Have you ever considered using your car to earn cash? Maybe you considered being an Uber or Lyft driver? But you don’t want strangers in your car. Then use your car for another purpose. Try your hand at freelancing with Instacart.
Freelancing company:
Instacart
USA: www.instacart.com
Canada: www.instacart.ca
Instacart was founded in 2012. Their headquarters is in San Francisco, California. Right now, they operate only in Canada and the USA.
Instacart uses freelancing contract workers to provide a same-day grocery delivery service. They use freelance workers to select and pack the groceries and deliver them to the customers.
Better Business Bureau (BBB):
Instacart has been listed with the Better Business Bureau since 2013. They have received a C- rating. There are more than 550 complaints logged with 311 complaints closed within the last 12 months.
We also noticed that every company response to a complaint used exactly the same text over the last few months. Almost like form letters for customer service. Hmmm.
Cost to you:
Registration: free
Mobile app download: free
Pay range:
We found it extremely difficult to determine the pay for freelancing with Instacart. They indicate the pay is determined through their proprietary software algorithm.
It’s true there are many factors involved: how many hours you work, how many orders you accept, how many items are in an order, etc. However, the Instacart site does not even provide an estimate. And we see that as a potential red flag.
From Glassdoor, we were able to find the range of $7.00 USD to $20.00 USD per hour. The average being $11.00 USD.
Payment method:
Currently, if you are freelancing through Instacart, direct deposit is the only means of payment. That’s regardless of your country of residence.
Payment frequency:
One benefit with Instacart is how often you get paid. Instead of the usual monthly payment schedule for many side hustles, Instacart pays you weekly.
Website/app usability:
We have very limited experience with the shopper-side of the app. From what we’ve seen it does appear to be straight forward to navigate.
Social media:
Instacart is on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Job availability:
Instacart offers their services for freelancing in many different locations. They’re also focused on expansion. But you are competing with all the other full-service shoppers looking to earn some money.
You’re also limited by the number of customers placing orders. If Instacart is not that popular in your area, then you simply won’t see as many orders.
Worker support:
On the website or app, you have access to the worker help information. You can also contact them through email and a support phone number. We have not used the email nor the support number.
What do you need?
For the full-service shopper role, you’ll need a registered vehicle with insurance coverage. You’ll also need your smartphone to keep up with the orders. NOTE: With Instacart, orders are often called batches.
How does it work?
There are two different types of shopper roles with Instacart: Full-service shopper and In-store shopper.
The in-store shoppers are Instacart employees who work scheduled shifts performing staging and other tasks on site.
Full-service shoppers are independent contract workers. This is the role most people envision when you think about working for Instacart. Full-service shoppers select and pack the groceries and then deliver them to the customer.
Registration:
- You register on the site relevant to your location:
- Canada: shoppers.instacart.ca
- USA: shoppers.instacart.com
- In addition to your name and email, you’ll also need to enter your postal/zip code and your cell phone number. The cell phone is critical as you receive a confirmation code you must re-apply to your form.
- Once you’ve confirmed your personal details, then you’ll need to:
- Provide authorisation for a background check to be performed
- Sign the Independent Contractor Agreement
- Provide a driving record – this is actually included with the background check by entering your driver’s license number and filling out the related forms
- Once your background check has been approved then you can begin working.
Shopping/Delivering:
You sign-up for particular shifts/hours when you’re available. You’ll see orders based on your location so you need to keep location services turned on. Orders contain relevant information like the number of items ordered, the retailer, the distance, and the estimated earnings.
When a new order comes in you’re notified with a ping. The ping will continue for up to four minutes to ensure you receive the notification. The only way to silence the ping is to accept the order. Unfortunately, there is usually no decline button.
If you accept the order, then you perform the shop and you’ll see the earnings confirmed afterward.
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Recommendation:
We have mixed feelings about this opportunity. The way the information is outlined on the Instacart site, this seems like it could be an interesting way to earn some extra cash.
However, there are numerous comments online regarding unpleasant practices with Instacart. From subtle shaming to hounding and intimidation tactics.
Concerns:
- There is often no way to easily decline orders. So you will be subjected to the four-minute pinging of the order notification.
- If you don’t accept an order you might receive a follow-up in-app message that reads, “Watch it! …… may affect your future ability to select hours for services.” This might also be followed with a request to confirm you’re still available for work and/or explain your reasons for not accepting the order. In some comments, shoppers have claimed they received calls directly from the company’s Shopper Happiness team members where they were verbally harassed to accept orders.
- If you decline an order you might also receive a “reliability incident” on your profile. This can hurt your chances of getting more orders.
- Even after an order is declined or ignored you might see that same order re-appear moments later with slightly higher earnings estimated. This makes it seem like orders are being farmed out to the lowest bidders regardless of their payment algorithm.
- There are also many comments indicating shoppers are punished for declining orders. The number of orders you are offered are reduced and your income limited.
- Many jobs are reserved for workers who sign up in advance for specific shifts. But to get those shifts you must earn the privilege to sign up early. And that privilege is achieved by either:
- Working 90 hours over the previous three weeks
- Working 25 hours over the previous three weekends
But the privilege could be revoked if you decline orders.
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