Some DoorDash customers will be able to pay for their next pizza delivery with cash.
The delivery company Tuesday said it is enabling cash on delivery for orders fulfilled through its white-label Drive service. It’s a response to requests from restaurants, especially pizza shops, that said the option would make delivery accessible to more customers.
Drive allows restaurants to accept delivery orders through their own website and use DoorDash drivers to deliver them. Restaurants that use it have been asking for cash payment because there are some customers who can’t or would rather not pay with a card.
The results validate those requests: Nearly 20% of pizza orders on DoorDash Drive are now paid for in cash where the option is available, the company said.
The ability to take cash also spares restaurants from credit-card processing fees on those orders.
The new feature also has benefits for drivers, known as Dashers, who are allowed to pocket the cash and the tip. The order amount is then deducted from their weekly earnings. Dashers can opt in to taking cash orders.
Dashers can opt-in to taking cash orders. / Photos courtesy of DoorDash
It’s one of a few pizza-specific improvements DoorDash is making. It’s also putting an emphasis on hot bags, which help maintain pizza quality. Dashers can buy the bags from DoorDash for $30, and those that have them are given priority on pizza orders, the company said.
It has also added better communication tools for operators. Restaurants can track and communicate with Dashers and send customers order updates via text, for instance.
DoorDash's focus on pizza is notable given that some of the big pizza chains have struggled recently. Domino’s, which strictly uses its own delivery drivers, said delivery demand fell in the fourth quarter, citing inflation. Papa Johns and Pizza Hut have also seen sales slow after making huge gains earlier in the pandemic. Now they face a stronger competitor in DoorDash.
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