How to Use DoorDash: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Getting Your Meal Delivered

Getting restaurant food delivered straight to your home has never been easier thanks to DoorDash. While using this technology might seem overwhelming at first, this comprehensive guide will walk you through every single step, assuming no prior knowledge of food delivery apps or smartphones.

Finding and Installing DoorDash

Let’s start at the very beginning. First, you’ll need to find the app store on your phone. If you have an iPhone, look for a blue square icon with a white “A” in it – this is called the “App Store.”

For Android phones, look for the “Google Play Store,” which has a colorful triangle icon. Once you’ve opened either store, look for the search bar (usually at the top of the screen) and type in “DoorDash.”

You’ll see the DoorDash app, which has a white background with a curved red line that looks like a “D.” Tap the “Get” or “Install” button – don’t worry, the app itself is free to download, though you’ll pay for food and delivery later.

Creating Your Account

After the app downloads and you tap to open it, you’ll need to create an account. The app will ask for your email address, phone number, and a password. Choose a password you can remember but others can’t guess easily.

You’ll receive a verification code via text message – enter this code when prompted. This extra step helps keep your account secure. The app will also ask for your address – this is important as it shows you restaurants that deliver to your location.

Setting Up Payment

Before you can order food, you’ll need to add a payment method. Look for the small profile icon, usually at the bottom right of the screen.

Tap it, then look for “Payment Methods” or “Payment.” Select “Add Payment Method” and choose credit or debit card. You’ll need to enter your card number, expiration date, security code (the three digits on the back of your card), and your billing ZIP code.

The app saves this information securely so you won’t need to enter it again. If you’re worried about security, know that DoorDash uses encryption to protect your information.

Ordering Your Food

Now for the fun part – ordering food! On the main screen, you’ll see restaurants available in your area. You can scroll through them all, or use the search bar at the top to look for specific restaurants or types of food (like “pizza” or “Chinese”).

Each restaurant shows some important information: delivery time estimate, delivery fee, and minimum order amount if any.

When you find a restaurant you like, tap on it to see their menu. Items are usually organized by categories (appetizers, main courses, etc.). Tap any item to see more details, including the price and any customization options.

For example, if you’re ordering a burger, you might be able to choose how you want it cooked or add extra toppings.

To add an item to your order, tap “Add to Cart” or “Add to Order.” You can add multiple items from the same restaurant. Your cart total will appear at the bottom of the screen. When you’re ready to check out, tap on the cart icon or the bar showing your total.

Understanding the Checkout Process

The checkout screen shows several important pieces of information:

• Your food items and their costs
• Delivery fee (this varies by restaurant and distance)
• Service fee (this helps DoorDash operate their service)
• Tax
• Driver tip (you can adjust this, but remember, drivers rely heavily on tips)
• Total amount

You’ll also see an estimated delivery time. Before confirming your order, you can add delivery instructions (like “Please knock loudly” or “The house with the blue door”).

Tracking Your Order

After placing your order, you can watch its progress through several stages:

1. Restaurant confirms order
2. Restaurant prepares food
3. Driver is assigned
4. Driver picks up food
5. Driver is on the way to you

You’ll see the name and photo of your delivery driver, and can even watch on a map as they drive to your home. The app will send notifications as your order progresses, but you can also open the app anytime to check the status.

Receiving Your Delivery

When the driver arrives, they’ll follow your delivery instructions. If you didn’t specify “no contact delivery,” they’ll knock or ring your doorbell and hand you your food. You don’t need to sign anything or pay anything at the door – remember, payment was already handled through the app.

After Delivery

After you receive your food, the app will ask you to rate both the restaurant and the driver. This is optional but helpful for other users. If anything was wrong with your order, you can report issues through the app by finding your order in your history (tap the profile icon and look for “Orders” or “Order History”).

Helpful Tips to Remember

• Save your favorite restaurants by tapping the heart icon
• Look for restaurants with high ratings (shown in stars)
• Check delivery times before ordering – they can be longer during peak meal times
• Some restaurants have minimum order amounts
• You can schedule orders in advance
• If you need to cancel an order, do it quickly before the restaurant starts preparing your food
• Keep your phone nearby while waiting for delivery in case the driver needs to contact you
• Consider joining DashPass if you order frequently – it reduces fees for a monthly subscription

Getting Help

If you ever need assistance, tap your profile icon and look for “Help” or “Support.” You can get help with specific orders or general questions. DoorDash’s customer service is available 24/7.

Remember, while this might seem like a lot of information, you’ll quickly get comfortable with the process after a few orders. The convenience of having your favorite restaurants delivered right to your door makes it worth learning these steps.