topic Re: Instacart Express questions in Community Chat

Instacart Express questions

Mindy D — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 16:34:19 GMT

Hi All. I have used Instacart with Publix. Prices of each food item are considerably higher when I use them. When joining Instacart Express versus Instacart through Publix has anyone noticed a difference in prices or in the listing of available products. Instacart with Publix hides items that are in stock to display items that are currently featured at Publix. Thank you in advance.

Re: Instacart Express questions

judy0330 — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 16:37:55 GMT

I used Instacart for the first time the other day. The prices were the same as in the store I used and I got sale prices for any items on sale in the store.

"Being an Instacart Express member, you receive unlimited free deliveries on orders over $35, you won't be required to pay service fees on all orders, you can order from multiple stores at once without an additional charge, and you never have to pay for busy pricing during periods of high demand."

"Busy Pricing at Instacart. ... Our goal is to eliminate times when delivery is unavailable, so that Instacart is always reliable. If there are far more delivery requests than available Shoppers, Busy Pricing will add a small fee to the delivery cost. Busy Pricing only affects popular delivery times."

Re: Instacart Express questions

Mindy D — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 16:41:30 GMT

@judy0330 wrote:
I used Instacart for the first time the other day. The prices were the same as in the store I used and I got sale prices for any items on sale in the store.

"Being an Instacart Express member, you receive unlimited free deliveries on orders over $35, you won't be required to pay service fees on all orders, you can order from multiple stores at once without an additional charge, and you never have to pay for busy pricing during periods of high demand."

"Busy Pricing at Instacart. ... Our goal is to eliminate times when delivery is unavailable, so that Instacart is always reliable. If there are far more delivery requests than available Shoppers, Busy Pricing will add a small fee to the delivery cost. Busy Pricing only affects popular delivery times."

@judy0330 How does the ordering from multiple stores at once work?

Re: Instacart Express questions

judy0330 — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 17:06:11 GMT

@Mindy D I haven't done it but found this online:

Switching between stores

In the app—

Tap the Store name at the top of the screen to see a list of available stores for your location.
Tap the store name for the store you’d like to shop. You’ll arrive at the store’s landing page.
Browse, search, and add items to your cart.

On a computer—

Click Store at the top left of the page to see a list of available stores for your location.
Click the name of the store you’d like to shop. You’ll arrive at the store’s landing page.
Browse, search, and add items to your cart.

Ordering from multiple stores

If you add items from multiple stores to your cart, you’ll see items in your cart grouped by store. This creates a multiple delivery order, with separate shoppers and delivery windows for each store. You can add separate ratings and tips for each shopper for the separate deliveries.

Separate delivery fees and minimums apply for each store.
Any free delivery promos or credits require a $35 minimum per delivery. This minimum also applies for Instacart Express members.

Re: Instacart Express questions

SilleeMee — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 17:06:29 GMT

I believe service fees are to be paid by everyone who uses Instacart regardless of membership or not. That was a change from their previous 'no-service-fee' membership.

@Spurt can you help out here?

Re: Instacart Express questions

Spurt — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 18:38:06 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
I believe service fees are to be paid by everyone who uses Instacart regardless of membership or not. That was a change from their previous 'no-service-fee' membership.

@Spurt can you help out here?

@SilleeMee

Quoting from the website---enter your location to check availiability and pricing/fees/tax

Cost: Instacart Express costs $99 a year, which includes free 1 and 2- hour grocery delivery (when available) with a minimum purchase of $35. Service fees may still apply, and this cost also doesn’t include the optional tips for the shopper/driver. The Monthly Express membership is $9.99.

In our city we DO pay a Service Fee but we do NOT pay a Deliver Fee..... Perhaps they negotiate a different contract in different cities....I know pricing varies from store to store in our town, so instacart charges an average price cause they shop from all the different stores....but I heard its different in other cities....so maybe the fees are...

Re: Instacart Express questions

Spurt — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 18:35:49 GMT

@SilleeMee

If you go to Instacart.com and put in your zip code it should tell you what they do in your location regardeing fees and charges.....

Re: Instacart Express questions

SilleeMee — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 18:42:46 GMT

@Spurt wrote:
@SilleeMee

If you go to Instacart.com and put in your zip code it should tell you what they do in your location regardeing fees and charges.....

