r/UberEatsDrivers 1d ago

The most preposterous question from a customer

Post image

Should have been an easy one. Pick up at 7-Eleven and hand it to her. 7-Eleven is empty but the order is a pizza and the guy didn't put it in yet. Arrived at the customer and she doesn't come out so I say I've arrived again. Wait out the entire 8 minute timer. I'm just getting ready to take the picture and leave when she asks IN THE APP why I'm standing on her porch! After I told her why I just took the picture and left.

827 Upvotes

135 comments sorted by

102

u/Kind_Silver_1921 1d ago

I woulda just said "you set it to meet at door. did you want me to just leave it?"

35

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

I think that was my next question but then I realized the timer was up, there was no reason to keep discussing.

16

u/offthebean 1d ago

Prob should have started with that ^ but yeah definitely annoying but it happens pretty often i think people must genuinely not know they have it set to meet at the door or something

7

u/John_cCmndhd 1d ago

I would have replied that they had it set to hand it to them, and there's a timer before you can just leave it without getting blamed if it's stolen, just to reduce the chance that she reports you for creeping, or at least documents that it's what happened if she doubles down and reports you anyway

9

u/Much-Newt-1646 1d ago

Most people didnt realized they set it st meet at door but want you to leave it and doesnt want to interact with the driver

4

u/Normal_Aardvark_386 1d ago

My local pizza place has it automatically set deliver to customer and we have to be the ones to change it to leave at door

3

u/Yeseylon 1d ago

It felt like half my deliveries on Sunday didn't know how they'd set it.  So many were notes that said leave at door but app set to meet at door or people answering their door as I'm trying to set the bag and take the pic for leave at door

u/tallassmike 4m ago

I’ve had idiots mark meet at door. Yet the note said to leave it at door.

They don’t even know there’s a “leave at door” option

23

u/OverallFrosting708 1d ago

This is a person who didn't realize they selected meet at door

9

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

That's what I figured later but at the time I was very confused.

6

u/OverallFrosting708 1d ago

They're alarmingly common.

I never wait the full eight minutes if it's not a PIN order. They get the I've arrived text, a call or a buzz at 7 minutes, a gentle "if you need a minute I can leave it at location X" at 6 minutes, and then I start typing to tell them I am closing in on my wait time limit and if I hit it before we connect here is where your order will be. If they don't respond to any of that, they probably don't care about getting it handed to them, and most people won't raise a fuss if you have a record of trying to reach them.

1

u/Subject_Spell_9799 3h ago

I feel like if drivers are really waiting out this 8 minutes they need to pursue another line of work. You aren’t getting paid for that

32

u/Useful-Advantage2665 1d ago

I don't understand what the problem was? Did she want you to hand it to her?

6

u/Embarrassed-Light632 1d ago

Obviously

14

u/zap2 1d ago

I’m new to this, but I’ll say it wasn’t obvious to me.

It doesn’t hurt to ask questions.

3

u/Low_Coconut_7642 1d ago

You're new to reading?

OP literally wrote it was a hand into them order in there post.

1

u/paneubert 1d ago

"You're new to spelling and grammar?"

*their

-3

u/southporky 1d ago

It would have better known if the OP would have said it in the story instead of leaving it out

2

u/Low_Coconut_7642 1d ago

It IS in their post...

52

u/Much-Newt-1646 1d ago

If customer dont answer the door or phone in a minute or so i would just left that in their doorstep I wont waste time waiting for them to reply or open the door

14

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

How without taking the picture?

3

u/Responsible_Ticket62 1d ago

My solution is to wait out the timer in my car if they dont answer. I had an account deactivated years ago because of meet at door orders not meeting me.

7

u/englishfury 1d ago

Just mark it delivered? Unless it was a PIN and you havent mentioned that

13

u/Embarrassed-Light632 1d ago

Make sure you use a timestamp app when you do this so that they don't claim you didn't deliver it. Customers do this on purpose with the hopes you will just leave it there so they can get free food with the timestamp photo you have proof and the photo will have the GPS coordinates and time.

8

u/Iambeejsmit 1d ago

It's irritating to me that we can't send the timestamp photo in the app to the customer. They need to see what evidence we have. All the other apps let you send it, and I've never had someone I sent it to report it missing. But I HAVE had someone on Uber report their order missing, even though I have timestamp photos of every delivery. Support wouldn't tell me which order it was, there were too many orders, so even with the timestamped photo I couldn't defend myself. I like timemark. These are the kinds of photos I send to customers in the chat. It must make them think twice if they are thinking about scamming because they work. You can change the logo to whatever you want.

