Instacart Review 2021. Is Instacart Worth It? (Personal Shopper)

Do you love shopping? Maybe even thinking how to make money without depending on a corporate 9 to 5 job?

Well, then becoming a personal shopper might be the perfect option for you.

But is it worth it?

According to the Coresight Research “US Online Grocery Survey”, US online grocery sales grew 22% in 2019.

If you’re wondering how to leverage this information, this Instacart review is for you. It covers all the information and a step-by-step guide so you can turn shopping into a full-time business.

Let’s jump right in to see what Instacart has to offer.

What is Instacart?

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Instacart is a grocery delivery service connecting customers with personal shoppers online within the United States and Canada.

Customers can either use a website or a mobile app to order groceries and other household goods online. Instacart promises deliveries at customers’ doorsteps within 1 or 2 hours after placing an order.

How to Make Money with Instacart?

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Instacart hires two different types of shoppers: a full-service and an in-store.

As a full-service shopper, you will shop and deliver the orders. You will need an active driver’s license and access to a car. As a full-service shopper, you will work as an independent contractor and you may choose your own work hours. You will earn money per item in an order and per delivery. Instacart pays full-service shoppers weekly.

Another role to work for Instacart is an in-store shopper. As an in-store shopper, you will work in the store, shopping and preparing orders for pick-up. Therefore, you don’t need access to the car. As an in-store shopper, you are a part-time employee of Instacart and not an independent contractor. However, you are still able to have a flexible schedule.

Let’s take a look at a simple step-by-step process of earning money as an Instacart shopper.

Full-Service Shopper

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Step 1 – Get approved to shop

Go to shoppers.instacart.com and follow the signup instructions. Instacart will review your application and notify you when you are approved.

Step 2 – Fill out the paperwork

You need to sign an independent contractor agreement and W-9 tax form.

Step 3 – Choose the orders you want to shop

Once you are approved, you will see orders near your current location in the app. You can pick the order that you want to fulfill and start earning.

Step 4 – Take your Instacart shopping card

All Instacart shoppers use a preloaded payment card to purchase customer orders. It usually takes 5 to 7 business days to claim your registered shopper’s card.

Step 5 – Shop your customers’ orders

Once you pick your order within the app, it’s time to actually shop. Go to the indicated store and pick all the products your customer has ordered.

Step 6 – Communicate with your customer

Update your customers when the product is out of stock and ask how to replace it using a built-in messenger.

Step 7 – Deliver the order to your customer

After you have purchased all the products, it’s time to deliver the order. The app shows you the exact address of your customer on the built-in map.

Step 8 – Cash out instantly and earn tips

After delivering the order successfully, your earnings are available to you instantly. Some customers will leave tips for you, which are always 100% yours.

In-Store Shopper

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Step 1 – Submit an online application at shoppers.instacart.com

Step 2 – Attend an in-person orientation

This step is a part of an onboarding process. You can choose the session that works best for you from your app.

Step 3 – Fill out the paperwork

As an in-store shopper, you need to sign an employment offer and W-4 tax form.

Step 4 – Prepare your customers’ orders for pick up

You shop on your customer’s behalf and pack the order for pick-up.

Step 5 – Communicate with your customer

If you have questions regarding an order, you can use the built-in messenger within an app to contact your customer.

Step 6 – Get paid weekly

Instacart will pay you as an in-store shopper weekly, according to hours you have worked.

How Much Does Instacart Pay?

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The amount you will earn with Instacart varies based on which type of shopper role you choose.

If you choose to be a full-service shopper, you have the flexibility to work on your own time schedule. This means that the amount Instacart will pay you totally depends on how much orders you will fulfill.

According to FastCompany, you will get paid a minimum amount of $7-$10 per order as a full-service shopper. This amount doesn’t include customer tips, which is directly transferred to your earnings. Instacart also gives you different types of bonus and promotion opportunities to make even more money.

On the other hand, in-store shoppers are Instacart employees earning an hourly wage of $13 on average. You can schedule your shifts based on your availability, up to 29 hours per week.

How Does Instacart Pay?

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Instacart has different payment policies for full-service and in-store shoppers.

Instacart pays full-service shoppers per batch completed. The number of items per order, type of items, the effort involved in shopping and delivering as well as driving distance determine the amount you will earn per batch.

If you are a full-service shopper, your earnings are instantly accessible after completing the orders. This means you can transfer your funds to your debit card anytime. If you don’t request the withdrawal, the company will release your payment every Wednesday.

As an in-store shopper, you are an Instacart employee earning an hourly wage. In this case, Instacart pays you every Friday by direct deposit or a check.

How to Sign Up for an Instacart Job?

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Applying for an Instacart job is quick, simple and completely online.

Anyone can become an Instacart shopper regardless of their experience. However, there are some basic requirements to meet in order to be considered for a job. 

Basic requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be eligible to work in the US
• Pass a background check
• Have an up-to-date smartphone (iOS 9 / Android 4.4 or later)

Full-service shoppers must also have:

• An active driving license
• Unlimited access to an insured vehicle
• Ability to lift 50 lbs
• A set of insulated bags or a cooler to deliver orders.

