DoorDash's hidden fees exposed as furious shoppers demand answers

DoorDash has denied charging hidden fees after furious shoppers demanded answers from the firm over a misleading viral video.

In it, TikToker Jessica Rose Nix complains about DoorDash delivery prices not matching up with restaurants' - showing stills as supposed proof. The video has since amassed more than half a million views, as many agreed with Nix and her outrage.

However, the stills shown come from restaurants' native apps rather than DoorDash, a spokesperson confirmed, reiterating how the eateries questions were setting their own prices, as they do on DoorDash as well.

After being met with backlash last year, the San Francisco company also casted blame on restaurants, saying they 'make their own delivery menu pricing decisions.'

Despite the inaccuracies, commenters pointed out how restaurants have to pay DoorDash commissions per order - a potential reason for the hikes.

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'Were y'all aware that if you order through DoorDash, not only do they charge you extra service fees, delivery fees, and you have to tip, but they charge you more per item?' the mom is heard telling her 41,200 followers in the viral clip.

 'Like, they up-charge every item on the menu.'

She went on to produce stills that compared grabs taken from her DoorDash app to illustrate her point.

The eatery she looked at was a local Chick-fil-A, which had its Deluxe Chick-fil-A Sandwich with Pepperjack Meal listed at $9.55.

'I just had Chick-fil-A the other day, and I'm hungry so I wanted it delivered,' Nix says, before pointing at her desired meal's price tag.

'$9.55,' she says.  

'Push it over just to delivery - $12.39.'

Sure enough, an almost identical screenshot of the menu showed the different price - along with a host of other up-charges on other menu items.

She goes on to do the same for the original and delivery price of a Burger King Whopper Meal - one of the most bought menu items at the fast-food establishment.

Again, like clockwork, the price swelled, this time from $10.09 to $12.40 - an increase of almost 25 percent. 

Nix proceeds to rage at the up-charge, before revealing how she sent her husband to secure her food instead of paying the hiked price.

 'Why are they charging more per item when they already charge more for f*cking delivery service, and we have to tip?' she asks aloud, visibly irate.

'I don't get it. Needless to say, I just sent my husband to pick it up because I'm not doing that sh*t no more.'

The clip ended there, but quickly gained traction online.

A steady stream of commenters pointed out the same, as states like California recently took steps to stomp out hidden 'junk fees' from delivery apps. 

'I stopped using DoorDash for this reason,' one person said, as another pointed out how 'Instacart does this with groceries too.'

Others were more kind with their criticism, pointing out how 'restaurants have to pay 20-30% commission to DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.'

Others mentioned how 'the restaurant sets the price.'

'Most charge more to offset the fee they pay to DoorDash,' one person wrote.

'Its not the fault' another added, as other said they had sworn off the delivery service.

'Reasons I don't use door dash anymore,' one top commenter wrote.

In all, the post prompted 3,553 comments and counting.

DoorDash was not among the parties to publicly respond to Nix's qualms, but the company in 2023 sought to 'set the record straight' with a statement.

'Restaurants should not surmise, based on previous incorrect reporting, that their delivery menus need to be at parity to be successful on DoorDash,' the post read, revealing how the firm does not require restaurants to match in-store prices.

'Restaurants can continue to make their own delivery menu pricing decisions and assess the trade-offs between volume and unit margins.'

The company concluded, 'While DoorDash does not require delivery prices to match in-store, we recommend pricing as close to in-store as possible as data shows menu markups can negatively impact customer conversion and retention.'

In July, Californians welcome a new state law that banned unadvertised service fees and surcharges, and other additional costs that are often added to the end of a bill for online meals. 

That said, the guidance, championed by Gavin Newsom, does not cover differing prices from take-out and dining in, as this is considered separate from a surcharge.

Nix, meanwhile, recently confided to The Daily Dot, 'I no longer use DoorDash or any other delivery services if I can avoid it … the [price] gouging is insane!'

DoorDash did not immediately respond to the DailyMail.com's request for comment.