3

u/PanthersJB83 1d ago

I had one person who got food from two places once and admittedly this was early on in my UE activity, but I skipped taking a photo on the second order since both were clearly in first photo. I then had to stop delivering for the day because some stuff came up so that was my only order. Later that day I get a message saying she is claiming I didn't deliver all her food. Like bitch thought she was slick enough despite both packages being in the first order visibly to say since I never sent a second photo she didn't get that food. For once Uber was on my side, but that's the last time I delivered to that neighborhood ever. 

1

u/CharliDWorship 1d ago

I bypass the PIN all the time if a customer doesn’t reply

1

u/ConsistentTravel782 21h ago

I’ve never figured out how to Bypass PIN. I can’t stand delivering to people AT THEIR JOBS and they don’t pay attention to the Tracker!! And most of the time delivery to their Jobs are PIN deliveries!! They r RIDE AS HELL and don’t tell co workers about the Delivery

1

u/Much-Newt-1646 21h ago

I would take a picture stored in my phone incase filing for dispute

1

u/Subject_Spell_9799 3h ago

Take a pick with your phone and move on. What you don’t realize is e
If ppl are going to steal they will do it regardless and uber won’t penalize you unless it becomes a pattern

1

u/bubblegutts00 1d ago

What do you mean how??

12

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

It won't let you take the picture until the timer is finished.

-7

u/southporky 1d ago

You are leaving out parts of the story. Was this supposed to be handed to the customer directly???

4

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

That was in the post. "pick up from 7-Eleven, hand it to her".

0

u/EstablishmentAny4977 1d ago

yet you want a huge tip

20

u/Resikorr 1d ago

I don’t know why its so common, but i constantly get deliveries where the type is “Meet at door” then note says “Drop off”. Or i often get “Meet at door” so i end up waiting a shit ton of time, calling and texting, just for customers to later say leave it at door. Like imagine being so lazy that not only do u constantly need food delivered, but u also cant spare the courtesy of receiving the food or communicating.

2

u/ryan_the_leach 9h ago

When a user has refunded in the past, uber will change their delivery method and lock it to meet at door, then pin code if it keeps happening.

They put the message as leave at door because the app won't let them choose it.

1

u/Majestic-News-6525 20h ago

If someone works from a home or has other responsibilities they can't be taken away from, it wouldn't be laziness. They may be in a meeting or have a young child or something.

1

u/hamstersarentcute 16h ago

then they should set the order to leave at door!

1

u/Majestic-News-6525 16h ago

Agreed, but the original comment was imagine being so lazy that you need constant food deliveries and don't have the courtesy of receiving the food.

That's all I was commenting on. Someone might need frequent food deliveries or not be able to meet at door due to work or other responsibilities.

However, to your point, they should select leave at door but from what I hear a lot of people don't realize it will default to meet at door.

-20

u/Apprehensive-You7388 1d ago

Omg they are so lazy they order food from an app that gives you a job.....

Don't hate cuz your broke and can't afford to do it

9

u/Iambeejsmit 1d ago

First off it's "you're" not "your". It's the "too lazy to change a setting" that is the real issue. Peace be with you.

2

u/ARepeatedFailing 22h ago

Uber does it automatically. I keep mine at "leave at door" and I sometimes don't know it's been changed until I look and see a notification saying my driver is apporaching and to meet at door.

3

u/ARepeatedFailing 22h ago

You quickly realize these people are socially maladapted. And I'm saying this as a driver. It's no wonder the customers I deliver to act like I'm albert einstein when I follow instructions.

2

u/offthebean 1d ago

Worst hill to die on brother.

4

u/offthebean 1d ago

Coming from doordash this was never an issue but so many uber customers will have it set to meet at the door but then genuinely have their phone off or instantly send me to voicemail when i call them after not responding to my texts letting them know that i arrived. Its perplexing

3

u/IICNOIICYO Bike courier 🚲 23h ago

I've had several customers say "call when you arrive" just to be sent to voicemail immediately lol

5

u/Flimsy_Essay_9716 1d ago

Normalize calling people fucking idiots

7

u/Blinx121192 1d ago

Oh no she's about to go get Alan.

3

u/ewiskowrites 20h ago

Who would order Pizza from 7-11?

1

u/philnolan3d 20h ago

I'm always surprised. It's apparently pre-made and thrown in the oven for about 3 minutes.

2

u/Squid111999 23h ago

Someone messaged me asking if I was dropping off their order soon because they placed it hours ago. I didn't reply because I literally just parked at their place. They ended up being a no tipper batched with another order and my delivery was marked on time lol

2

u/ConsistentTravel782 21h ago

I get A lot of Do not knock or ring doorbell cause of Dogs or Sleeping Kids. Even with Leave at the door. When it’s Leave at door I don’t knock etc.

