Man warns of unexpected DoorDash charge on food from Shoreline

John Rumpelein from Edmonds reported being charged a $4. 99 fee labeled as a “SEA Regulatory Response Fee” on DoorDash orders from Shoreline restaurants, with 22 instances occurring between February and July 2025. Despite reaching out to DoorDash customer service for clarification and a refund, the fee persisted on his orders, notably from Jersey Mike’s. This charge relates to Seattle's PayUp ordinance, which guarantees app-based delivery workers a minimum wage, but it should not apply to Shoreline. Avalara, DoorDash's tax compliance provider, confirmed that Shoreline deliveries should not incur this fee due to a ZIP code overlap.

The City of Shoreline has not implemented this fee, which complicates the issue further. DoorDash's head of policy communications, Parker Dorrough, stated that the company plans to refine its fee structure to reduce confusion in such cases. Rumpelein's experience highlights the challenges faced by residents in areas sharing ZIP codes with larger cities. The resolution could lead to clearer fee structures for delivery services in similar jurisdictions.