It's part of tipping culture because it uses the acceptance of tipping to slip this bidding system in. It also doubles as a tip because there is no separate tip option and tipping is expected for delivery. I'm sure more people wouldn't mind "bidding" low if it just meant getting their food later. Instead there's also the specter threat that a disgruntled worker will tamper with their food for daring to make a low "bid".

Exactly. All the people complaining about extortion don't understand the economics of Door dash / GrubHub / etc.

The food delivery person sees a potential job come in and can accept or reject it. In a few seconds they decide what to do. If it takes them 10 minutes to go to the place, 10 minutes to wait for the food, and 10 minutes to drive to you, they estimate a total of 30 minutes of work.

Of course they're not going to do it for no tip. There are plenty of other people tipping. Your food is going to wait for somebody to pick it up for whatever minimum amount DoorDash guarantees them. Maybe there is a second order going in your direction.

That's always been the exact problem with American tipping culture. When it's expected to tip, you're no longer doing it to get better service, just normal service - which means it's just a hidden extra price.

Focusing on the wrong issue, but you're technically correct. You're not tipping. You're guessing at what door dash should be properly paying their employees instead of DD doing it themselves in your favor.