmart does keep the tips because of the customers phone it shows they clearly pay the $40 tip then where is the tip going
DougH says
Give it some time for the transaction to settle.
BC Miller says
I had an issue on 3 recent Wal-Mart orders, which were my absolute final attempts. I had been burned a few times on lengthy wait times but, decided to try again. When you are tendered 20+ Wal-Mart orders a day, a dying lunch rush can make one more amenable to giving it try. These 3 occurred over a 2 week period. I completed each order without issue. I little later on the same day of each delivery I received a Dasher Update notifying me that gratuity had been added to the order. The issue came when the tip amount went into my Earnings Total but never went into my Dasher Balance Amount. At first I figured it would correct itself, but it did not. Next, I waited for the week to end thinking the amount would end up in my direct deposit amount. Again, it did not. I double-checked and still still had the same discrepancy each time. Essentially, a tip was added by the customer and added to my earnings but was never made accessible to me. If the amount does not reach the “Balance” amount the funds cannot be accessed via Fast-Pay, or be included in the automated Direct Deposit. I contacted Dasher Support each time via phone and email to no avail. I finally gave up 2 weeks after the last Wal-Mart order. I wasn’t getting anywhere with support, and at a certain point the time and frustration expelled outweighed the gratuity amount. The phone support just kept telling me DoorDash does not keep tips from drivers, despite my attempts to explain the issue and the fact that it appeared to be a glitch that needed to be looked into. I have had just 1 issue with DoorDash in regards to pay aside from the Walmart orders and the issue was resolved quickly and easily via email support. I am posting here because I am curious if anyone else has encountered this issue and to provide a tip should anyone encounter this in the future. The first time this happened I had 2 Wal-Mart orders on one week and the 3rd on a separate work week. Due to the nature of the issue, the easiest way to show proof of the discrepancy is a screenshot of the earnings page once the Dash that included the WM order is concluded. Unfortunately, my first time around I expected a self correcting Direct Deposit at the end of the week and did not collect a screen grab. Once the new week began, the Balance reset. The same issue would occur if you completed a FastPay prior to the end of the week, which would also reset your Balance. I just wanted to mention that because a 1 page screenshot will save you from having to send in your banking deposits and Dasher earnings for the week to show the difference. If you only use Direct Deposit, it is not bad but I would imagine multiple FastPay deposits would just make the point more difficult to get across. I also think the ability to show a visual discrepancy on the DoorDash platform would help expedite a resolution. Again, I just let it go after having the same discussion too many times. More than the money, I am still curious if this has happened to others and how often. I also wonder if it is Wal-Mart system or DoorDash system issue. This was a total of $12 combined so fortunately not a group of large 20-40 dollar tips, yet as I write this message my curiosity as to where the $12 went is growing. Especially, since the system says I earned it. Thanks for reading, sorry for the lengthy reply. I have been writing this in little snipets of time between orders.
DougH says
Great tips about showing the discrepancy with screenshots. I still believe that it’s some kind of coordination issue between DD and Walmart payment systems. Hopefully issues like yours will motivate DD and Walmart to sort this out. Drivers hate Walmart orders enough, even with the tips!
Driver says
I tried to get DoorDash to block Walmart orders about 12 times this year and they always told me that they didn’t have the ability to do that. I made an appointment with my cardiologist and had them fax their legal department a letter and suddenly I get an email saying I won’t be getting any more Walmart orders in 3-5 days. DoorDash has a history of not caring for their drivers.
I’ve seen people on the DoorDash subreddit say they asked them and they were blocked from Walmart without issue. I think it’s because I live in a rural area and there’s not enough drivers and Walmart orders are always 1-2 hours late as it is.
Matt says
I was going to have Doordash block Walmart orders, which the support person I was talking to said it’s possible, but they said it would block all drive orders. That’s any order that wasn’t done through the Doordash app. I use to cars about my acceptance rate. I wanted the top dasher status because it seemed easier to get time slots. Then after losing that status I was still able to get time slots just as easy and I didn’t get any less orders in my area. Since it doesn’t matter what my acceptance rate, I just decline any grocery order.
Ian says
Walmart needs to flat rate pay like $9.95 base pay for all orders. I had one today for 173 items 6 miles away for $6. Yeah right! Why would I take that? I can get $6 delivering one chipotle burrito. I will decline every one of them. I honestly don’t know who takes them. I get them all day too. Guaranteed. I hate even driving by Walmart because i know 2 or 3 of them will pop up.
Tammie says
I was not aware I could decline them. I thought too many declines could stop you from driving. Last week I delivered 133 items, got a bruise on my arm and no tip. Today it was 150 items consisting of 2 50 pound bags of salt for a soft water system, 2 large bags of charcoal, 4 big bottles of laundry soup, the list goes on. My little car was completely full. Guess what, no tip. At min, they need to tip at least $20 for these large orders. I’m declining these going forward. Door Dash needs to have a opt-out for grocery deliveries.
DougH says
You can’t be punished or deactivated for a low acceptance. What matters is your completion rate and customer rating. You are free to decline as many orders as you want, just make sure to do a good job on the orders that you do accept.