In today’s world, some individuals are always busy, not able to do grocery shopping. Instacart wants to solve this issue for them while also creating jobs for other people. Instacart is a grocery delivery platform that operates hand in hand with the local grocery stores in Canada and the United States—delivering the groceries one wants to his/her home.
In this article, you will be introduced to Instacart, how it works, how you can join the platform and the benefits of being an Instacart shopper.
Everything You Need To Know About Instacart
As a gig worker wishing to be a shopper for Instacart, there are various details you need to be acquainted with. First, you need to understand the details of how the application works, how you will earn your money, and how much shoppers can expect to earn. It will help you decide whether to work for Instacart or other delivery companies.
History
Instacart is a grocery ordering and delivery company formed by Apoorva Mehta (a former employee of Amazon) in 2012. The company served more than 5,000 cities in Canada and the United States and has its headquarters in San Francisco, California. It offers its delivery services through the mobile application and company website. It has a valuation of $39 billion and has three acquisitions: Mighty Signal, Unata, and Wedding party. Their leading investor is Glade Brook Capital, among other smaller firms.
How does Instacart work?
To sign up, you need to be at least 18 years of age, eligible to work in the US, and lift 50lbs. You would also need to have a vehicle in good condition and have a smartphone (Android 5.0 or newer or iPhone 6s or newer).
To become a shopper on Instacart, you can sign up here.
As a shopper, you will receive lists as orders from customers, go to the grocery store, shop for all groceries, and deliver them to the customer address.
Payments are made based on the deliveries done successfully. Shoppers are paid weekly via direct deposition. The Instacart app allows shoppers to track their weekly earning.
How Much Does Instacart Pay?
Earnings are highly dependent on the shopper and their efforts. Working as a shopper, you will classify as a full-service shopper. Your payment will depend on the orders and tips. The company provides a rough estimate of how much you can earn. Shoppers get at least $5 for a grocery batch and around $7 to $10 for each batch for both shopping and delivery. The amount is based on the number of items, distance, item types, and effort by the shopper. The earnings are typical $15 per hour before tips, according to Glassdoor. It can range from $2 to $25 an hour, depending on many factors.
Pros and Cons of Working for Instacart
Pros:
- As a shopper, you are aware of the amount of money you will make, and this is because Instacart notifies you of the approximate amount you can earn on each order. Sometimes, even tips and other incentives are factored in.
- A shopper knows the exact grocery store as well as the customer’s delivery address. Before you accept an order, the application shows you these details for you to make a decision.
- You get to be flexible and work according to your terms. Being a shopper will give you the flexibility you need. You can take breaks, take the day off or work for many hours in a day if you want to maximize your profits.
Cons:
- Some days don’t have good-paying orders. Some of the available orders to shoppers may be below $8. Meaning that you may earn little in a day.
- Reasonable offers may be far away from grocery stores you are comfortable with. Once you can’t get deliveries done within your area, you may be forced to drive further to get the orders. This may increase your gas costs.
- Tip baiting. The tip defaults to 5% of the cost of the batch. Problem is, many customers remove it before or after the delivery.
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Are you interested in signing up?
After fully understanding how the application works, how much drivers earn, and the pros & cons, are you still interested in making money as a full-service driver on Instacart? If you are ready and have all the needed requirements, you can access the site and sign up.
Shopping on Instacart is a great gig for an individual looking for flexibility, weekend tasks, and after-school opportunities, which will help earn extra cash.