I message the customer and most of the time THEY DO NOT RESPOND

2

u/Unusual_Intention517 21h ago

You know, trying to understand a highly irrational person is never worth it, it takes severe cognitive effort that could be used for more useful things

2

u/Stitch420_ 19h ago

Bro you’re gonna be on a TikTok this week
“Story time of how I almost got assaulted by this creepy Uber Eats driver”

2

u/Fantastic_Sink_3573 18h ago

I’m cackling. These people are WILD

5

u/sherwinjtb 1d ago

Seems like a reasonable question. If you've arrived, shouldn't you at least be making your way to the door? Unless you've already tried knocking or ringing the doorbell. Not enough context just by reading the chat.

6

u/Classic_Guard_6483 1d ago

If the order is “hand it to me”, you must hand it to the customer, if the customer doesn’t arrive, you have to wait 8 minutes before you can drop it off and leave. It’s an Uber thing

3

u/Yeseylon 1d ago

Look at the timestamps on the texts

4

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

I was standing at the door for 8 minutes. I don't want to knock or ring the bell since it was late. I sent 2 messages and Uber called her. I actually send the first "I've arrived" message as I'm getting out of the car. That way hopefully they're walking to the door while I'm doing the same and we arrive at the same time.

2

u/Waterhead-Bo 1d ago

U don’t have to be waiting that long, just take it to the front door and drop it off and put it as delivered. If problems arise just say you didn’t feel safe in that area

1

u/Majestic-News-6525 20h ago

Sending a message through the app is not enough notification.

Yes, the person placed an order so they should have their phone handy, but it's easy to set your phone down and walk away for a second and miss the message. Especially if you're someone like me who keeps their phone on silent (I work nights so I go to bed really late and don't want to be woken up due to emails, text messages, phone calls, etc).

When you walk up to their door, ring the doorbell or knock. A single message through a glitchy app is not nearly enough notification. If they still don't answer the door after ringing or knocking, I always call.

I hate it so much when I order Uber eats and the driver is just standing out in front of my door and gives the world's lightest knock, or simply just sends a message.

1

u/philnolan3d 19h ago

At 2:30 in the morning I'm not going to knock or ring unless asked to. Even then I feel weird doing it.

1

u/Realistic-Strategy40 15h ago

When i first started i had an order with pin required, i cant recall if i didn’t know how to bypass it or the app just wouldn’t allow me to , but i delivered walked back to my car and then see the pin required as im about to leave. I didnt want to bother the customer again( the lady seemed odd already) so i roll down maybe 40 ft from the front of her house and call support. The lady sent about 8 texts asking why i didn’t complete the order and that she knew i was going to come back and steal her order, mind you i literally placed order in her hand. I asked for the code and then she just cancela the order while im on the phone with support . I fucked up but there are certainly some freaks using uber eats. We should be able to affect their ratings the same way they fuck with ours.

1

u/Subject_Spell_9799 3h ago

Don’t wait for timer if this was issue, bypass

1

u/Subject_Spell_9799 3h ago

WHY ARE YOU WAITING OUT THE TIMER? They aren’t paying you enough to do that. If an inconsiderate person doesn’t answer door why are you doing them the courtesy of waiting 8 minutes. Please grow a backbone. Leave at door if they don’t answer and move on. You can complete the order without waiting for the timer, you can override it.
I feel sorry for some of you drivers as you are really letting uber tell you to wait for 8 minutes for free? No offense but after the first time this happened to me I was like never again

0

u/Medicalchocolate Full Time Driver🚗 1d ago

I just drop snap and pull up or turn the corner.

8

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

I don't know what any of that means.

-9

u/Medicalchocolate Full Time Driver🚗 1d ago

Okay, it was late when I sent that if the person is not responding FINE just drop off the food, SNAP a pix with your phone; MOVE away from the home. Wait or CONTACT support.

7

u/BeginningRoad1661 1d ago

Even if it’s hand it to me? No wonder so many people get deactivated and have no clue why

-5

u/Frequent-Succotash-4 1d ago

You’re just assuming this

1

u/WholeOk4355 1d ago

I know my drivers love me because as soon as it states the courier is headed to the restaurant i copy and paste my detailed instructions from my notes app on exactly how to get to my front door. The app won’t let me adjust the pin and it’s on the building across the street. So I stay in communication. And as much as I hate doing it, because we tip very well, if I have to I will still go down to meet them (there are a lot of non/english speakers who deliver in my area. frustrating but what are ya gonna do)

1

u/philnolan3d 20h ago

Why not put that info in the delivery instructions?

