[US] Customers sue DoorDash over alleged iPhone delivery premium

A new class-action lawsuit in the US alleges that the DoorDash delivery app charges iPhone users more than it charges Android users, PCMag reports.

According to 9to5Mac reporting, the lawsuit alleges that DoorDash engages in a “fraudulent scheme to charge and collect misleading, premium and hidden fees from consumers for deliveries that DoorDash does not perform and for food that DoorDash does not sell."

The DoorDash customers behind the suit reportedly claim that the company uses an “Expanded Range Fee” to target iPhone users. The fee is charged regardless of where the customer is located. In addition, the lawsuit claims that this Expanded Range Fee is charged whether or not iPhone users subscribe to DashPass, the app’s $9.99 monthly premium service, that purports to offer $0.00 delivery fees. 

The lawsuit - filed by Ross and Reid Hecox in Maryland district court in April - also alleges that DoorDash’s “Express” delivery option, which costs an extra $3, does not affect the actual delivery time of your order. Based on tests cited by the plaintiffs, iPhone users pay higher standard delivery fees than Android users, while the Expanded Range Fee is applied to iPhone users more often than Android users.

DoorDash states that the Expanded Range Fee "helps DoorDash preserve your access to the available merchants farthest from you."

DoorDash has reportedly denied any wrongdoing. A statement from the delivery giant said, “We ensure fees are disclosed throughout the customer experience, including on each restaurant storepage and before checkout.

"Building this trust is essential, and it’s why the majority of delivery orders on our platform are placed by return customers. We will continue to strive to make our platform work even better for customers, and will vigorously fight these allegations.”

Source: PCMag

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

A new class-action lawsuit in the US alleges that the DoorDash delivery app charges iPhone users more than it charges Android users, PCMag reports.

According to 9to5Mac reporting, the lawsuit alleges that DoorDash engages in a “fraudulent scheme to charge and collect misleading, premium and hidden fees from consumers for deliveries that DoorDash does not perform and for food that DoorDash does not sell."

The DoorDash customers behind the suit reportedly claim that the company uses an “Expanded Range Fee” to target iPhone users. The fee is charged regardless of where the customer is located. In addition, the lawsuit claims that this Expanded Range Fee is charged whether or not iPhone users subscribe to DashPass, the app’s $9.99 monthly premium service, that purports to offer $0.00 delivery fees. 

The lawsuit - filed by Ross and Reid Hecox in Maryland district court in April - also alleges that DoorDash’s “Express” delivery option, which costs an extra $3, does not affect the actual delivery time of your order. Based on tests cited by the plaintiffs, iPhone users pay higher standard delivery fees than Android users, while the Expanded Range Fee is applied to iPhone users more often than Android users.

DoorDash states that the Expanded Range Fee "helps DoorDash preserve your access to the available merchants farthest from you."

DoorDash has reportedly denied any wrongdoing. A statement from the delivery giant said, “We ensure fees are disclosed throughout the customer experience, including on each restaurant storepage and before checkout.

"Building this trust is essential, and it’s why the majority of delivery orders on our platform are placed by return customers. We will continue to strive to make our platform work even better for customers, and will vigorously fight these allegations.”

Source: PCMag

(Links and quotes via original reporting)