Instacart Delivery Service Experiences

[swsig]

Our daughter gave us a membership to Instacart, a service that delivers from grocery stores and other retailers. Does anyone have experience using Instacart?

My main concern is that the delivery people are not Instacart employees, but are independent contractors, and I have no idea how Instacart screens and selects these people. Apparently they expect tips. I have no problem with tipping, but I'm not too thrilled about forking over cash to some unknown independent contractor on my front porch.

Has Instacart worked well for you guys?

 

[arjay]

They don't take cash

 

[UncleEd]

My experience is with Publix Grocers.

It has been extremely positive.

I set a time for delivery after making
selections (and alternates) and grocery
arrive on time.

I've ordered at 8 a.m. and goods were
deliveered by 9:30 a.m., faster than if
I'd gone to store myself.

Employees come in their own cars and
deliver upon YOUR instructions. I always
meet them at door as you can track when
they are coming and how far away.

The tip is in the charge, around 15 percent
but I've been so happy with service I up
the tip after delivery when I see if there were
any screwups. This 'upping' is done on your
computer.

When screwups occur, notify Instacart and
bill is adjusted. If you get something you
didn't order, it's yours. I've gotten a few
free items this way.

You can report bad service or excellent
service. So far, I've reported nothing but
excellent serfvice.

Started using it in 2020 with onset of Covid
and while I don't shop every time with service,
it's dang convenient.

I will continue to shop with Instacart.

Shopping tip: know layout of your store so
as to order in a methodical way.

Perishables are not collected until end of
shopping and are stored in temp controlled
bins if any delays occur.

Oh, one more thing, if you stay on your
computer while shopping is in progress,
you can message instructions for changes
or whatever comes up.

And you are notified of any substitutes if
shopper picks some and you can nix the
decision. Shopper is in "contact" with
you the whole time.

It is done thru Instacart with credit card
which they have on file from you. l Never
have had a problem.

Minimal order is $35. Delivery is "free" but
a surcharge is added when gas prices are
high. Very minimal.

Another thing: When you are making
selections, sometimes store does not have
a particular item. It will ask you, even before
the shopping begins, if such and such
substitue is OK. And you can specify
No Substitution.

Believe me, it's easier than walking the
ailes yourself.

 

[Walkin Horse]

Most days I enjoy going to the grocery store. With all the BOGO that Publix has I can save a little. Plus I meet people,talk to the butcher and the girl in the bakery. I have a fantasy going on that she likes older guys.

 

[Yaworski]

I don't believe in tipping unless you go out of your way to do something extra. It's your job and you agreed to the wages.

Yes, I tip at restaurants but I vociferously object to the idea that we now tip 1/5 of the check.

That rant over. I'm healthy and able so I like to go to the store.

 

[UncleEd]

Yes, I tip at restaurants but I vociferously object to the idea that we now tip 1/5 of the check.

I suggest you'll be happier if you stay
out of sit-down restaurants with table
service and confine yourself to the
Jack in the Box drive thru.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Instacart has an annual revenue of $1.8 billion. In 2018, Instacart announced national expansions with retailers, including Walmart Canada stores, Staples Canada, M&M Food Market, Kroger, Aldi, Sam's Club, Publix, and Costco. Folks seem to be happy with them.

We have used them occasionally for Walmart, Kroger and Aldi. No complaints.

 

[Yaworski]

I suggest you'll be happier if you stay
out of sit-down restaurants with table
service and confine yourself to the
Jack in the Box drive thru.

I'm old enough to remember when the standard tip was 10%. Then the waitstaff declared that 15% was the new normal because "prices went up." Now, the greedy manbun wearing, art history majors are declaring that I need to tip them 20% for their lousy service. Yeah, prices went up so your tip went up with them.

 

[arjay]

Cheapskate lol

 

[Yaworski]

Cheapskate lol

Not at all. I just expect to get something for my money. Tipping has become an entitlement. Waitstaff believe that they deserve the tip no matter how lousy of a job they do.

 

[UncleEd]

For those who don't like or resent
the tipping policies of Instacart or
the expectations of staff at a sit-down
restaurant, do not patronize
them.

Simple as that.

Now, back to Instacart. I like it.

 

[magmag]

Those "pickers" doesn't check for expired dates. Fruits or vegetables, forget about it you'll always get the old and 1/2 dead rotten ones.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Those "pickers" doesn't check for expired dates. Fruits or vegetables, forget about it you'll always get the old and 1/2 dead rotten ones.

That has yet to happen to us.

 

[Rpg]

I'm old enough to remember when the standard tip was 10%. Then the waitstaff declared that 15% was the new normal because "prices went up." Now, the greedy manbun wearing, art history majors are declaring that I need to tip them 20% for their lousy service. Yeah, prices went up so your tip went up with them.

What you perhaps don't know is that the servers get paid less than $2.25/hr from the restaurant. The fact that they get tips is the excuse for the low hourly rate.

You can bet that lots of restaurant lobbyists got paid millions to convince congress to include this exception to federal minimum wage (now about $7.25/ hour) laws.

I'm more irritated by the subsidy to the restaurants this creates than the paltry tip income servers receive.

 

[swsig]

Those "pickers" doesn't check for expired dates. Fruits or vegetables, forget about it you'll always get the old and 1/2 dead rotten ones.

That's good info. Mrs. swsig is very picky about apples and oranges, so it looks like I'll have to continue to get those myself.

 

[Yaworski]

What you perhaps don't know is that the servers get paid less than $2.25/hr from the restaurant.

I've known that for decades. The solution is to find another job. When people are choosing to become electricians or masons instead of being a waiter, maybe restaurants will pay more.

 

[swsig]

Hmm, a bit of thread drift going on here. I shouldn't have mentioned tips.

 

[UncleEd]

Those "pickers" doesn't check for expired dates. Fruits or vegetables, forget about it you'll always get the old and 1/2 dead rotten ones.

Not true in my case.

The Instacart shoppers I've had
have been very good but I do remind them
to look for the latest "Use by" or "Sell by"
dates. I've never been stung in two years.

 

[pawngal]

I don't believe in tipping unless you go out of your way to do something extra. It's your job and you agreed to the wages.

Yes, I tip at restaurants but I vociferously object to the idea that we now tip 1/5 of the check.

That rant over. I'm healthy and able so I like to go to the store.

In many cases wait staff in a restaurant it not even paid minimum wage. Sometimes as little as $2.13 per hour. Pony up or stay home

 

[sigp220.45]

I used to work for tips, so I tip everybody. Servers - of course. Today lunch for me and my shooting buddy was 34.14 so the gal got ten bucks.

Movers - at least 20 bucks each a day and I usually get them lunch. I moved a lot and my stuff was always well taken care of.

Once a kid from Best Buy loaded a big TV in my rig and I gave him a fiver. He actually looked all around like it was a trick before he pocketed it.

Another time a tableful of sphincters stiffed their waitress, who was also our waitress. They had been jerks and she wasn't surprised but she did cry a bit. I added 20 to my already big tip and all was well. It'll come back around to both tables some day.

I haven't used Instacart because I like going to King Soopers, but I'll wear out Door Dash if I don't feel like cooking. And of course, I tip.