If you meet all the requirements above and want to submit your application, here’s the step-by-step process:

First, you need to create an account at shoppers.instacart.com. After providing some basic information, you need to download an app from the App Store or Google Play. Once you complete the signup process you need to take a background check through the app. 

The online application process takes about 5 minutes and doesn’t require writing a motivation letter to get accepted. However, a background check takes a bit longer. At this step, you need to provide the company with more information about yourself and your background.

Once you submit your online application, Instacart needs time (up to 10 business days) to review your profile. As Instacart shoppers state, the review process usually takes much less than that.

Instacart Costs to Consider

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As a full-service shopper, you are an independent contractor. Therefore, Instacart doesn’t provide you with employee benefits, such as insurance, gas, etc. 

There are several costs to consider when you think of doing business with Instacart. Your monthly expenses will include buying insurance as well as paying for gas and maintenance of your vehicle. You are also responsible for filing your own taxes.

However, if you wish to become an in-store shopper, car-related expenses won’t apply to you.

How to Earn More with Instacart

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Tip 1 – Work in hot spots

Some areas are busier than others. Find out locations with high demand and get orders in those hot spots. Instacart highlights the zones of high demand with red rectangular areas. Pink color indicates the moderate demand, while greyish-white shows normal (or weak) demand.

Tip 2 – Work fast

This doesn’t mean you should be in a rush all the time. However, if you shop fast to manage many orders, you will increase your earnings. Instacart also offers bonuses to shoppers who are fastest in the area and on top of the leaderboard.

Tip 3 – Maximize your opportunity for tips

Being positive, caring and polite maximizes your opportunities for tips. Make sure to communicate with your customer when things don’t go as planned. Let them know if the product in their order is out of stock or when you get stuck in traffic. Remember that lack of communication, rudeness and being late means no tips from your customer.

Tip 4 – Go online during peak hours

Each area has its own peak hours – the time when there is more demand for the service than usual. Find out the peak times in your area and always try to go online during those hours. The Instacart app doesn’t directly highlight peak times, however, you will recognize peak hours after working as a shopper after a week.

Tip 5 – Leverage bonus and promotion opportunities

Instacart offers you a number of bonuses and promotions based on your work. So make sure you keep up-to-date with what they offer and try to grasp as many promotions as you can. You will see available promotions and bonus opportunities in your dashboard section of your mobile app.

Instacart Pros & Cons

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Pros

• Flexibility – no minimum hours are required and you choose your own time to shop.
• Weekly payments. Many zones also have an instant cashout option allowing you to transfer your funds to your bank account anytime.
• Bonus opportunities – you can earn $3 for every 5-star rating. There are many other bonus opportunities specific to different locations.
• Tips – most customers will tip you for the good service, either in the app or cash.
• App functionality – it’s easy to use and never has any issues.
• Performance leaderboards – it might increase your motivation to fulfill orders faster to see your name at the top of the zone leaderboard.

Cons

• No guaranteed number of orders – no orders means no money. However as demand for the service increases over time, more shoppers should be able to get busier fulfilling orders.
• Tipping – as tipping is optional, some customers won’t tip.
• Taxes – you have to track your earnings and make calculations. If you make more than $600 with Instacart, you will receive an income form for tax season.
• Vehicle-related expenses are not covered by the company including gas, vehicle wear, maintenance and insurance.

Instacart Alternatives

Instacart vs Amazon Fresh

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Amazon Fresh is a grocery delivery service for Amazon Prime members and the biggest alternative to Instacart. Personal shoppers of Amazon Fresh earn a fixed fee of $15 to $17.25 per hour. This is almost similar to what you can earn as an in-store shopper for Instacart. However, as an Instacart full-service shopper, you have an opportunity to earn more than that if you leverage the bonus and promotion opportunities.

Instacart vs Shipt

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Shipt is another alternative to Instacart. According to Glassdoor reports, Shipt personal shoppers make $11 to $14 per hour. Instacart shoppers typically make more money for larger orders and during busy times.

Instacart vs Postmates

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Another alternative to Instacart is Postmates. The payout at Postmates fluctuates based on the service area. As a Postmates driver, you have an opportunity to make a minimum of $4 per order. You also earn $1 for every pick-up and drop-off and $0.10 per minute while waiting for your order.

At Postmates you might lose time waiting for restaurants to prepare your orders. As this is not the case while shopping with Instacart, you can fulfill more orders within an hour and earn more.

Instacart vs Uber Eats

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Uber Eats is a very popular alternative to Instacart, paying the drivers $10-14 per hour. However, as Uber Eats also offers food delivery, you as a driver might lose some time waiting for restaurants preparing your orders. Taking this into consideration, you might be able to manage more orders and earn more hourly as an Instacart shopper.

Is it Worth Working for Instacart?

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Overall, it’s a great option to earn money at your own schedule with Instacart. However, you shouldn’t forget some extra costs the company doesn’t cover if you work as an independent contractor.

You should take into consideration expenses such as gas, insurance and maintenance of your vehicle.

Instacart FAQ

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