topic Re: How Instacart workers get paid in Community Chat

How Instacart workers get paid

Mindy D — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 22:32:10 GMT

"How do I get paid?

How much a shopper earns depends on their role type and other factors.

Full-service shopperShoppers get paid per batch that they complete. Instacart provides estimates for your earnings on every order as well as total earnings for the week. The amount you earn per batch of orders depends on the number of items, type of items, driving distance, and effort involved in shopping and delivering. You keep 100% of customer tips. You also get opportunities to earn extra through promotions Instacart runs.
As independent contractors, full-service shoppers have the flexibility to work as little or as often as they want. This means that total earnings potential depends on the individual.

In-store shopper in-store shoppers are Instacart employees who earn an hourly wage, detailed in the initial offer letter. In-store shoppers are scheduled for shifts based on personal availability, up to 29 hours each week."

Quoted from the Instacart website

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

Mindy D — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 22:38:51 GMT

"How are Instacart shopper earnings....calculated?

Instacart shopper earnings in ... are based on:

Size of the order
Time of day when the order is placed
Number of items in the order and size of items in the order
How difficult each item is to shop for
Estimated delivery distance
Batch incentives, quality bonuses, peak boosts, and customer tips"

Quoted from the Instacart website

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

suzyQ3 — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 22:47:53 GMT

I have read a couple of articles about how Instacart treats its contract shoppers. They are under a great deal of pressure from the company -- and the customers. It is no dream job.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

Spurt — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 23:14:43 GMT

Ive had excellent experiences with my Instacart Shoppers. I read somewhere that they can also receive extra bonuses based on customer ratings ......

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

busymom22 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 01:28:17 GMT

Instacart shoppers have become a saturated market. One problem is that shoppers make almost all of their money from tips. A shopper will take a "job" as it will show a specific tip, then after delivery the buyer can change that tip. There have been problems where a buyer will entice a shopper to take a job then cheat them out of the tip later. Being an Instacart shopper isn't an easy job nor guarantees good pay.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

kivah — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 03:27:29 GMT

Six weeks ago, I ordered lots of food thru InstaCart (Costco). There were 2 large items (case of water and case of paper towels) that they didn't deliver - but they charged me on my Costco Citibank Card. I emailed InstaCart and they said they put a $32 credit on my new InstaCart a/c - which I did NOT want - but had no choice. Today I ordered a lot more groceries from InstaCart (Costco) - and they credited me $27.04. Where's my $5.00???? I didn't see a link where I could email them.

Something Fishy!!!!!!!!!!!!

They now give 5% tip to the shopper - and I give the shopper extra $$$$ when they arrive. Ordering on-line is so much easier for me - as I definitely don't want to wear a mask and be close to lots of people - as I run thru Costco

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

kivah — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 02:02:34 GMT

Today I called Instacart about my $5.00 credit from 2 months ago. The woman (in India) told me that since I had 2 credits on Oct. 20th (about 30 minutes apart) - I only get one credit now - and for my next order, I'll get the $5.00 credit. Does this make sense? Today's order and delivery went very well - I ordered for a family of 5 - and it's all for me!!! Again, I gave the delivery guy a big tip when he arrived - plus he'll get the tip thru Costco.

I'm so appreciative for this service - I could never shop that long, pushing the cart and wait on line.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

songbird — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 15:23:19 GMT

@Spurt Yes. They get bonuses based on their ratings. When I compliment the shopper (I always do) they ask me for 5 star ratings. I've been with Instacart about 7 months now. Never had any serious problem with them. Just once when the shopper got involved in a traffic accident. He texts me from the hospital. Someone delivered my food and the injured shopper got the credit ratings.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

silkyk — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 15:31:06 GMT

I'd like to ask how much you guys tip your grocery delivery person? TIA.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

Spurt — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:19:34 GMT

@songbird wrote:
@Spurt Yes. They get bonuses based on their ratings. When I compliment the shopper (I always do) they ask me for 5 star ratings. I've been with Instacart about 7 months now. Never had any serious problem with them. Just once when the shopper got involved in a traffic accident. He texts me from the hospital. Someone delivered my food and the injured shopper got the credit ratings.

@songbird

WOW!!! He even texted you from the hospital!!!! WOW!!!

