Watch out, male Instacart drivers: A DoorDash driver is coming for your weaponized incompetence throne.
In a TikTok with 2 million views, DoorDash customer Cherri Donelson (@cherridonelson) chronicles the failed delivery of her Target order. The video starts with a screenshot of a page confirming Donelson’s order had been dropped off at 11:34am, complete with a picture of the tied Target bag on her doorstep.
What did this DoorDash driver deliver?
Next, Donelson includes doorbell camera footage of her Dasher, Ronaldo, leaving the item at her door and taking the confirmation picture. Following this, Donelson films herself opening the bag in her bathroom. She pulls out the emergency contraceptive she ordered.
The problem? It’s still locked in the anti-theft box.
She uses a face filter and the trending Jet2 Holiday sound to express her disappointment and incredulity, adding in the caption, “Count ya mfn days Target…”
‘Congrats on the baby I guess??’
In the comments section, viewers said Donelson should take it as a sign to have a baby.
“When is the gender reveal,” one joked.
“Gotta keep it now sis that’s a sign,” a second said. To this, Donelson responded with a video of herself and her two children, writing in the caption “3 Kids Is Craaaaazzy !”
Several criticized the DoorDasher for seemingly going through self-checkout and failing to get a Target employee to unlock the case. Others shared how Donelson can open it.
“Okay so I’ve worked at target all you need is a magnet, just put it on the grey part and it will click so you can open it,” one said.
Others suggested a hammer or a rock would do the trick just as well.
A hammer would definitely work, as a Walmart shopper whose razors were delivered in an anti-theft box in 2024 demonstrated.
Seriously, what’s up with male delivery drivers?
While Donelson did not explicitly blame Ronaldo or the fact that he’s male for the unfortunate state of her item, many grocery delivery customers have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with male shoppers, even asking Instacart to add a feature that specifically lets them choose a female shopper.
According to Today, some of the frustrating reasons customers feel this way are because male shoppers often:
- Offer poor substitutions, sometimes suggesting an item that is in no way similar to the original. For example, customers have had shoppers substitute tampons for cotton swabs or mushrooms (yes, the things you eat. No joke).
- Claim in-stock items are out of stock. For example, they might say the store is entirely out of milk, which, except in the case of an emergency delivery or refrigeration issue, is highly unlikely. Or, they’ll say a more specific item is out of stock and then send the customer a picture that includes the item they’re looking for.
- Purchase incorrect item quantities. This often happens with produce. For example, customers who ordered a stalk of celery and a pound of green beans received a ripped-off piece of celery and a single green bean, respectively. Meanwhile, a customer who specified they wanted six individual bananas received six bushels.
- Purchase clearly damaged or expired items.
- Look in the wrong section for items and claim they’re out of stock. For example, a shopper declared a store completely out of eyebrow pencils because they were looking in the school supply aisle. (Mind you, Instacart shows shoppers where items are located.
What did DoorDash say?
Despite these experiences, DoorDash tells Today, “In nearly all instances, customers receive what they order — less than 1% of grocery orders are reported with missing, incorrect, or defective items. We’re always working to improve so that every customer gets exactly what they ordered, every single time, and we value feedback to help us enhance the experience.”
The Mary Sue contacted Donelson via TikTok comment and direct message. It contacted DoorDash and Target via press email.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
