Instacart Shoppers Review: Is Instacart Worth Your Time And Effort in 2023?

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Instacart allows customers the comfort of having their shopping done for them and delivered straight to their doorstep. This genius idea offers many people the job opportunity to become an Instacart shopper, but does it pay well? Is it difficult? Is it worth your time and effort? These are valid questions, and we’re here to answer all of them!

Becoming an Instacart shopper is worth it if you have the means to start because the hours are flexible, you can choose how much you work, and the pay is often above minimum wage. However, Instacart doesn’t have the best shopper support system, which may deter you from joining.

To fully grasp whether being an Instacart shopper is worth your time and effort, this review will give you a complete insight into what it takes to be one, how much you can earn, and all other factors contributing to the job.

Instacart Features

Instacart is an on-demand grocery delivery service where users order groceries to be packed and delivered to their door. It hires shoppers on a freelance basis to fill out the order. Founded in 2012 and has provided many people with much-needed work since then. Instacart has around 40 000 partner stores across more than 5 500 cities.

Available in the metro areas of Canada and America, and if they’re available in your area, you could become a shopper. Shoppers must sign up, pass criminal checks, and then use the app to complete orders. You could become an in-store Instacart shopper and only pack groceries instead of delivering them as well.

Becoming an Instacart shopper is a nifty way to make a side income, if not a full salary – it all depends on how much labor you put in. You can decide when you want to work and how often, making Instacart an appealing job prospect.

Can You Really Earn From Instacart?

The first telltale sign of Instacart being worthwhile is if you can earn decent money from doing the job. Instacart definitely provides the opportunity to rake in some significant cash. In-store shoppers make a flat rate that differs from your location. Working in-store functions like any regular job, and shoppers will find their hourly rate on their offer letter.

If you’re a full-service shopper, the app tells you everything you would need to know about the available orders. You can find out how much you get paid, the number of items you must pack, and the distance you must travel, which makes it easier to judge how much you’ll earn.

The full-service hourly rate will vary because some orders pay more than others. To determine how much you earn hourly, you’ll divide your earnings by your work hours. You might get a delivery-only gig that will pay less than full-service, but a couple of factors influence your pay. We’ll discuss earning potential under ‘How much you can earn.’

For full-service shoppers, your pay is influenced by the following:

• Order difficulty, like how many items you have to pack.
• Batch incentives, which is the base order calculation.
• Travel distance from the store to the delivery location.
• Tips – you get 100% of your tip.
• Quality bonus, which is extra pay for 5-star reviews.
• Peak boosts offer shoppers a bonus during busy periods.

How Does It Work?

There are a few requirements that you must meet before you can become an Instacart shopper, whether in-store or full-service. You can sign up on their website and pass a criminal check if you meet the minimum requirements. Once you pass, you become a shopper and can start taking orders via their app, which is available on both Android and iOS.

Once customers place an order, they can expect the delivery within two hours, and it will appear as an available ‘batch’ on the app. You, as the shopper, will then accept it and complete it. In-store shoppers will only need to pack groceries. Full-service Instacart shoppers must go to the store, fill the order, pay for it, and deliver it to the customer, or deliver an already packed order.

The batch order will show the payment price, including the tip, the miles you need to drive, the number of items you need to purchase, and the total units of the things, which should give you a clear picture of what you need to do before you choose the batch.

The app keeps the customer updated with what’s happening, and you can contact the customer for item replacements and other delivery-related queries.

It is important to note that you work as an independent contractor, and you will incur costs like fuel, maintenance, and insurance expenses that you’ll have to cover yourself, so it is necessary to be picky about batches because it doesn’t help you to run at a loss!

Full-service shoppers get to decide how often and how long they’d like to work, but Instacart will encourage you to work peak hours which are in the weekday evenings and on the weekend. If you’re an in-store employee, you’ll need to schedule shifts.

In-Store Shopping

In-store shoppers only work in one store at a time and must schedule when they work in shift format. You’ll need to work for at least 15 hours and a maximum of 29 per week. You get to choose your shifts, which allows some flexibility, but you need to plan them. You won’t need a car for this role; you must pack orders and fulfill in-store responsibilities.

Get paid hourly, but your earning potential is limited since you’re capped at 29 hours and don’t receive tips. If you have a disability, you can still apply for the job with reasonable accommodations.

Full-Service Shopping

You’ll need your own vehicle to become a full-service shopper because you’ll be responsible for deliveries. You’ll need to deliver already-packed batches, or you’ll need to pack them yourself and then deliver. You get issued an Instacart debit card to pay for the ordered groceries, so you don’t need to worry about paying for them out of pocket.

You have the ultimate freedom to control your working duration, and there is no limit on your weekly hours, which makes your earnings uncapped. The order complexity, distance, and tip influence your earnings. You should not know that the batch price includes your tip.