@Spurt

Exactly what I noticed when I signed in there. Looks like it goes by your location for service fee charges. I suspect it might have something to do with bags or boxes used to deliver goods. In my state bags and boxes used to pack items are taxed as 'sales tax' when you order stuff online. But food is not taxed so instead fees are added.

Re: Instacart Express questions

VaBelle35 — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 18:48:54 GMT

You are paying more for the convenience.

I use it for work events but have used it once in a week I coulnd't get to the grocery store.

Re: Instacart Express questions

SilleeMee — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 19:50:45 GMT

Here's something to think about...

When you get your stuff delivered, remove the items from the bags while standing outside of your house or in your garage. After you remove the items from the bags, throw out the bags and disinfect your hands then take your items inside and disinfect whatever you feel necessary. Wash your hands.

Re: Instacart Express questions

willdob3 — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:11:23 GMT

@Mindy D

I haven’t used it yet but I tried to check it out on the Publix app. The only foods listed were meals and junk I had no interest in. I’ll check it out on

a different device later. I hope they give the option to buy real food.

Re: Instacart Express questions

GenXmuse — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:13:03 GMT

Some stores charge more for their items than they do in the store. It will usually say when you go to that store within the app. Publix is one of them. It's the price of doing business.

Re: Instacart Express questions

Mindy D — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:40:59 GMT

@judy0330 wrote:
@Mindy D I haven't done it but found this online:

Switching between stores
In the app—
Tap the Store name at the top of the screen to see a list of available stores for your location.
Tap the store name for the store you’d like to shop. You’ll arrive at the store’s landing page.
Browse, search, and add items to your cart.
On a computer—
Click Store at the top left of the page to see a list of available stores for your location.
Click the name of the store you’d like to shop. You’ll arrive at the store’s landing page.
Browse, search, and add items to your cart.
Ordering from multiple stores
If you add items from multiple stores to your cart, you’ll see items in your cart grouped by store. This creates a multiple delivery order, with separate shoppers and delivery windows for each store. You can add separate ratings and tips for each shopper for the separate deliveries.
Separate delivery fees and minimums apply for each store.
Any free delivery promos or credits require a $35 minimum per delivery. This minimum also applies for Instacart Express members.

@judy0330 A big thank for this. I didn't see this when I was looking for it.

Re: Instacart Express questions

Mindy D — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 20:44:08 GMT

@GenXmuse wrote:
Some stores charge more for their items than they do in the store. It will usually say when you go to that store within the app. Publix is one of them. It's the price of doing business.

@GenXmuse @I know the item prices are higher with Instacart through Publix. I just wasn't sure if the price increase was the same if you buy through Instacart Express site.

Re: Instacart Express questions

Spurt — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 21:29:02 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Spurt wrote:
@SilleeMee

If you go to Instacart.com and put in your zip code it should tell you what they do in your location regardeing fees and charges.....

@Spurt
Exactly what I noticed when I signed in there. Looks like it goes by your location for service fee charges. I suspect it might have something to do with bags or boxes used to deliver goods. In my state bags and boxes used to pack items are taxed as 'sales tax' when you order stuff online. But food is not taxed so instead fees are added.

@SilleeMee

That makes sense...it depends on taxes and contracts affiliated with your location....Sometimes they use these green insulated bags for your frozen items too, sometimes its just the regular grocery bags...

Re: Instacart Express questions

Spurt — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 21:28:23 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
@GenXmuse wrote:
Some stores charge more for their items than they do in the store. It will usually say when you go to that store within the app. Publix is one of them. It's the price of doing business.
@GenXmuse @I know the item prices are higher with Instacart through Publix. I just wasn't sure if the price increase was the same if you buy through Instacart Express site.

@Mindy D

We have a problem with our grocery store chain, HEB, they charge different prices for the goods depending upon whether they have competition in the area or not (its crazy)....so since Instacart uses stores in different locations with different prices for us its the average price...normally its the same for the store where I normally shop, a few are slightly higher but not much....It just depends on your grocery store chain and their contract with instacart....they do offer some onsite coupons too and Ive save a lot with those ....$2 off laundry soap and $2 off toothpaste, $2 off cascade dishwasher pods....