I am an InstaCart shopper. I love it! But the system is flawed. People commit fraud saying they didn’t get things just so they don’t have to pay for them. The top fraud items are:
Diapers
Formula
Baby wipes
Steaks
I’ve completely stopped accepting batches at Walmart's because I whittled it down to 90% of frauds were from there.
30% of people don’t tip enough for the drama they cause. For instance, $4 tip on an order that I need to text them about item replacement choices and they don’t answer so I refund then they rate a low star rating because they didn’t get anything (or pay for that refunded item) but all along it was their fault because they didn’t answer me. I have to do screen shots of the texts to “back my claim”. So basically they didn’t communicate, then rated me bad and now they’ve taken money out of my pocket because of the rating I don’t get batches.
Don’t start me on the houses that you need an off road vehicle to get to that they conveniently forget to mention.
Yes I know I said I love it and I do but IC needs to show a little more confidence and backing in the shoppers and stop taking the customers side every time.
Ratings are key to our ability to continue to work and survive. If all went well just rate 5. It’s almost worth more than a tip. Don’t rate 4 because you don’t like my car or my boots. This is serious for us. It’s our paycheck and you the customer have the power to see that we get it or we don’t.
One more thing ANSWER OUR TEXTS!!!!! We are timed and standing there waiting for your reply also costs us money. I could be on a 3 separate batch and your not replying is holding up another customers items being delivered.
Cash is king but honestly in this game ratings are gold.
I am an InstaCart full service worker. I enjoyed your article and thoughts. I would love if people would do a 20-25% tip.... Even a flat $10 or + is cool. Not sure if all other shoppers or delivers feel this way BUT cash is always appreciated too, like if you find your service particularly fantastic... TIP THEM WELL!!
Another think that would be helpful is to rate 5 stars... And if you don't leave a comment as to why you rated 4 stars or below. Our ratings help us get the better batches.
Great post - resonates with me on a bunch of levels as someone relying on these services for supplies, as well as a parent of two young kids working from home with a spouse who is definitely pulling at least 50%, but has more meetings than I do that require kids out of the shared office.
Re instacart, I look at this as capitalism doing its best in a tough situation rather than bleak and end-of-days capitalism. From looking at the Reddit sub, the shoppers appear to be largely very competent (and far better and quicker at navigating a supermarket than the average shopper, meaning less time spent indoors and less store density in aggregate), more careful than average about wearing face coverings/gloves, and on average younger and less at risk than the average customer. Though there are unfortunately plenty of older people working as well.
The retroactive changing of tips is really, really bad behavior (though in at least one of the posts it was clear that someone had just missed a decimal point). There should be some flag in the algorithm that punishes users for doing that repeatedly.
I'm a instore shopper and I just like full service shop orders not only for driver to pick up but also customers can curb side pick up but we arnt allowed to accept tips nor is there a option for the customer to tip in the app like the full service except if I shop the order stage it(bag/label) order for the full service to pick up and deliver the customer can tip but not me as shopper but the driver only.
I am an InstaCart shopper. I love it! But the system is flawed. People commit fraud saying they didn’t get things just so they don’t have to pay for them. The top fraud items are:
Diapers
Formula
Baby wipes
Steaks
I’ve completely stopped accepting batches at Walmart's because I whittled it down to 90% of frauds were from there.
30% of people don’t tip enough for the drama they cause. For instance, $4 tip on an order that I need to text them about item replacement choices and they don’t answer so I refund then they rate a low star rating because they didn’t get anything (or pay for that refunded item) but all along it was their fault because they didn’t answer me. I have to do screen shots of the texts to “back my claim”. So basically they didn’t communicate, then rated me bad and now they’ve taken money out of my pocket because of the rating I don’t get batches.
Don’t start me on the houses that you need an off road vehicle to get to that they conveniently forget to mention.
Yes I know I said I love it and I do but IC needs to show a little more confidence and backing in the shoppers and stop taking the customers side every time.
Ratings are key to our ability to continue to work and survive. If all went well just rate 5. It’s almost worth more than a tip. Don’t rate 4 because you don’t like my car or my boots. This is serious for us. It’s our paycheck and you the customer have the power to see that we get it or we don’t.
One more thing ANSWER OUR TEXTS!!!!! We are timed and standing there waiting for your reply also costs us money. I could be on a 3 separate batch and your not replying is holding up another customers items being delivered.
Cash is king but honestly in this game ratings are gold.
Whew. Thank you for caring!
I am an InstaCart full service worker. I enjoyed your article and thoughts. I would love if people would do a 20-25% tip.... Even a flat $10 or + is cool. Not sure if all other shoppers or delivers feel this way BUT cash is always appreciated too, like if you find your service particularly fantastic... TIP THEM WELL!!
Another think that would be helpful is to rate 5 stars... And if you don't leave a comment as to why you rated 4 stars or below. Our ratings help us get the better batches.
Great post - resonates with me on a bunch of levels as someone relying on these services for supplies, as well as a parent of two young kids working from home with a spouse who is definitely pulling at least 50%, but has more meetings than I do that require kids out of the shared office.
Re instacart, I look at this as capitalism doing its best in a tough situation rather than bleak and end-of-days capitalism. From looking at the Reddit sub, the shoppers appear to be largely very competent (and far better and quicker at navigating a supermarket than the average shopper, meaning less time spent indoors and less store density in aggregate), more careful than average about wearing face coverings/gloves, and on average younger and less at risk than the average customer. Though there are unfortunately plenty of older people working as well.
The retroactive changing of tips is really, really bad behavior (though in at least one of the posts it was clear that someone had just missed a decimal point). There should be some flag in the algorithm that punishes users for doing that repeatedly.
I'm a instore shopper and I just like full service shop orders not only for driver to pick up but also customers can curb side pick up but we arnt allowed to accept tips nor is there a option for the customer to tip in the app like the full service except if I shop the order stage it(bag/label) order for the full service to pick up and deliver the customer can tip but not me as shopper but the driver only.