How The Rating System Works

Instacart allows customers to rate their experience with shoppers after an order is completed, although it isn’t required. It’s a five-star rating system, five being excellent. Your shopper score is an average based on every 100 completed batches and updates every night.

The higher your rating is, the more batches are available to you, including higher-paying ones, so it’s in your best interest to get the best score to make more money by cherry-picking the cream of the crop! You also get a small quality bonus for five-star reviews, amounting to around $3.

Many shoppers report that even a four-star rating can diminish batch opportunities, which is quite harsh considering it’s still a good rating. Although you might get a lousy review occasionally, it’s best to take it in stride and learn from your mistakes, which is the main point of customer ratings.

If there is an issue where the customer was wrong, you can always contact the shopper service team.

Customers can also rate their products with a thumbs up or thumbs down button, including the alternatives you’ve picked. However, this does not affect your overall rating and is there to help Instacart evaluate customer feedback rather than the shopper.

How To Join

If this review leads you to conclude that Instacart is worthwhile, you’ll want to know how to get started! The joining process is simple enough, but it might take some time to get to the point where you’re an official shopper.

Here are the steps to becoming an Instacart shopper:

1. Go onto Instacart’s website and click on the signup page. You’ll need to create a profile with the standard email address, name, contact information, and zip code. You’ll need to verify your email.

2. You’ll need to give Instacart your details, including your security number, driver’s license information, and direct deposit details for payment.

3. You then consent to a background information check so that they can ensure you have no criminal record.

4. The approval process can take five to ten business days, and you’ll need to wait for it via email.

5. Once you’re approved, you’ll start the onboarding process, which is available via the app. You’ll need to book your session.

6. You’ll get paperwork that you need to fill in and submit. Full-service shoppers need to sign contractor agreements and a W-9 form. In-store shoppers complete tax forms and sign their offer letters for the role of a part-time employee.

7. Full-service employees will receive an Instacart debit card they need to register before taking batches. It takes five to seven business days after approval to receive the card.

8. Once you have signed and submitted your forms and received your debit card, you can sign into the app and start your shifts as an in-store worker or accept full-service batches.

Who Can Be An Instacart Shopper?

Before you sign up, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements to become a shopper; otherwise, you might waste your time! All shoppers, whether in-store or full-service, must be 18 years or older. Although 18 is the minimum requirement, you must be 21 or older to pack alcohol legally, so if a batch has alcohol, you are not allowed to accept it.

In-store requirements:

• Need to be legally allowed to work in the US.
• Should have the ability to lift 50 pounds. If you’re disabled, you must be able to do so with accommodation.
• Have a smartphone that can use the Instacart app.
• Have a clear criminal record.

Full-service requirements:

• Must have the exact requirements as in-store shoppers.
• Own a reliable vehicle and possess a valid driver’s license.
• The vehicle must have insurance.
• You must have a clean driving record.

How Instacart Shoppers Are Paid

Instacart pays shoppers weekly, whether they work in-store or as full-service shoppers. Payments go directly into your account based on the details you provided. Everything you earned during the week will be paid out.

In-store shoppers are limited to 29 hours of pay, whereas full-service doesn’t get paid hourly, and all earnings are based on completed batches, including tips.

If you are a full-service shopper and want to get paid quicker, there is an option called ‘instant cash out’ where you can transfer your available balance immediately. You need five completed batches and a minimum of $5 to use this feature. It costs $0.50 to get an immediate payment outside of weekly payments.

Full-service shoppers should know that customers have 24 hours to adjust their tip after the batch is completed, and some use tips as ‘bait’ to get their order chosen, which they then reduce afterward. Sadly, there isn’t much a shopper can do in this scenario except use their discretion where tips seem too good to be true.

How Much You Can Earn 

Money is the most essential factor in determining whether becoming a shopper is worth it. Truthfully you won’t get rich, but you can make a side income as an in-store shopper and a meaningful income as a full-service shopper.

Depending on your location, in-store shoppers make around $13 to $17 an hour. Some shoppers have reported earning as much as $23 an hour. You’ll find out how much your hourly rate is when you receive an offer letter.

Full-service shoppers have no set pay, and their earnings could vary daily. Full-service batches used to have a minimum rate of $3 but now have a minimum of $7 to $10, depending on the order. Delivery-only batches have a minimum of $5. These lowest possible amounts don’t include tips, so more often than not, you’ll earn more per batch.

Instacart also has ‘peak boosts,’ which increase prices per batch, which means more earnings for shoppers during busy periods. Peak boosts are usually active in the evenings and on the weekends. Sports events like the Super Bowl also influence this boost. There are also other influencing factors on batch price, as previously mentioned.

