Key Gotchas

  • ⚠️ Aggressive Arbitration Requirements High Impact

    DoorDash requires binding arbitration for all disputes with a short 30-day window to opt out. The arbitration clause covers nearly everything, including issues with orders, refunds, and account termination.

  • 💳 Credit-Only Refund Defaults High Impact

    When issues occur with orders, DoorDash defaults to providing account credits rather than actual refunds to your payment method. Getting real money back requires escalation and persistence.

  • 💰 Opaque Fee Structure High Impact

    Multiple fees stack up: delivery fee, service fee, small order fee, busy area fee, and regulatory response fees. The actual breakdown is often unclear until checkout, and fees vary based on undisclosed factors.

  • 🔄 DashPass Auto-Renewal Traps Medium Impact

    The DashPass subscription automatically renews and charges your card. Cancellation must happen before the renewal date, and partial month refunds are not provided.

  • 📍 Menu Price Discrepancies Medium Impact

    Prices on DoorDash may be higher than in-restaurant prices. DoorDash explicitly disclaims responsibility for price accuracy and differences from restaurant menu prices.

  • ⏱️ Narrow Dispute Windows Medium Impact

    Claims about missing items, wrong orders, or quality issues must be reported within a very short window after delivery. Late reports are often denied without review.

Score Breakdown

Refund Policies
30
Fee Transparency
25
Dispute Resolution
35
Liability Fairness
45
Terms Clarity
55

What This Means For You

DoorDash's terms heavily favor the company over consumers. The combination of mandatory arbitration, credit-only refunds, and opaque pricing creates significant barriers when things go wrong with your order.

Refund Reality: If you have issues with an order, expect DoorDash credit rather than money back. The app makes it easy to accept credits but difficult to request actual refunds.

Tip: If you sign up, immediately look for the arbitration opt-out option (usually buried in account settings or a specific email within 30 days). Document all order issues with screenshots immediately upon delivery.