Apple iPhone users are allegedly paying higher DoorDash delivery fees than Android counterparts, a proposed class-action lawsuit claims.
However, the Florida-based delivery service DoorDash slams the lawsuit claim as merely "baseless."
DoorDash Allegedly Charges iPhone Users Higher Delivery Fees, Lawsuit Says
An AFP journalist checks the DoorDash food delivery application on her smartphone on February 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. - DoorDash on February 27, 2020 began the process of going public with a US stock offering that could value the popular restaurant meal delivery service at more than $10 billion.
In a world where mobile apps and on-demand delivery services have become integral to our daily lives, convenience often comes at a cost. But a lawsuit accuses the giant food delivery app DoorDash of charging iPhone users with more expensive delivery fees. The accusation raises questions about fairness and pricing discrimination among mobile users.
According to SFGate, DoorDash is at the center of a proposed class-action lawsuit, which claims that the company has been overcharging iPhone users for delivery fees compared to Android users. The complaint alleges that the on-demand service deliberately implemented a system that charged Apple mobile devices higher, resulting in a discriminatory pricing structure.
Meanwhile, Gizmodo reports that a DashPass subscriber, Ross Hecox, and his sons filed the lawsuit, alleging discrimination in delivery fees. The lawsuit points to instances where iPhone users were charged significantly more for delivery fees than Android users.
The complaint says that an iPhone user who placed an order at a local steakhouse and Chick-fil-A was slapped with an expanded range fee, which resulted in a more expensive delivery charge. On the other hand, the suit claims that DoorDash did not include an expanded range for the Android user.
According to Business Insider, the suit also includes another instance wherein an iPhone had to pay more. The user ordered a Panera Bread from the service. Surprisingly the app charged an additional $0.99 for the Apple user, whereas the Android device skips on it.
The complaint attached a screenshot of the two varying pricing to prove the claim. It further notes emphasizes, "DoorDash charges the expanded range fee on iPhone users more often."
The lawsuit demands damages from the Florida-based service to $1 billion, citing the implementation of an "illegal pricing scheme over the past four years."
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DoorDash Denies Charging iPhone Users More
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 04: A Doordash sticker is seen on a window at Mallenche Mexican Grill in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn on December 04, 2020 in New York City. Food delivery startup DoorDash Inc is expected to raise its U.S. initial public offering up to $3.14 billion.
Responding to the allegations, a DoorDash spokesperson asserted that it treats all its users equally, denying the lawsuit's claims.
The spokesperson denies any intentional bias in its pricing structure and intends to defend itself against the lawsuit "vigorously." The delivery service further assures everyone that it transparently shares the breakdown of each restaurant before customers proceed to checkout their orders.
DoorDash touts that the trust it has built with its users is why "the majority of delivery orders on our platform are placed by return customers."
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