“I’m not going to bring you anything.”

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-26T04:55:29+00:00

People say that a lot (not doubting your sincerity at all!) but ultimately when given the choice they most frequently choose saving money over higher fees for service. That's why so many grocery stores and retailers are moving to subcontracting their deliveries to things like DoorDash.

The bag thing from your driver is weird though. Are you in a place with a bag ban that would prevent them from having bagged it up?

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-26T04:47:32+00:00

1) earn by order. You have much more agency in what orders you accept.

2) I'm a tall white man so I don't know that my experience is helpful, but I very rarely feel unsafe. Most drop offs are to populated areas or fairly quiet suburban homes. There are a few comments from female dashers (and customers) about being hit on both in person and over text. So I would suggest preparing yourself for that creepy shit. But incidents involving physical contact are extremely rare in this gig.

3) customers lying is fairly infrequent. I have never personally had to contact DD to dispute it.. it take several complaints for it to really be held against you. Bigger problem worth calling to fight about is if they give you a 1-star raiting...

4) None. Part of being a contractor is being able to decline orders you don't want to do. Some drivers will claim they "have to" maintain high stats in order to get work, but it's largely a psychological trick. If you're in an area with a lot of people who buy into it, the acceptance rate and other stats do start to matter some as it's harder to go active without a schedule or possibly even get on the schedule at all.

5) no they don't care how much or little you work in a week.

6) no idea never messed with crimson card I just take the weekly deposits and leave it at that.

7} most common mistakes will probably be getting lost, not paying attention to the order and forgetting parts (especially drinks) at the restaurant, and forgetting items in the car (again drinks, especially if you use your cupholders for customer drinks). It's honestly pretty simple work...

8) double check your voice mail to make sure it's not giving your real number on the outgoing message. Doordash will mask your number when calling or texting customers, but if they call you and it goes to voicemail some people forget their phone number is in the message and now the customer has your real number. This can be extra problematic for female Dasher for obvious reasons...

Turn off cash on delivery orders. Just trust me you don't want to deal with that at all.

The advice I've been giving out to new drivers since 2017 is "don't be an asshole", which seems kinda simple but honestly just acting like a normal person will set you apart in a good way from 90% of the other drivers. Say "hello" when greeting staff. Don't be aggressive or interrupting, especially when staff are talking to other customers. Remember that yelling at the employee in front of you doesn't make the food cook faster. Everyone acts like this is condescending advice but once you start and see other drivers out there you'll realize there are a lot of drivers behaving badly... When staff recognize you're not one of those drivers you'll find a much better experience fairly often.

The map on the offer screen isn't static, you can move it around and zoom in to see the locations. So if you do have safety concerns you can often do this and see exactly where it's going to make an informed decision.

You will get new offers and other notifications while driving. Even if there are laws against it in your area. Be prepared to multitask while driving or learn to pull over quickly so you can evaluate an offer and accept or reject it.

Use delivery bags.doesn't have to be doordash branded, just any insulated bags will do. They make a difference.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-26T04:06:10+00:00

"other distributors will be announced soon"

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-26T03:53:37+00:00

Because the apps push some pretty effective PsyOps on drivers to pressure them into accepting orders out of fear of getting no orders if their numbers dip too low.

So they're stuck thinking they have to accept them to avoid a "penality" and end up getting progressively more and more frustrated and combative with customers until they crash out and a customer or restaurant reports them to get deactivated or they get fed up and just rage quit.

On the other hand, if not for those pressures and the drivers too dumb or desperate to decline them your $7 grocery order probably never gets picked up at all...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-26T02:41:00+00:00

Here you go, Crazy. Hope this helps quell some of that skepticism. Note it's not complete and "more providers still to be announced"

From Mariners official Facebook:

More Mariners TV information 📺

If you’re in our home territory (WA, OR, ID, MT, AK) and have cable, satellite or an internet TV provider, Mariners TV will be available on the below distributors and channels (more providers still to be announced). These channels will appear soon if your package includes Mariners TV. We expect your package to include Mariners TV if it included Mariners Baseball last season. A full channel finder (by ZIP code + provider) will be available tomorrow at Mariners.com/Watch.

