Winter is here and we really don’t want to go out on random errands. The good news is that almost everything can be delivered nowadays.
I’ve been using the Instacart service at BJs for a few years now, because, as you all know, a visit to BJs or Costco can entail a lot of hours, complete with lots of heavy lifting. What do you do when you need to stock up but you don’t have half a day to spend doing it? You use BJs or Costco’s Instacart. Then, last year, Esti began raving and raving about Target’s Shipt service. When Covid hit, I joined that one too, and now have been using both. They’ve both become more popular in the Covid era and now that it’s cold out finally, it’s a good reason to leave the shopping to someone else and stay cozy at home! If you’re considering using one service or another, below is the info that you need to know to make your decisions.
Note that both of these services do add an expense to shopping. Besides saving time and the great convenience, there is a way you can come out ahead financially as well:
*When you place orders, you avoid making impulse purchases vs. when you go into the store yourself.
*When you stay stocked up on the basics at price club prices, instead of pushing off those trips, you’re less likely to buy them when you’re desperate and end up paying “convenience store” prices.
*Of course, for those who are working, time is money, and the extra couple of hours that you’re able to work more than pays for the amount you’re tipping your shopper.
Shipt
Esti is the Shipt superfan and she turned us all onto the service. Here is a little rundown:
*Shipt is amazing because they’ll bring you anything you need from Target as long as you have a minimum $35 order. Shipt is also available at BuyBuyBaby, Bed Bath & Beyond, and CVS (and a couple more shops), so you can have anything from those stores brought to your home using the same membership as well.
*Shipt is FAST. Delivery slots are often available within an hour or two of when you place the order and often, the orders come earlier.
*Easy communication. When your Shipt shopper “picks up” your order, he or she will text you to let you know that they’re currently shopping for you. If anything is not in stock, they will be in touch via text. Forgot you needed something and want them to add something to the order? Just let them know. I find that the ease of use and customer service aspect of using Shipt is superior in this way.
*Cost. The first expense of Shipt is the annual membership fee of $99. The only other expense, besides the items that you’re ordering, is the optional tip, which you should add to your order simply because it’s the right thing to do (I’m sure it helps with customer service). If I’m making a smallish order of light things from one part of the store (i.e. I’m just stocking up on cereal) I would tip one amount, but if my order contains heavy schleppy stuff (like cases of water bottles) or is very complicated (hello! My whole school supply list!!), I’ll tip more.
Instacart
I used Instacart primarily through BJs, while Renee uses it through Costco. Both stores have a different arrangement with Instacart, which I’ll describe below. Instacart also operates in other grocery stores, but we’re going to focus our post on these two big box stores. Since price clubs have less selection and are not typically out of stock on most items, there’s little room for error.
*Instacart is great because it’s a huge time saver! Plus, it can be really labor-intensive to shop at price clubs, as many items are heavy.
*Instacart is fast like Shipt. I find Shipt to be faster, but it doesn’t really matter, because I typically use Shipt when I suddenly find that I’m out of something and don’t have time to go to the store. I use Instacart when I need to stock up on price club basics, so I’m not typically in as much of a rush.
*Communication is the area where Shipt beats Instacart. Shipt shoppers can text or call you directly, whereas Instacart shoppers communicate through an app. Through the Instacart app, it’s a bit annoying when a shopper is replacing an out of stock item and you need to approve or disapprove (you can end up with something you don’t want if you don’t reject the replacement in time). If you don’t have a smartphone (or you don’t have internet or the app on your phone), this is difficult. Plus, sometimes the app freezes and your shopper doesn’t get your responses.
*Cost. This is where the two stores (Costco vs. BJs) differ. Costco’s Instacart services charge 5% on top of the cost of all items as the Instacart fee and a minimum order of $35. So, even when you just need a few things, it’s worthwhile, because you’re paying 5%, which is minimal on a small order. At BJs, the delivery fee is a flat $15. At BJs, I don’t want to pay $15 delivery for a small order, so I save Instacart for when I need a big stock-up of heavy things. Also, the regular in-store coupons aren’t valid, although there are some sales/coupons on a limited number of items.
In both places, it’s recommended and appropriate but optional to tip your shopper, the amount is up to you (like with Shipt, the amount we tip depends on the amount of heavy lifting that needs to be done).
Do you use either of these services? What do you like or dislike?
I use Instacart for my weekly produce order and Costco. They have Aldi and shoppers usually do a great job. Since I do pay $99 for Instacart and prime already, I use the target app with the target Cc for 5% off but I use the drive up option which usually comes with discounts for same day services – for ex a pack of 24 Poland spring will be $3 instead of $4 , they put it all straight in my trunk and I’ll wait for my husband to shlep it all in. With the target app if I reach $35 it’s free shipping and pretty quick so if I don’t need it the same day I use that.
For the rest of the kosher stuff, my local kosher shop has a WhatsApp number I text and get same or next day delivery!
Something I learned about Shipt. Shoppers save member addresses in Google maps and note tippers and non tippers. Members that tip orders are picked up right away. Non tippers order will sit and usually done when promo hits order. If you are a Non tippers it will be revealed eventually. If you want exceptional shoppers its a good idea you tip. If you want shoppers that provide poor customer service be a Non tipper, You will get a crappy shopper.
I am an Instacart shopper and I would like to let you know that before we accept the job we are not given any information but general vicinity of where we will be delivering. once we’ve accepted the order we are giving your name and your order and it’s not until we have completed shopping that we are given your address once we’re ready to deliver.
I use instacart and wondered if there was a certain amount of groceries that are ‘too’ many. I usually get around 60 items
With Shipt you ARE given the address ahead of time. And they do keep track.
