Domino’s 30-minute delivery guarantee is considered one of the main reasons it’s so successful, but this guarantee doesn’t exist anymore.
In the 1980s, Domino’s pizza deliveries were guaranteed to arrive within 30 minutes, or the order was free. My whole family enjoyed this challenge and we would order pizza from Domino’s frequently. We would start a stopwatch as soon as we placed our order and check to see if it gets delivered in 30 minutes or less.
About 99% of the time the pizza delivery guy would arrive on time which was impressive. I’ve heard some consumers reportedly turned off porch lights to hide house numbers in hopes of getting a free pizza.
How long does Domino’s take to deliver pizza?
Here’s what’s stated on their site:
4 minutes to prepare the order and place it in the oven, 6 minutes for baking, and 5 minutes for cutting, packing, and pickup. The delivery itself takes about 8 minutes. This totals 23 minutes, with an additional 7 minutes kept as a buffer for unforeseen circumstances, making up the 30-minute pizza delivery promise.
Why is my pizza delivery taking longer than 30 minutes?
In an article published by Food & Wine, it was reported that Domino’s has faced longer delivery times than usual. Domino’s CEO, Ritch Allison, acknowledged on one of their earnings call that delivery times have not met their expectations.
“Due to staffing challenges, we haven’t achieved the service improvements I had hoped for in 2021,” he explained. It was mentioned that improving delivery times is now a top priority for the company.
Previously known for its “30 minutes or it’s free” policy, Domino’s still aims to deliver within 30 minutes, although the free pizza offer is no longer in effect. The main issue behind the delays is a nationwide shortage of labor at Domino’s locations, which has also prompted some restaurants, like Chipotle, to raise prices to offset increased wages.
Domino’s plans to hire more drivers and enhance productivity in its pizza shops. “We’re actively exploring ways to improve efficiency in our stores and achieve faster delivery times, even with the same or fewer drivers,” Allison added during the call.
Does Domino’s still have the 30 minutes or it’s free guarantee?
Some Domino’s locations outside the US such as in India may still have this offer. But this is no longer in effect in the US due to two fatal accidents that occurred as a result of delivery drivers rushing to get their orders delivered on time.
Get Domino’s Pizza Delivery from anywhere
Domino’s delivery service has evolved significantly and nowadays instead of relying solely on traditional delivery drivers, Domino’s has explored alternative methods, including drone-powered deliveries.
In a recent press release, the company announced a revolutionary change: customers no longer need to provide a physical address for delivery. Instead, they can pinpoint their exact location on a map. This allows for deliveries to unconventional locations like parks or events without a traditional address. Simply mark your location on the map, and Domino’s delivery drivers will use GPS coordinates to locate you.
Because Domino’s drivers may be delivering to busy areas like the beach or a festival, the new Pinpoint ordering system will require additional details beyond your location. Similar to providing your car’s details for curbside pickup, Pinpoint Delivery asks for specific descriptive features to help drivers identify you as the recipient.
Another distinctive feature of Domino’s new delivery option resembles that of Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services. With Domino’s Pinpoint Delivery, your driver will wait at the specified GPS coordinates for four minutes. If you haven’t met them by the end of this window, the driver is authorized to leave.
While many delivery services attempt to contact you, if they receive no response, they may cancel your order so your driver will get to keep the pizza. That said, if you plan to use Pinpoint delivery, it’s advisable to remain near or at your designated location until your order arrives.