Third-party delivery giant DoorDash is testing a feature that incentivizes customers to dine in at certain restaurants.
The program, called Dine Out, rewards select customers with DoorDash credits when they check in at eligible restaurants in the app. DoorDash described it as a “small-scale test” and didn’t say what restaurants or users are currently eligible.
“DoorDash constantly innovates and tests new in-app features to provide customers with best-in-class experiences, while providing restaurant partners with new ways to increase their revenue,” a DoorDash spokesperson said in a statement. “A limited number of customers in select markets may see dine out deals, where they can receive discounts after dining in at select restaurants.”
The size of the discounts vary, but can apparently be significant. A Twitter user named Olivia Moore posted that she used the feature and was offered $20 in credit for dining at a number of restaurants in the Bay Area.
It’s an unusual test by DoorDash, which has built its business around off-premise services and particularly delivery. That said, the company has been expanding into other areas of restaurant operations, including reservations, phone ordering and virtual food halls, and is beginning to look more like an all-around tech provider than a delivery company.
Dine Out could give customers more reasons to use the DoorDash app—either to collect a credit or to cash it in. It could also give restaurants another way to attract customers. And the check-in function could provide DoorDash with valuable data on consumer dining habits.
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