Based on many reports, you’ll make at least minimum wage with tips and bonuses included. On average, you’ll make between $15 and $20 an hour, but it can be as much as $25. If you work hard enough, earning $100 a day is not uncommon.

Expenses As An Instacart Shopper

Shoppers should understand what they are getting into when joining Instacart, especially regarding costs. In-store shoppers only need to cover travel expenses to and from work, as Instacart handles their taxes, and they don’t have delivery duties.

On the other hand, full-service shoppers must consider all car expenses, as Instacart doesn’t pay you anything for your car usage. These are the car expenses you need to count in:

• Fuel costs for deliveries.
• Car mileage and servicing.
• Car repairs if anything gets damaged from excessive usage.
• Any speeding or parking tickets you incur – luckily, this is avoidable!
• Car insurance is a necessary requirement from Instacart, and you’ll need rideshare insurance to cover the delivery usage of your car. Insurance is typically around $15 a month.

Instacart Full-Service Taxes

Since you’re an independent contractor, all tax implications are your own responsibility, and you could get in trouble if you forget about this aspect. You’ll need to do some research to get your tax sorted.

Note that you can deduct expenses when you file self-employment taxes and claim back around 58.5 cents per mile driven. You can also include your cell phone bills.

You’ll want to get familiar with the following tax forms:

• 1099-NEC: If you earn more than $600 in the tax year, you’ll need to get this form from Instacart.
• W-2: You get this when you sign your forms during the signup process.
• Schedule C: This form notes all your income and expenses.

Benefits Instacart Shoppers Get

The good news is that Instacart offers benefits to shoppers to care for them and thank them for being part of the team. One of the benefits is that shoppers can join Perkspot, which is a discount program with a vast amount of discounts and services.

Perkspot offers discounts on things like:

• Tickets for movies, theaters, museums, parks, and zoos.
• Travel, like flights and accommodation.
• Local restaurants.
• Car insurance and maintenance.
• Tax services.

Instacart also has a shopper perks program that covers the following:

• Injury protection insurance.
• A Care.com membership to help locate childcare services.
• Stride Benefits, which helps with health and financial management.
• Access to Peanut Butter which helps with debt management.

You also get access to the following perks:

• Upside: An app that gives you cash back on gas for up to 20 cents per gallon. You can enter the INSTACART20 promo code at any stage to get Instacart benefits.
• Starship: This free HSA health savings account is tax-free with Instacart.
• Rocket Lawyer: You get access to free legal documents, a free 20-minute consultation, and 40% off on attorney fees for almost any legal requirements you have. You can access this perk via Instacart’s help center.

Besides Perkspot and the perks program, in-store shoppers benefit from traditional part-time employee benefits like 401(K) savings.

To ensure you have a smooth journey with the company, Instacart has a 24/7 shopper support line to help with any queries you have, which you can access via your app. Calling them is a non-issue, and you’ll get helped with any problem you have. You can solve the problem yourself before you call by flipping through the FAQ page or using online support.

Tips For Instacart Shoppers

If you start your Instacart shopper journey, these are some handy pointers to rake in some decent cash while keeping your ratings consistent and costs low.

#1 Take It Easy When Starting Out

When you start out, it might take some time to get used to grocery store layouts, and packing the order fast should come second compared to ensuring you get every item. Forgetting items is a big no-no and is a surefire way to get low ratings which depletes your earning opportunities. Pay close attention to detail, and arrive on time!

#2 Work In Busy Hours And High Demands Zones

Supply equals demand and a boost in your earnings. Your Instacart app should notify you when peak periods arise, typically in the evenings and on Sundays. Working in high-demand zones will give you better-quality higher-paying batches. Try out a few nearby areas to find the sweet spot.

#3 Choose Bigger Orders Over Smaller Ones

Since you aim to earn the most money and must pay for fuel, you will find it best to take bigger batches that pay more. However, if you’re just starting and find this intimidating, getting used to small batches will work just fine.

#4 When To Double Or Triple Batch

You can take more than one batch at a time, but this should be reserved when you have the skills to quickly pack orders and the deliveries are all close by. If you have frozen foods in your batch, you should avoid a double order because if it’s defrosted, your rating could diminish.

#5 Use Apps To Support You

Everlance helps you track your mileage for tax purposes, which saves you a ton of time and effort.  As mentioned in the employee benefits, Upside helps you get money back for fuel which helps you reduce overhead costs.

Instacart Pros And Cons

Nothing good comes without its negatives, and understanding the good, bad, and ugly will give you full insight into your Instacart shopper conclusion.