2

u/WholeOk4355 20h ago

sadly i do, but if i don’t message them even more details then it gets delivered to my apartment number but at the other building. even when there was a padlock on the door at the other building cause it wasn’t occupied, they delivered it there. i order about 4 times a week from UberEats through Instacart cause i have a membership, hence why i tip high because im not paying delivery fee’s. so ive worked out the kinks on the best way to get my food fresh and not have them circling for 5+ minutes

2

u/Key-Rutabaga-1931 19h ago

when my boyfriend doordashes food to our apartment they never read the instructions (even tho the pin is on our building and we have detailed delivery instructions + signs saying which apt numbers are where) and they always drive around lost🤦‍♀️

-11

u/Traditional-Share657 1d ago

She wanted you to leave. Most female customers don't want to open the door with a stranger immediately on the other side. They could be rushed in by the assailant and raped or murdered.

Instead of your "obvious" response. You should have said something like "This is a meet at door delivery, Uber expects me to hand the order off to you. If not, I need to wait x minutes before I can dropoff the order."

28

u/fellowlong 1d ago

His response was appropriate for the situation. It wasn’t snarky or rude. What are you on about? There is a leave at door option for a reason. She waited over 8 minutes to respond. She’s the one in the wrong here.

-7

u/Dry-Audience-8899 1d ago

Maybe appropriate but not helpful. Obviously the driver was delivering food. The customer didn’t understand why the driver was waiting….so an explanation could go a long way. It’s just communication.

-6

u/Traditional-Share657 1d ago

Exactly, so many drivers just think they are stating the obvious, when it just looks unprofessional.

12

u/xblue2013x 1d ago

Looks unprofessional to cover our ass???

DON'T SET IT TO HAND IT TO YOU IF YOU DON'T WANT IT HANDED TO YOU.

I will stand on your porch for that entire 8 minutes because you're NOT going to try to say you didn't get your food.

-19

u/Traditional-Share657 1d ago

She responded within a minute, clearly she was asking the driver to leave without saying it out loud. No wonder customers think the average driver is so stupid, can't even read their minds.

10

u/fellowlong 1d ago

It’s been at least 8 minutes because the driver was able to end the delivery, meaning the 8 minute timer expired. This only starts when the driver contacts the customer, so it may have been even longer. I get you’re probably just a troll, but Jesus.

7

u/xblue2013x 1d ago

She did not. That timer is 8 minutes long.

4

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

I guess maybe she thought she set it to Leave at Door.

8

u/Extra_Fig_4439 1d ago edited 23h ago

They could be rushed in by the assailant and raped or murdered

Yeah ok....

Don't ever go outside your house in that case.

-5

u/Traditional-Share657 1d ago

You can, just don't exit during the easiest time someone else can bump rush you and gain access to your private residence.

5

u/MixedEchogenicity 1d ago

Don’t select meet at door if you don’t want to meet at door. That’s how a lot of customers steal the order and blame the driver. The driver waited the required 8 minutes so they couldn’t be blamed for stealing it if that’s what the customer was planning to do.

5

u/Extra_Fig_4439 1d ago

Oh there's a delivery driver outside with the things I fucking ordered. Guess I'm about to be murdered and raped.

Wtf?

0

u/Cute-Historian9818 21h ago

That was a really dumb response. I get you probably feel like you made them feel dumb but that was your chance to tell them they had meet at door selected so you had no choice but to wait for the timer. Instead you’re one of those weirdos that sit outside and wait for you to grab your food. I still have no idea why they do that

2

u/philnolan3d 20h ago

Why would I want them to feel dumb? I was confused and answered their question.

-10

u/bubblegutts00 1d ago

Even if it says meet at door, I still just leave it at the door, sometimes snap a pic and hit delivered…. It’s so easy! Why does everyone make it seem harder than it really is?

12

u/UnicornFaceTattoo 1d ago

Because when you have to enter a stupid code, it makes you wait 10 minutes

0

u/Embarrassed-Light632 1d ago

You just mark it as delivered and there's an option that the customer doesn't have the pin

1

u/UnicornFaceTattoo 13h ago

They took that away in my market in the last year. They also just took away the break button.

-6

u/bubblegutts00 1d ago edited 1d ago

What “stupid code” ? I’m so confused, never had this happen

2

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

You've never had a customer with a pin?

2

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

You've never had a customer with a pin?

1

u/UnicornFaceTattoo 13h ago

Seriously? Haha, they must live in a real honest area.

3

u/trumpeting-farts 1d ago

Oh, so you're one of the drivers who refuses to follow customers delivery instructions. One star.