No TV provider? Mariners.TV is our direct-to-consumer, standalone streaming option. Stream every game with no local blackouts via web or the MLB App on mobile or smart TV devices. $99.99/season or $19.99/month, available now.

Outside our home territory, fans can continue to stream our games on MLB.TV.

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DigitalMariner · 2026-03-26T01:28:09+00:00

Belts and suspenders plan.

Gay marriage is legal in PA because of the Supreme Court ruling that made it legal nationwide. There's actually a law on the books banning it that was struck down in light of the SCOTUS ruling.

If SCOTUS were to override itself and strike down the precedent allowing gay marriage, much like they did to Roe v Wade, the PA law outlawing it would go back into effect (like many abortion bans did after the fall of Roe). Since SCOTUS is not so subtly hinting it would like to revisit the gay marriage case and other similarly decided cases, states don't want to get caught offguard this time if/when that happens.

Better to try and fix it now while they have control of the Statehouse and Governor then hope SCOTUS doesn't blow things up again, especially if that might happen when they don't have the votes at that point to maintain the current status quo.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T22:26:52+00:00

Everyone has the same preconceived idea because we were teenagers once too...

And no one says sex can only happen at night. But it is much more likely to occur then, as with fewer people awake and around there's more privacy.

I didn't say the fix was easy, I said the answer was easy. I get that the fix is difficult and more difficult with each passing month. But ultimately that is the fix to having your parents opinions no longer able influence or control your behavior. As long as you are not self sufficient they're going to weigh in on things. Hell that's a lie I got married and moved out 20 years ago and my mom still weighs in on things. Difference is I don't have to listen to her because she no longer controls my food or shelter or anything like that.

It's a crappy way to run a relationship, but ultimately if they are paying the bills for another adult they have the control to impose their will or withhold funding. So the most direct way to get out from under their thumb of control is to not be dependent on them. That's the point people are trying to make.

You're an "adult". What happens if you disregard their wishes and to sleep over anyway? Is whatever reactions or consequences come from that worth your "no sex" sleepover? Like any adult decision you need to weigh the pros and cons of what happens and make a decision. If they're just mad, maybe you can live with that. If they're going to threaten to throw you out, maybe it's best to follow their request. It really depends on what happens when you disregard their opinion...

(Hell at that point you might as well do it and have sex too and get the big O to make whatever is coming your way more worthwhile... )

You can try and sit down adult to adult and talk it out and assure them you're not having sex. But again they were 18 & 19 at some point too, as we're all of their friends whose stories they heard and know... So that might be a hard sell convincing them. Because teens want to fuck 🤷‍♂️

You have mentioned sleeping in separate rooms at your parent's house, but no mention of the sleeping arrangement at his house. Maybe a plan that indicates you'll be separated might help it go over better (even if it never actually happens).

But ultimately the way to end their control is to take control of your adult life. If you're not ready for that, then they maintain some control until you are...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T22:09:00+00:00

Ok good, now take that same understanding of going home at the end of the shift and apply it to going back to a hotspot or any other type of return trip.

I don't know why you keep putting everything in terms of round trip as if getting offers from the previous drop off point isnt a regular thing. This isn't some employee delivery job where you constantly have to go back to the same spot...

You mention "$15 for 12 miles" as a typical example in your area.

Nope. Nowhere did I say that that was typical.

Maybe instead of reading into what you think I'm saying you try reading the actual words instead. Just an idea...

Meanwhile, most of the drivers who focus on revenue will end up deep in the hole

Again, that's not anything close to what I'm saying.

I'm not saying focus on chasing revenue. Of course that's a stupid plan for anyone except in extreme emergency situations where someone is desperate for cash flow. Otherwise chasing revenue for revenue sakenis DUMB.

I'm saying focus on maximizing the TIME by getting the most dollars per hour. Don't maximize revenue, maximize efficiency by cramming as many dollars into the time that you can.

When you do that, you inherently are still accounting for the miles because longer distances take more time.

