senior software engineer

software engineer

technical account manager

strategic partner

data scientist

Independent contractor

Working as a shopper for Instacart, I have found that the days can be rather slow, resulting in a limited opportunity to make money. There are times when there are simply not enough batches available to accept and complete, leaving me with little income to show for my efforts. This inconsistency in workload can be frustrating, especially for those who rely on this gig as a primary source of income.

One of the major challenges I've encountered is the constant influx of new shoppers joining the platform. While it's great that Instacart is expanding and attracting more workers, this influx also creates a significant increase in competition for available batches. With more shoppers vying for the same limited number of orders, it becomes increasingly difficult to secure a batch once it becomes available. This heightened competition often leads to a race to claim the batches, and if you're not quick enough, you're left empty-handed.

The oversaturation of shoppers can be demoralizing, as it diminishes the earning potential for each individual. Instead of being able to rely on a steady stream of orders, we have to face the uncertainty of whether we will be able to secure a batch at all. This situation makes it challenging to plan and allocate time effectively, as there is no guarantee of consistent earnings.

Overall, while Instacart provides flexibility in terms of working hours and the ability to earn money through grocery shopping, the slow days and excessive competition for batches have a negative impact on the earning potential. It would be beneficial if Instacart could address these issues by finding ways to balance the number of shoppers with the available orders, ensuring a fair distribution of opportunities and a more consistent income stream for its workers.

I have been working with Instacart for a while, and although the job has some positive sides, there are also several challenges that make it difficult at times. The pay has become lower, especially for heavy orders or buildings without elevators. Sometimes customers order very large and heavy items, and unfortunately the app doesn’t provide any additional compensation for this, even when you mention it in the feedback. It feels like these comments are not reviewed or taken into account.
The app itself can also be unstable — the map sometimes works incorrectly, and the app may freeze or close, especially after updates or system changes. This creates extra stress during deliveries.
Instacart also introduced new limits for customers, and because of this, many of them are no longer able to leave higher tips. Since July 1st, the tips have noticeably decreased, which affects overall earnings.
However, I want to highlight that Instacart’s customer support team works very well. They respond quickly, are polite, and always try to help. I have no complaints about the support service — they do a great job.
Overall, the job can still be good, but it has become less profitable and more stressful. I hope Instacart will consider improving the pay structure and tip system in the future.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The flexibility to work whenever you want and take whichever batches you want without being penalized for not accepting a really awful batch.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I love the checking out and delivering part of the job but I got stressed out when trying to find items that were supposed to be in stock but aren't or are not where they are supposed to be and dealing with customers who didn't believe you or worse wouldn't answer then gave you a bad review and the company would not take this into consideration at all. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's okay. The shopper support is not that great as they don't listen and most don't speak English well enough to hold a conversation.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I start when I want and end when I want and break when I want, can't get much better then that.

Started off great at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Lots of good orders and lots of money to be made but after over a year of service on Instacart, I felt the app started throttling the quality of batches i was getting.

 As an experienced shopper, i was only really seeing left over batches. No matter how good my customer rating was. The premium batches were being reserved for new shoppers. So in a way, you are punished for being a loyal worker on the App. 

Anyway, it's still possible to make a living on the app regardless, it's just more frustrating and stressful as you have to do more work for less payment. 

Lastly, I'd like to say thank you to Instacart for keeping me paid and off social support throughout the pandemic. Thank you and good riddance now because i felt betrayed by the algorithm later on.

Pay is terrible for the time and gas you spend.  DO NOT BELIEVE that your time with instacart is flexible.  I live in downtown Toronto, and i might wait for hours to get a "batch".    For example,  today, the second batch that i was offered had 60 items for 3 customers and a 23 km drive from the supermarket to the customers. Tthe supermarket is 25km away from me.  You do not get paid for the gas you spend driving to the supermarket.  So by the time, i make it back to my starting position, i'll have driven approx 100km.  Right there,  thats a minimum of 1hr of driving, plus the cost of gas for that 100km.  This is probably about 2.5 hrs of work.

They offered 25 dollars. 25 dollars!?!  After your gas costs, and your time, that is well below minimum wage.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Their is no best part it’s been terrible you can’t make a living doing this. You have to wait 1-4 hours in between orders and they make you sit in the parking lot at the store. This company doesn’t care about the drivers 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
They hire to many drivers and can’t even sustain the ones they have with orders. They pay less than minimum wage and expect you to pay all the expenses and save to pay your own taxes 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Terrible company they don’t pay a living wage 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Brutal you must have the app on all day staring at it in hopes you might get an order.

So this company pays no employee fees, nothing into our pension, and then we get slapped with a huge fee at tax time. I have gotten better returns on social assistance or waitressing and that is bare minimal. The majority of the pay is tips so I'm getting taxed on tips the same as employement which is a big giant red flag! I was also under the impression I was self contracted therefore could write off my expensess but that isn't even close to fair when they calculate what you get back. So now I've put 20k on my car only to get screwed, way to go ontario for allowing companies like this to operate within our region.

mostly a straightforward workflow, with some snags, but overall can be done successfully and appears to have room for growth and efficiency improvements 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Flexibility of making and adhering to my own schedule and work goals

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Poor weather or road conditions 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Considering that I work independently, I like getting to know the staff and layouts of each store and also figure out faster routes to get to each one rather than rely on the GPS

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Get up early & get started as soon as I drop my child off at school. It feels pretty relaxed unless I choose a batch that has more than one big order

What is the best part of working at the company?
Flexibility, work when you want and when you can. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The app mostly, hard to connect with help.  It's buggy.  Often times items are listed that aren't in the shop, very frustrating sometimes when scanning item wanted isn't loaded in at all on the system.  A bit chaotic, and time sensitive, there is a learning curve. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
As easy going as the grocery store can be.  So it can be chaotic and stressful or it can be a peice of cake. 🙂 Customers are usually reasonable and understanding.

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