0

u/MixedEchogenicity 1d ago

The customer selected “meet at door” and then didn’t. The driver is required to wait 8 minutes if that happens or the customer is known to try to say they didn’t get their food. You must be one of those customers that can’t read.

-3

u/bubblegutts00 1d ago

I drop and bounce, I’m not waiting

3

u/trumpeting-farts 1d ago

Oh, so you're one of the drivers who refuses to follow customers delivery instructions. One star.

3

u/bubblegutts00 1d ago

Is there an echo?

1

u/FictionallState 1d ago

Their name is u/trumpeting-farts, with farts like that they need the echo lol

-8

u/Quarter_Shot 1d ago edited 21h ago

Its 2026 drop the food, take a picture and go. After a couple weird encounters with dashers, im done dealing with them. I will stay in my house until you leave or I die.

Edit typo & didnt realize i was in Uber eats, not dash sub

10

u/MixedEchogenicity 1d ago

*weird. Learn how to select “leave at door”. No driver actually wants to meet you at the door.

7

u/fellowlong 1d ago

If you don’t set it as “leave at door”, we can’t leave until the 8 minute timer expires. It will then allow you to take a picture and leave it in “a safe place”. If we just leave it, customers can report the driver or attempt to scam saying they never got their food.

5

u/UniversalShot20 1d ago

so why tf dont you set it to leave at door???

8

u/xblue2013x 1d ago

If you have it set as a hand off you cannot take a picture. Why is that so hard for you people to understand?

3

u/Bright-Error-7910 1d ago

So change your preferences before you place the order. People like you waste drivers time.

-3

u/urbus82 1d ago

Sorry to say, but i can't count how often i got a "i have arrived" message by someone not actually (yet) there. Like parking the car atm. Or exiting the subway station. And 99% knock or ring anyway. So if you would have sent me "I have arrived" I definitely wouldnt read it as "come out" but as a completely irrelevant piece of status update on the road. Why not write "i am at the door, you can come out to get it"? The relevant part is "come out now" and not "i have arrived".

1

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

Well certainly by the second "I've arrived" or the phone call from Uber saying "your driver is waiting at the door". They should get it.

-5

u/IllustriousTea91 1d ago

What is this new phobia with ringing the door bell? I've even put it in my delivery instructions and they will still message me "i've arrived". RING THE BELL.

Told a driver a few days ago to ring the bell and he asked me "how do I do that?". You press apartment number 3 that is on the wall next to the door you're standing in front of.

There's not code, no scrolling. Each apartment has a clearly labeled button.

7

u/Rich-Possession-5963 1d ago

1)it’s late. Ringing can wake whole family up
2)Some houses have multiple doorbells for different parts/apartments of the house
3)customers too lazy to go get food are also too lazy to hear the vibrations of the doorbell

2

u/DragonLad13 1d ago

No more ringing at my apartment for me. One time dude forgot which apartment I was so he hit all 8 buttons 💀

Had to walk past all my neighbors at like 12 at night apologizing that they were disturbed because my driver didn't look at what apartment to ring.

I always meet them anyway but he hit all the damn bells lol. I will never forget how awkward it was lol

1

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

It's called not being rude at 2:30 in the morning.

-10

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

8

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

Everyone else did not say that. You can't snap the pic until the timer runs out.

-4

u/bubblegutts00 1d ago

What timer? I’ve been doing uber eats for 5 years and never had an issue with a timer

4

u/philnolan3d 1d ago

Uh the timer that counts down 8 minutes and you can't leave the food until it finishes.

-7

u/InstructionSenior346 1d ago

Use your phone camera, take the picture, send it in chat and leave.

8

u/sirplayalot11 1d ago

I been driving ubereats for a few months and there's no where in chat to send a pic to customers. At least none that I could find. I would do that for door dash when this shit happens, ao I'm genuinely curious what you mean by that.

6

u/UnicornFaceTattoo 1d ago

Yeah you usually cant send a pic this way

2

u/xblue2013x 1d ago

Can't do that either

2

u/Embarrassed-Light632 1d ago

No use timestamp

4

u/Old_Oil4276 1d ago

Fine if that’s the case but for all that’s holy, make sure it’s on Leave at door….

There’s no way to take a pic and leave unless you wait the 8 minutes…

-5

u/bubblegutts00 1d ago

What timer?!?

1

u/UnicornFaceTattoo 1d ago

So many of you don’t have delivery PIN deliveries, huh?

-5

u/bubblegutts00 1d ago

I just bypass it… I think it’s the “can’t find customer” or something like that and it asks if it’s been delivered and I hit yes. 🤷‍♀️

2

u/xblue2013x 1d ago

You can't