Instacart; I did for 60 days and here is why you should consider it

Scrolling through Facebook in mid-March I stumbled upon an interesting hustle opportunity; Instacart. I was vaguely familiar with the name as I had interacted with a customer who I helped to find a product at the grocery store where I worked.  So, I decided to try my hand at Instacarting.  I sat on my bed that very evening and completed the application form with personal details and information on my vehicle insurance. I waited the five to seven days as they indicated to receive my Instacart payment card.  I had no idea how fulfilling, exhilarating and financially beneficial that move would have been.

So, what is Instacart, you may ask?  Well, Instacart is a shopping application (app) which matches customers/subscribers and shoppers  so that the shopper can purchase and deliver goods to the customers.  The customers pay a fee to Instacart and they in turn pay the shopper based on the quantity of items, the delivery distance, and the weight of the items. In addition to that payment, the shopper also receives a tip from the customer. This tip is known before accepting the batch.  Using the app, the shopper selects a batch which has could have between one and three orders from different customers.  The shopper drives to the store indicated on the app and begins shopping, selecting the goods and scanning the item’s UPC (universal product code) also called a barcode, pays using a preloaded debit card, then delivers the goods to the customers.  The shopper’s amount is credited with each amount and payment is made weekly via shows on the batch before he/she swipes to accept the batch.

Since I was already working in a grocery store and intrigued by the opportunity which Instacart presented I decided to go for it. The fact that Covid-19 was present in Washington, (see my youtube video https://youtu.be/6OSLL9F0JeE) this did not deter me. Here is my advice on being a successful instacarter:

Set targets

Set a target for what you want to earn. Set goals for mileage and the number of items in the batch. Remember you have fuel and other maintenance costs for your vehicle which must be factored in.  I set my distance from store to door to a five-mile radius and made exceptions only when it was a high paying batch.  My weekly earning target was $500 minimum based on two full days and two hours on the other five days.

Be kind

A batch can represent up to three different customers and it is important for them to feel comfortable throughout the entire process.  Although the app notifies customers when the shopper starts shopping, I sent personalised messages, introducing myself and letting them know that “I’ll be their personal shopper for the day”.  After delivering the goods, I always sent a message wishing them a lovely afternoon, morning, or evening. There is nothing like quality customer service.

Be the customers’ eyes

Something I also did which customers appreciated was to give them options.  Due to the pandemic there were many instances when items requested were out of stock which left the shopper with the task of finding suitable replacements.  If the customer did not specify a replacement, I sent pictures of what was available so that they could choose. There were also instances where a store had a BOGO, (buy one get one free) special on an item on the customer’s list. As I would do when shopping for myself, I was sure to include the free item; ice cream, chicken and steak whatever it may be in the customer’s shopping.

Do not bother the grocery workers with questions unless it is necessary

Generally, the grocery workers were helpful in finding products, but some seemed annoyed at having to answer multiple questions from multiple shoppers, (Instacart and others) which I can empathize with.  The customer service at Costco and Fred Meyer was typically good but some others behaved as though we were taking their products and not paying for it.  This could not have been further from the truth as we were getting products sold and helping to maintain their jobs as stockers, cashiers etc.  So please if you do not have to ask, do no ask.  When you do, introduce yourself and ask for more than one item at a time rather than disturbing them several times.

Increase batch availability

Make sure you spend the 10 minutes required to complete the alcohol delivery course and quiz.  Once you complete it, you will have access to more batches.  Another way to increase offered batches is to either send pictures of your cooler bags for Instacart’s approval or purchase them through a third-party company.  While the bags are not necessary for most runs, they are quite useful on batches with multiple orders when you have deliveries for several customers and when you have ice cream on an extremely hot day.  No one wants slush.

I had an adrenaline rush for two months, from swiping to accept a batch, to shopping, driving, delivering, and anticipating the next batch.  I finished my day job and went straight at it. Phone in hand, battery pack in my pocket connected with a lightening cable; I maneuvered up and down the aisles fulfilling customer’s shopping list.

Through Instacart I met many interesting people reflecting the diversity of nation. young men and women, elderly couples, wheelchair bound, Asians, Caucasians, Blacks, and their interactions were equally diverse.  I once had a customer who had a note which said, “must wear gloves and mask for shopping and delivery”. Another customer stuck her ID to her front door and stood inside her window while another put her ID in an envelope and dropped it through a  window unto her car all so that I could deliver their alcohol.  There was even the dog who escaped just before I delivered and then I got involved in the search effort.

 

Whilst there were interesting interactions with customers, shoppers and grocery store workers, we had to deal with app glitches and downtimes as well as ‘bots’ (software robots which some shoppers use to snatch large paying batches in return for a weekly fee). Another issue which I did not experience but which other shoppers experienced was tip baiting which is where a customer adds a substantial tip to a batch and removes the tip once the goods have been delivered. Instacart has now moved to deactivate customers who abuse the app through tip baiting.

Once you can navigate these challenges, it can be well worth your time and effort to engage in the Instacart hustle.  Overall I had an enjoyable experience; I met interesting people and had fun shopping for diverse items, from birthday cakes to 42 liter bags of soil, bouquets of flowers, jock itch cream, and even a dog bed. I had to laugh at myself when my knowledge of the alphabet was tested in finding an apartment and even getting lost when delivering to some others. Covid-19 is responsible for my Instacart stint and it is also the reason I am taking a hiatus for another pursuit. Try it share your experience with me.