I have had just good experiences too....and make sure to give them 5 star ratings....Yesterday, I put in a Petco order (since Petsmart was out of what I needed in store and online)....the shopper and I had a few laughs via chat and photos while shopping for special food/treats and a couple of pet toys for my friend's pets.....who knew there would be so much to discuss regarding the details of catnip mice...😸

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

Spurt — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:21:27 GMT

@silkyk wrote:
I'd like to ask how much you guys tip your grocery delivery person? TIA.

@silkyk

I average around 30 items in my orders, and some of my orders are VERY heavy and include a 25lb/30lb bag of kitty litter, big container of liquid laundry soap, canned soups, gallon of milk etc etc... so for those orders I tip 20%....its worth it to me....

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

northiie57 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:22:18 GMT

I love love this service.....been using insta cart for about 9 months and only one glitch....they refunded me for my next order and I requested never to have that shopper again.....been smooth sailing as they know that I prefer a certain shopper by first name I tell them and if she is working that day, I get her....she is an excellant shopper and I always give her a 5 star with an additional tip.....just my experience

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

Cats3000 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:27:27 GMT

Why do I care? No one is being forced to be an Instacart worker.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

Spurt — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 16:47:17 GMT

@northiie57 wrote:
I love love this service.....been using insta cart for about 9 months and only one glitch....they refunded me for my next order and I requested never to have that shopper again.....been smooth sailing as they know that I prefer a certain shopper by first name I tell them and if she is working that day, I get her....she is an excellant shopper and I always give her a 5 star with an additional tip.....just my experience

@northiie57

There was a survey by Instacart's grocery store partner here--HEB grocery which asked customers about an option allowing customers to pick a particular shopper and a particular grocery store location, but they didnt follow through with that in our area.....I guess because some shoppers wouldnt get a fair share of orders....I've gotten the same shoppers a couple of times...I guess thats because we both like to get up early and I always chose an early time slot for deliveries...LOL

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

songbird — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 17:42:22 GMT

@Spurt The guy (his name was Dan) ended up with a sprained wrist. He went to the emergency room, called another shopper who came there, got the food and delivered it. they taped his arm and the last I heard he went back to work there. A lot of people have taken up being shoppers. Otherwise they are out of work.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

suzyQ3 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:23:35 GMT

@silkyk wrote:
I'd like to ask how much you guys tip your grocery delivery person? TIA.

@silkyk, I do 15 percent.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

suzyQ3 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:54:21 GMT

@Cats3000 wrote:
Why do I care? No one is being forced to be an Instacart worker.

@Cats3000, none of us are forced to work. But some of us do care very much about people's livelihoods. Some of these gig people might just be supplementing another income, but many depend upon the wages in order to survive.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

kivah — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 01:33:16 GMT

Yesterday, I received my Instacart delivery thru Costco - There were 33 items - some items were 2 or 3 in a pack, ie breads, juices.

By the time I put everything in my cupboard and 2 refrigerators/freezers -- I was totally exhausted. I'm now 80 yrs young.

Costco gives them 5% tip - and I then give them a big tip when they're in my house. They thank me for the tip and I tell them that I also appreciate the delivery. I could never have driven to Costco (it's very close) - especially with the virus - wearing a mask -- and spent 1-1/2 hours pushing a cart - checking out - and driving home. No Way!!!! It's all worth it.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

songbird — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 13:09:46 GMT

I order about every week to two weeks, regularly. I wasn't going to use till I found out I got Wegmans. Love that supermarket! It's the northern version of Publix. It's huge. so many variety of foods. A good feature because it's harder to run out foods. I joined the Express ($100.00) a year. I have other supermarkets too. Safeway, Aldi, some I never heard of. Like Harris Teeter. Others I have are Costco, BJ's Shoppers and Streets Market. So far I've tried Aldi and Safeway. My usual is Wegmans and sometimes Giant. The farthest south Wegmans goes is North Carolina.

Re: How Instacart workers get paid

kivah — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 23:58:07 GMT

@songbird wrote:
I order about every week to two weeks, regularly. I wasn't going to use till I found out I got Wegmans. Love that supermarket! It's the northern version of Publix. It's huge. so many variety of foods. A good feature because it's harder to run out foods. I joined the Express ($100.00) a year. I have other supermarkets too. Safeway, Aldi, some I never heard of. Like Harris Teeter. Others I have are Costco, BJ's Shoppers and Streets Market. So far I've tried Aldi and Safeway. My usual is Wegmans and sometimes Giant. The farthest south Wegmans goes is North Carolina.

I'm in Oxnard, southern California. My Costco orders last me around 2 to 2-1/2 months.