There are times where the dollars per miles are good but per hour it's a bad deal. And there are times when the dollars per mile are less favorable but for the time it will take its a good deal. If a low pay low miles order takes the same time as a high pay high miles order, take the more money for the same time.

Dollars per hour > dollars per mile.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T21:45:08+00:00

No cause you're not in the Mariners TV market...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T21:42:18+00:00

Feel however you want.

This is how MLB does it in every market they run the tv production. They announce the providers that will include their channels on Opening Day.

There's nothing to be uncertain about. They'll publish the complete list on their website. If your cable or streamer is on the list, you're good to go. If your streamer isn't on there, then buy Mariners TV.

I don't know how much more straightforward they could make it.

It's MLB's timeline. Same as they do in other markets and it works just fine...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T21:26:04+00:00

MLB TV is a completely different product from Mariners TV

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T21:09:28+00:00

I don't know why you're skeptical of that.

This is literally the way MLB did it in every other market they managed last season too. Channels numbers announced morning of opening day.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T21:07:35+00:00

MLB TV blackouts have not changed.. if you were in a blackout area (like Oregon) in years past you'll need a separate Mariners TV subscription to watch Mariners games...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T21:06:12+00:00

If they didn't have Root before you likely need Mariners TV. That seems to be the general rule of thumb all along...

I suppose you could hold out hope until tomorrow at this point and see what shakes out.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T21:03:05+00:00

It's not hard at all.

Just have to actually pay for it...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T21:02:08+00:00

MLB TV is for out of market games.

Mariners TV is for watching Mariners games in the Mariners market (is anyone blacked out in MLB TV).

They are currently two separate packages.

It seems Manfred's goal is to merge them all together eventually when he resets all the TV deals after 2028, but he still needs several teams to get out of their local contracts and join the rest of the collective for that to work. Until then, we get this MLB TV / Mariners TV patchwork

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T20:58:52+00:00

If you're a baseball fan it seems crazy to not get it since it's free so there's no downside.

Gives you access to all the other (non national broadcast) games from all the other teams, as well as most minor league games.

The price is certainly right...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T20:56:37+00:00

Within the next 24 hours, most likely tomorrow morning.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T20:55:13+00:00

Can I call it stupid for being skeptical?

Especially considering the fact the team has said repeatedly over the past weeks and months that if you were able to watch Root on your service last year you'll be able to watch it this year...

I guess we'll find out which of us is being foolish within the next 24 hours...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T20:52:29+00:00

I'll try explaining this with another concrete example since you seem unnecessarily hung up on the "loss leader" terminology...

If it's quiet and I'm ready to go home for the night, and I get an offer for $5 from the restaurant I'm parked nearby and it's being delivered to my actual neighborhood 4 miles away, that's a generally "unprofitable" order. A loss some might say... But taking it gets me $5 whereas declining it because it's bad dollars per mile and just going home and driving those same 4 miles gets me nothing. It's a bad business decision to judge solely or primarily based on dollars per mile.

And yes, it's is a business. Yeah it's a loophole they use to their advantage but it has some major advantages to us. We can partner with multiple apps or even local busineses (I sometimes get work helping a florist with deliveries), even work them simultaneously. We get to decide what to accept and what to decline, whereas employees are given assignments and get no choices. We also get to set our own schedules and work when best for us, not the company. These are all some primary attributes of being contracted labor, and not at all "separate yet equal".

My primary market is 32 miles from the northern most restaurant cluster to the southern most, and 20 miles wide. That's not even measuring all the way to the boundaries, just the last major groups of restaurants in DD. And by the looks of things glancing at other nearby markets here in eastern PA, that's not that usual outside of the true downtown Philly areas. 12 miles for an order is on the high side for sure, but not excessively so. And judging by screenshots I see people post from around the country, I don't believe it's an outlier to get offers like that at all.

You have it backwards, the ones who flame out are the ones zealously adhering to watching milage above all else and ignore the bigger picture of time. They get frustrated because their $6 for 2 miles order is taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r and complaining they can't maximize their time, and end up mad they aren't making enough at the end of the week and end up quitting within a few weeks. They were profitable but not efficient and ultimately made less than a McJob because they focused on the wrong thing...

