When You SHOULD (and SHOULDN’T) Unassign Orders — DoorDash, Uber Eats & Grubhub

A lot of drivers hesitate to unassign orders because they’re afraid of hurting their completion rate or missing out on earnings. But sometimes, unassigning before pickup is the smartest move you can make. It can save you from wasted time, messy handoffs, poor ratings, or even wrongful deactivation.

That said, some drivers swing too far the other way and become trigger-happy with unassigning, bailing on orders at the first sign of inconvenience. That kind of impulsive behavior can backfire leading to inconsistent earnings, completion rate issues, and fewer strong opportunities from the apps.

The key is to find the balance between being strategic and being reactionary. Know when to walk away for the right reasons, not just because something isn’t perfect.

So in this article, We are talking about:

• Realistic Reasons You Should Unassign from an Order

• How it ACTUALLY is for Gig Workers

• Everything in between!

Disclaimer: The content of this article does not contain and is never intended to be legal, business, financial, tax, or health advice of any kind, This article is for entertainment purposes only. It is advised that you conduct your own research and consult with qualified professionals before applying anything you find online. 

I also want to be clear that everything we are going to go over is very market dependent, and what applies to me and my market may not apply to you.

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Customer Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore

Some problems don’t show up until after you accept. Pay attention to how the customer communicates (or doesn’t), because these early signs can tell you a lot about how the delivery might go.

“Are you actually going to deliver my order?” - Customers who start off accusatory or distrustful often stay that way. This is a sign of potential conflict, low ratings, or false complaints down the line.

This can also be why the base rate is high, because of how it was declined over and over, or unassigned previously.

Vague or Sketchy Delivery Instructions (Know Your Area) - “Just call me when you get here,” incomplete addresses, or unclear meeting points can all be red flags. If it’s in a confusing or unsafe area, use your knowledge of the market to decide whether it’s worth continuing. 

Sometimes it does make sense, my area has me conducting a lot of deliveries on the beach and I know the beach area so it makes sense, whereas some can simply be because they don’t want to give you a door or gate code because the area isn’t great.

Regardless, unassigning before pickup is safer than getting stuck in a bad situation later, I know on UberEats this can be hard because they won’t give you the customer address until later but still. That is why you need to learn your area and customer base as much as possible!

Being Overly Vague or Refusing Communication Entirely - Blank notes, ignored messages, or radio silence are classic time-wasters. Start the in-app timer as soon as it’s allowed to create a paper trail. If they still don’t respond, it’s usually better to unassign early than risk your completion rate on a ghost order.

I love how these people always have the same excuse too, “oh I’m sorry, I was in the shower”, or something like that. Seriously, who dropped you on your head as a child to where you think it is smart to hop in the shower after ordering food?

Also, every person who says that is totally dry when they say that, and fully clothed, sometimes even dirty or sweaty. Either you are bad at lying or showering, possibly both!

Over-Messaging Early On - Customers who bombard you with instructions, location updates, or “Where are you?” messages before pickup are often hyper-critical or controlling. These are the people most likely to leave poor ratings, tip bait, or even file wrongful complaints that could hurt your account.

If I wanted someone up my ass the moment I start working on something, I would start dating again. I promise no one wants someone micromanaging people right off the bat. 

Immediate Hostility or Accusations - If a customer starts off aggressive — accusing you of stealing, questioning your route, or demanding proof — don’t engage. These people aren’t worth the air they breathe, so don’t even waste yours.

Unassign before pickup and report them as unsafe through the app. Once flagged, you usually won’t get paired with them again. Sometimes the apps will still pair you up, but screenshot and record everything and hold them accountable when you can.

Restaurants That Are a Time Sink

Some restaurants are just consistently bad for drivers — long prep times, poor communication, or zero regard for your schedule. If you arrive and see a crowd of waiting drivers, missing orders, or disorganization, it’s often smarter to unassign than to lose 20+ minutes of your time.

Standing around for an hour because the restaurant isn’t ready doesn’t make you “patient”,  it tells both the algorithm and the restaurant that you’re willing to be disrespected.

Once you show that kind of tolerance, you’ll keep getting that same treatment. The algorithm learns you’ll accept long prep times, and the restaurant learns you’ll wait no matter how poorly they handle orders. Tolerating disrespect only invites more of it.

Other common restaurant-side issues that justify unassigning early:

• Prep times suddenly spike after you arrive, adding 30–45 minutes or more to your wait.

• The merchant runs out of certain items, forcing delays while they contact the customer or make substitutions.

• The Restaurant Is Straight-Up Irresponsible - Some merchants don’t start the order until you arrive, forget to turn on their tablet, “don’t see” the order, or just lie. This isn’t your problem to solve. Standing around while they figure it out wastes your time and rewards their bad behavior. If it’s clear they’re not taking the order seriously, unassign and move on.

Unassigning early sets a clear boundary. It signals that your time has value and that you won’t enable bad behavior from either side.

When Something Just Feels Off

Not every situation can be explained with clear bullet points or policy references. Sometimes, you get a delivery that just gives you a bad feeling. Maybe it’s the way the customer is interacting with you, maybe it’s the vibe at the pickup location, or maybe something about the delivery instructions just doesn’t sit right.

These moments are important to pay attention to. While not every uneasy feeling is worth unassigning for, recognizing and noting that feeling matters. Over time, experienced drivers learn to trust their instincts — often, those gut reactions are picking up on subtle cues you can’t easily put into words.

If the feeling is strong and you genuinely believe the situation could become problematic, it’s okay to unassign and move on. And if you decide to proceed, at least you’ve mentally flagged it so you’re extra alert.

Your intuition is a tool. Don’t ignore it just because it’s not “on the script.”

Final Thoughts

Unassigning isn’t quitting — it’s being strategic. The key is to spot red flags early, trust your judgment, and make decisions that protect your time, your earnings, your ratings, and your account.

It’s also about maintaining respect for yourself as a driver. When you tolerate disrespectful treatment from customers, merchants, or the system, you’re signaling that your time and boundaries don’t matter. Unassigning at the right time isn’t just tactical — it’s a way to set clear expectations for how you expect to be treated.

If you would like to add some other perspective to unassigning orders on Doordash UberEats or Grubhub, feel free to email me: drivenwyld@gmail.com and who knows? Maybe your email or perspective and be featured in a post as well!