Instacart Shopper Pros:

• Your working hours a fully flexible.
• There are no minimum hours for full-service shoppers, and in-store shoppers can also take breaks when needed.
• You can work multiple jobs alongside being a shopper.
• Full-service shoppers can work for uncapped hours, and are unlimited.
• Full-service shoppers can earn over $100 daily and above minimum wage.
• You get paid weekly, which gives you a constant cash flow and gets deposited directly into your account.
• You get a full shopper support system for any issues you have.
• There are many benefits included for shoppers in the perks program and Perkspot membership.
• You can choose to work in-store or full-service.
• Signup is straightforward.
• Good work earns you more tips, and you get better batches if you have a high rating.
• The app notifies you of busy periods and lets you know if you’re in a high-demand area.
• The app tells you how far you have to drive for deliveries and the complexity of the order.
• You get peak boosts during busy periods.

Instacart shopper cons:

• In-store shoppers have capped working hours, which limits income.
• You need your own vehicle to become a full-service shopper.
• Instacart doesn’t cover any vehicle expenses, which can be quite hefty on the wallet.
• You will need rideshare insurance, which can be expensive and is your own out-of-pocket expense.
• Full-service shoppers need to take care of their own taxes.
• Sometimes, there isn’t enough work available on the app during slow times, and the batch earnings are low.
• If you receive a low rating, you receive lower-level batches.

Other People’s Reviews

What other shoppers have to say about Instacart indicates whether your efforts are worth it. Reviews on Instacart are varied, and some are outdated, as Instacart constantly works to improve its service for both customers and shoppers.

Good Things Shoppers Have To Say

We’ll start off with the positives that shoppers have experienced. Niche.com has 102 shopper reviews for Instacart and averages 3.5 stars. Here most of the positive insights praise work freedom, work-life balance, decent income, employee benefits, and general job enjoyment, which is promising for prospective shoppers.

On indeed.com, there are multiple ratings for various aspects of working as a shopper, and most of the 3900 reviews put Instacart below 3 stars beside the work-life balance rating. Some 2023 ratings give a decent review, especially regarding pay and work flexibility.

Glassdoor has over 6200 reviews, giving Instacart a more promising average rating of 3.4 stars. The same positives are mentioned in the other review sites. One person even mentions getting bonuses from Instacart.

Bad Things Shoppers Have To Say

Honestly, Instacart doesn’t have the most outstanding reputation out there when it comes to reviews, and the overall rating is average at best.

To summarize, these are the most common negatives from Instacart shoppers:

• Strenuous work.
• Mediocre or little pay.
• Inconsistent batches, with some being for ridiculously low pay.
• Low work availability.
• Slow response from, and non-helpful shopper care.
• Spontaneous dismissal without warning – usually due to customers lying about missing groceries.
• Too many shoppers, so there isn’t enough work.
• The pay isn’t enough to support fuel costs.

Instacart Alternatives

If you decide that Instacart isn’t your cup of tea or that you’d like multiple side hustles, there are options similar to Instacart which may suit you better than being a shopper. We’ll give you a brief rundown of each option to see if it matches your needs.

• DoorDash: You earn around $15 to $20 an hour, also doing delivery tasks for a large variety of stores. You’ll get orders for items from restaurants, pet shops, convenience stores, and groceries.
• Shipt: You earn around $12 to $20 for delivering groceries and Target orders.
• Uber Eats: You earn around $15 an hour just collecting and delivering food orders from local restaurants.
• Postmates: You can earn around $18 an hour for deliveries which can be anything from pet food to office supplies.
• Grubhub: Grubhub is an Uber Eats alternative, and you can earn around $20 per hour. They also pay you for the miles you drive!
• Favor:  If you’re living in Texas or a supported city, Favor is an up-and-coming food delivery app that pays you $10 to $18 dollars an hour, excluding tips.
• Rover: If driving around and collecting orders isn’t your forte, you can try pet sitting instead and earn $20 an hour.

Is Being An Instacart Shopper Worth It?

After all is said and done in this 2023 review, and you have yet to come to your own conclusion, the answer to whether Instacart is worth your time and effort deserves a definitive answer. For the most part, the conclusion is yes.

Why is the answer yes? Instacart has made major improvements to its interface over the years, which means that you have higher earning potential than in the past, and they have made an effort to support its shoppers more than it used to.

There are some admirable perks to being a shopper, and the pay is pretty decent if you manage to put the work in. You also get complete freedom of choice when you’d like to work and for how long, which is the ultimate selling point for Instacart. Whether you’re a busy mom or a college student, a side hustle that suits your life is always welcome.

The reason Instacart wouldn’t be worthwhile is that it needs to pay more, or the work is not worth the reward, but you can only truly know that once you’ve tried it out. The cruddy shopper support, car expenses, and tax admin also could deter you.

Wrap-Up

Now that you know the A to Z of Instacart, you can get started and make 2023 your most profitable year with this side hustle – or even earn full-time if you’re a full-service shopper. Make sure to give deliveries your best shot, and you should be able to make a decent income thanks to good ratings. Here’s to a profitable and pleasant shopper journey!

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