Kitchen

[AngelPuppy1]

I have been getting this service ever since the pandemic kicked in and for the most part it's been fairly good.  However, I feel I have picked up on something and don't know if it's my imagination, a coincidene or what, and will run this by you and you can tell me what you think, or if this is something that you have experienced.

It seems like if I have a larger order and this automatically creates a larger tip and then at times if I add a larger tip before the order is delivered, that I get my order early or on time ---- but ----- if my order is smaller and the automatic tip that is generated is smaller and I may or may not add a top at the beginning, then my order seems to arrive usually after my alloted time and items are not always what they should be!  

This has happened a number of times and seems like too often to be a coincidence! Any thoughts?

I don't know how the delivery people get assigned orders.  Are they able to scan through the list of people ordering and see what the orders are or are they assigned orders?  

Also, I, in the past, did not usually add extra on to the tip until after I saw what the delivery was like with regard to being on time, ordered items in good shape, etc.

Thanks for replies! 

[panda1234]

@AngelPuppy1   I was told by someone who works for them that they can not pick their orders. Also, they can not see the tip until they hit the complete button.

[jackthebear]

i only used it once

and had 2 errors

I added the auto tip and then supplemented it with cash at the door.

maybe it depends on the efficiency of each delivery person 

[Mary Bailey]

I did Aldi instacart delivery for a while. I did a % tip and would leave extra cash outside if the weather was bad.  Since I did a % tip it would gom up with the size of the order.

I was disappointed with the produce they chose. I started doing pick up. I'm much happier with pickup. The produce chosen is much better & there is no tip.

[Snoopp]

I used Instacart several times last year for very large orders.  I always put a tip in with the order.  I never used the store, Aldi, though.

I may be incorrect but I thought the shopper could see what was available and choose based on location, tip and size of order.  Some orders are batched by Instacart, I think.  Some shoppers avoid those orders because you are doing more than one person's order at the same time and it's easy to get it wrong.  I don't think I gave extra tip money, but the tips were large since the orders were large.

I had many orders with missing or wrong items and Instacart was not that good about refunding.  Rather, they seemed to want to give a credit for a future order, which I didn't like.  I also had large increases in prices on items going through Instacart.  Now I use the pickup service for a small fee at the local grocery, but I would use Instacart again in a pinch.

[Janey2]

I have been using instacart since March,  no problems at all. I have to say my orders are all about the same, which I consider large. I do not pretend to know the inner workings of instacart but I can tell you the bigger the order I would think the shopper  would think they will probably getting a bigger tip. But on the other hand they spend more time shopping, so it seems to even out. When your order does not come on time rate the shopper low and write why in the comment section. Do not tip high. The shopper depends on the 5 star ratings as they make extra for that order.

[suzyQ3]

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@Janey2 wrote:

I have been using instacart since March,  no problems at all. I have to say my orders are all about the same, which I consider large. I do not pretend to know the inner workings of instacart but I can tell you the bigger the order I would think the shopper  would think they will probably getting a bigger tip. But on the other hand they spend more time shopping, so it seems to even out. When your order does not come on time rate the shopper low and write why in the comment section. Do not tip high. The shopper depends on the 5 star ratings as they make extra for that order.

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I vehemently disagree with this, @Janey2. We've never had a delivery that came late, but if we did, I would not assume that it was the shopper was at fault. As for not tipping high, that is relative. I check the box for 15%, no matter what.

These shoppers are under much pressure and also are not exactly rolling in money.

[Carmie]

Last week when I was shopping for my New Year Eve goodies, I stood in a long line at the check out.  There was a young lady behind me and we started talking after I commented how stupid I was for shopping on that day..too busy and long lines.

She said  shopping was her job and she was working.  She worked for instacart. I mentioned that the store was really stocked up even with the ton of shoppers, they were keeping up and replenishing the shelves.

Any how, she told me when something was out of stock or she couldn't locate the item, instacart charged her for it.  She had to cover the cost of the item out of a her pocket and that they ( instacart) did not want to lose money when they had to reduce the amount of the total bill.

I was shocked!  I don't know if this is standard everywhere, but apparently it is where I live.

This policy is disturbing to me.

[Janey2]

@suzyQ3  I never had an order delivered late either. Mine come on the early side of the time picked. The reason they should not be late is that Instacart shoppers, in MOST (not all) stores can skip lines to meet delivery times. They also have use of separate check outs in SOME stores. They use a prepaid MasterCard for faster checkouts. 

[Kachina624]

@Carmie.  Under the circumstances you describe, it's a wonder Instacart can get anyone to work for them.  Most states have payday laws that prohibit unauthorized deductions such as you describe but maybe they cover themselves  in a contract of sorts with employees.  Its very unethical, IMO.  I read so many complaints about underhanded practices by this company.  Want nothing to do with them.