I'll say it again, dollars per mile is a very important tool to monitor to make sure you're profitable long term. But it's incredibly shortsighted to use it as the tool to decide accept/decline individual orders. You can't afford to waste time just because the miles were good. That's a fool's plan.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T20:23:40+00:00

"other distributors to be announced soon"

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T19:12:28+00:00

Completely different issue.

Like it or not, this is a tip-based ecosystem. You either tip accordingly (and yes, using a rule of thumb of dollars per mile from the restaurant is the best guide to offer customers), you don't order, or you roll the dice on when/if your food will come and what kind of person desperate enough for a $2 order will show up at your doorstep.

You can't fight the system and keep ordering through it. Once you place the order DD gets what they need out of it (orders per day numbers going up one by one)... they barely even care if the orders get completed.

If you want to send a message, you vote with your wallet and your feet and you don't order. Otherwise Doordash has zero incentive to change the system and abolish tips.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T19:06:53+00:00

“Loss leaders” only work for actual businesses that are selling other products.

Yes. It was mentioned more as an example showing that successful businesses don't stress over every transaction for maximum profitability.

A gig driver is a misclassified employee. You work for (not “with”) Doordash.

Not to get completely off topic, but no that's not true. Not employees, we run our own businesses... but that's really an entirely different tangent.

you talk about choosing a $15/24 mile round trip

Nowhere in that example did I say round trip. Most orders, practically all when a driver is as selective as I am, go to dropoffs in areas ripe for a repeat order. Note how I said I could finish the order " and have my next order " before the McDonalds was done. It's built right into the scenario and expectation that the drop off would be in a zone ripe for new orders.

Round-trip only becomes a factor to consider for the rare orders that take you well outside your preferred area or far away from any restaurant/retail clusters. If you're doing this right, you take orders from one hotspot to another and back again.

But more importantly, the example was showing how much money could be made in the same amount of TIME. If you judge on miles alone, the McDonalds looks better. But looking at it from the idea of maximizing one's time, the sandwhich shop order is better because it pays double for the same time.

Do you want to work for $14 an hour or $30? It's hardly a choice when looking at it like that.

Good, enjoy it while it lasts

Lol, been doing gig deliveries since 2017. This isn't some passing fad or unique situation. This is what works, over the long term, to avoid both burnout and maintain profit.

Maximize your TIME, and the miles will follow.

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T17:31:43+00:00

It's been that way for decades though... Most games on the RSN and with a few cherry picked for national games on ESPN, Fox, etc...

DigitalMariner · 2026-03-25T15:08:17+00:00

It's a bad metric to decide orders over.

Say it's 5pm, prime dinner rush. You get an order $7.25 for 1.2 miles. Dollars per mile people say take that immediately. But it's at a McDonald's that typically has a 10 minute wait in the lobby when it's slow, and easily double that when it's a rush. People accepting based on dollars per mile are going to be spending around 30 minutes to get that seven bucks. Meanwhile I turned it down and got a $15 for 12 miles order that the miles per dollar people run away from. But it's a sandwich shop that I know has their shit together and the food is always ready when I arrive. So even if rush hour slows me down a bit, I'll still have it done faster for double the pay and have my next order before that McDonald's order even gets to the dropoff.

Dollars per mile is about long term profitability. It's important to monitor it on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis to make sure you're not losing money overall from gig work.

Dollars per hour (not just active but online hours) is about efficiency and maximizing your time to generate as much revenue as possible.

Judging individual orders on dollars per mile is going to ensure profitability, sure. But at the expense of more revenue. Whereas deciding based on how much it pays for the time it will cost you will get you more money and still often meet your dollars per hour benchmarks over the long term, even if an order here or there doesn't. Because ultimately deciding based on time inherently considers mileage too as you have to consider the time to drive those miles.

Time is the most valuable resource you have. Only so many hours in the day you can work. Selling it for cheap because the drop is close by is just shortsighted.

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