I just tried placing a costco order on instacart. I had a coupon for free delivery, but they added $7.22 in service fee (tip) and $9.91 heavy order fee (2 cases water and a case of seltzer). Still deciding if its worth the additional $18 ;-/
I love shopping for instantcart It helps pay the bills from paycheck to paycheck. A lot of people in my area shop for others too. It helps a lot. Until you get those one shoppers that don’t answer the messages . Or keep adding items to their carts. Please remember to turn on your porch light at night and make sure the house number is well lite. It helps us shoppers to get your order to you. .
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING THE CUSTOMERS KNOW THIS ????????.
Please consider seeing if you have a small business owner near you that does personal shopping! Shipt and instacart barely pay the shoppers anything. Shop.dumpling.us is a place to start.
I have had a paid Shipt subscription for over a year now. I started using it after Peapod left my area. It is more expensive because I do tip very high–usually about 30% because I do one or two large orders per month. It’s been a godsend though because it has allowed me to shop for my elderly mom in another state. I feel bad they are out there during the pandemic because of my bad health, but one young guy said to me that it’s better if fewer people are out there doing the shopping. I have only experienced a couple poor shopping experiences in a year. The vast majority of the shoppers have been awesome, helpful, and fast. It’s really worth the subscription cost if you use them frequently like me.
Fyi the service fee us NOT a tip.
Instacart for Costco is great because you don’t need a membership to shop at Costco if going through instacart.
If you have a Costco membership it’s cheaper to go through samedaycostco.com, it’s powered via instacart but it’s costcos delivery program, so there’s no delivery fee or instacart membership fee.
I order on costco.com all the time. Non members get charged a 5% fee. No delivery fee, service fee or heavy lifting fees.
I work for Both Shipt and instacart. I prefer working for Shipt. There is more options to be able to communicate with your customers and get what they really want or close to it. Instacart they have fixed a few things but for me it’s all about organizing and Shipt nailed it. Easy app use and very nice customers. It’s all about communication.
I love both of these services, but they pay their employees very poorly. Often, it doesn’t matter what size the order is, they pay a flat amount plus mileage for delivery. It is so bad, where I live anyway, these shoppers are only making $3.50 an hour for shopping and delivering the orders. And unfortunately, many people don’t tip or only tip $2.00 because most people don’t realize how little the shoppers make. Most people assume they are making, at least minimum wage.
I love Shipt. My complaint with Instacart is 80% of the time my order is not delivered in the 2 hour time frame I chose. It’s always late. One time I had guests for dinner and was relying on my Instacart order and it was not on time. So my dinner was pushed an hour and a half. My order that day was supposed to be at my house by 4:00 but didn’t didn’t arrive until 6. ????
Your tip may not have been high enough so the shoppers waited for instacart to increase the batch pay.
Instacart shoppers can see the tip ahead of time. So, if you don’t tip or tip very little, there is a chance your order will sit until Instacart adds money to the order in t he form of a ‘bonus’ to take your order.
I love instacart for aldi! Same cheap prices and so easy:)
You forgot to mention the cost poder item it is highest than buying it directly from store. Id Tully do not review some products are between $3 – $4 dollars more of the regular price
Plus the service fee, delivery fee.
Tip should already be count separately.
How do I add a tip on Shipy
Cash is preferred as there have been tip ‘glitches’ where we the shoppers don’t receive your tip but Target/Shipt does. AND the larger your tip, the lower they pay us for the shop since they rely on you to cover the 40% pay cut we’ve received!
how do I add a tip on shipt? Don’t see the option in checkout
When you check your receipt in the app there will be an option. If you order on Target.com you can pre tip. Shipters don’t see the tip before hand like Instacart.
I have been a Shipt shopper for over 3 years. Shipt handed out a significant pay cut to all shoppers during the pandemic. What a way to show thanks for being essential! While I understand the appreciation for shopping services, please understand how little your shopper is making while also being solely responsible for all expenses- fuel, wear and tear on a vehicle, taxes, etc. Also be aware that the mark-ups from Shipt have most definitely increased. And lastly, there have been ongoing tipping issues for many many months now. Shoppers are having to fight for their earned tips. Shipt refuses to adequately address this issue. Ever since Target bought Shipt, it has done nothing but go downhill for shoppers- you know “the ones who bring the magic”.
Facts!!
Shipt might be great for you but it sucks for us shoppers. Sorry. Not wasting 2 hours shopping for you to only be paid $10 and get no tip. Shipt’s profits have increased 350% because of the pandemic. What’d they do with that? Gave their shoppers a 40% pay cut and used our money to hire Snoop Dog as a celebrity spokesperson. It’s extremely obvious you didn’t bother to interview any workers for this article. We’re being exploited.
thing is you’re going to these stores to save a buck but then spend it on these services…may as well support local fellow stores…
Shipt did not cut pay, nor do they ever keep shoppers tips. Stop spreading misinformation.
But they did cut pay! Big time! And “tip glitches” are all too common.
Bottom line: the leadership at Shipt do not care about their shoppers. ????
This is an absolutely false statement! Shipt is definitely paying less on the new pay scale and I have the spreadsheet to prove it. I’ve also had to email them several times to get my tips to show up in my delivery history.
Not sure where everyone lives but I use Instacart here in Michigan. Each area has certain stores depending on area. Every store in my area charges 3.99 per order delivered for delivery fee and Costco charges 8.99 per order. Yes I have the option to signup for one time delivery fee per year for $99.. only one odder for
Costco asked for my Costco membership and I got excited that I would
Get credit. It that was the only time and I was really numbed out. I have not used Shipt as intend it just stick with one delivery service and curbside pick up.