US Delivery Order Error Adjustments Playbook (2026): How Small Restaurants Stop Payout Leakage

If delivery sales are strong but payouts feel short, check adjustments first.

Many independent operators track commission and ignore error deductions. That blind spot can erase margin quietly.

This playbook is built for weekly control, not month-end surprises.

Quick Summary

• Uber and DoorDash both document adjustment/error-charge workflows that can reduce merchant payouts
• DoorDash reporting docs explicitly label ERROR_CHARGE for missing/incorrect reimbursements
• Uber Help explains “Order error adjustments” and where to find them in weekly payment reporting
• The fastest fix is weekly reconciliation plus pack-out proof discipline

What platforms are saying

Uber Eats

Uber Help says missing or incorrect issues may trigger customer refunds and payout adjustments. These appear in weekly payment statements as order error adjustments, with dispute tools in Uber Eats Manager.

DoorDash

DoorDash Merchant Learning and Developer reporting docs define error charges and adjustment transaction categories. DoorDash documentation also explains that error charges can reflect a partial or full item-level reimbursement under policy.

The important part is operational: if you do not reconcile these transaction lines weekly, losses accumulate.

The metric that exposes leakage

Use one baseline KPI:

Adjustment leakage rate = (Error charges + adjustment deductions) / Delivery-channel sales

Then track by week and by platform.

Suggested alert thresholds:

• Green: under 1.0%
• Watch: 1.0% to 2.0%
• Action: above 2.0%

Thresholds vary by concept, but trend direction matters more than one-week noise.

Worked example (weekly)

Assume one store, one week:

• Delivery-channel sales: $12,400
• DoorDash error charges: $148
• DoorDash adjustments: $64
• Uber order error adjustments: $122

Total adjustment leakage:

$148 + $64 + $122 = $334

Leakage rate:

$334 / $12,400 = 2.69%

At 2.69%, this is not minor variance. It is a margin problem that needs immediate process changes.

7-day fix plan

1. Pull weekly transaction detail by platform
2. Filter transaction types for error charge/adjustment lines
3. Group by item and daypart to spot repeat offenders
4. Enforce pack-out checklist on top inaccurate items
5. Add photo proof at handoff for high-dispute orders
6. Dispute questionable deductions with evidence
7. Recheck leakage rate next week

Pack-out controls that actually move the number

• printed ticket checkoff by item
• 5-digit order ID written on bag
• multi-bag numbering (“1 of 2”, “2 of 2”)
• sealed bag photo before handoff
• simplified modifier logic for high-error SKUs

These are low-cost controls. Most teams can implement them this week.

Common mistakes

1. Reviewing adjustments only at month-end
2. Mixing platform deductions into one line with no platform split
3. Running promotions without accuracy controls
4. Disputing without photo/ticket evidence

Checklist

• Weekly adjustment leakage report created
• Platform-specific error transaction filters saved
• Top 10 inaccurate items identified
• Pack-out photo/checkoff SOP activated
• Dispute workflow owner assigned

Related Guides

• US Profitable Minimum Order Amount Calculator (2026)
• US Pickup-First Pricing Playbook (2026)
• DoorDash Fees Breakdown (2025-2026)
• Uber Eats Merchant Fees & Commission Rates (2026)

Sources (checked on 2026-02-14)

• Uber Help - Managing refunds for missing or incorrect orders
• DoorDash Merchant Learning - How to Understand Error Charges and Dispute a DoorDash Charge
• DoorDash Developer Docs - Marketplace Merchant Pick Reports
• DoorDash Merchant Learning - How to Avoid Missing or Incorrect Items
• Reddit - r/restaurantowners: DoorDash, how do you get the most out of it?