InstacartReviews 2,490

Shopping is not hard when it's for yourself, but shopping for other people is a challenge in itself. Instacart is creating a poor environment by not valuing shoppers and not allowing shoppers the right to decide and all other pertinent details an "independent" contractor needs to independently conract. Instacart does not play fair. They are discriminatory and do not provide fair contracts to shoppers. They provide dynamic contracts which basically gives them the right to change everything and screw everyone. Angry mistreated shoppers ultimately have no other course than to provide equally poor service. This is a unsustainable relationship that is going nowhere but downhill.

Customers have issues with the app constantly. Items in catalog often incorrect or unclear as to size/style/etc. Company went from being somewhat selective in choosing Shoppers to accepting anybody who breathes, whether or not they have the ability to do the job. Company no longer trains new Shoppers. Company has no means of protecting Shoppers or themselves from customers who report items missing only to obtain said items for free. Company cares nothing about Shoppers, and even penalizes Shoppers for events beyond their control (accidents, injuries, etc.). Company has dropped Shoppers hourly guarantee in markets that are not yet ready to lose it (due to newness of market and/or lack of orders). Company continually drops rates in most markets. Company has been penalized for deceptive practices in re tips and service fees. Company employs support staff who are completely clueless in re company rules and policies. Many Shoppers no longer care to do their best because of how badly managed the company is.

I placed an order via the Instacart app to have my order delivered Friday, March 16,2018 for the hours of 5 PM-6 PM. I got home from work around 5 PM to get an email my delivery would be delayed and moved to 8:45 PM-9:15 PM. I called them asked them to moved my order to Saturday, March 17,2018 for 30pm-4 PM. I had a lunch to go to and i get a text at 1:15 PM my order is on it's way to be delivered. I called them told them I set it for 3-4 PM. The guy told me he would move it as it must have been a glitch. 1:20 PM the delivery driver is at my apartment complex. A 3rd phone call told them I set it for 3-4 PM as I had plans until that time. I get home at 3pm. At 3:45 PM i get a notification that my order was being shopped for and would be delivered at 6-7 PM. I called told them to cancel the order and refund my, money the service was in no way convenient. Will stick with Wal-Mart Pickup.

Have ordered in AZ and Southern California and the problem isn't tied to one location. The bait and switch is real with these guys. You place an order with one specific store because of sale items and guess what,... every time they are out if stock. At first the shoppers would text and ask if I wanted a substitute now they all just make substitutions without asking. And they always substitute for something that costs 3-5x as much. The website always has dead links and pages that don't load.

So as much as I wanted to tip you or comment that I hated the substitution you made without asking, so sorry but the pages won't load. Tried calling the number but guess what... a recording apologizing for being to busy to answer my call. Long story short and rant aside...

This service is very much needed but as long as instacart keeps hiring drivers who are oblivious, or pushes the metrics that makes drivers feel too rushed to get what the customer actually wants, I suggest sticking with Prime Pantry and Walmart. Oh yeah and sticking that 10% surcharge on each order probably should stop that too. Its kind of deceptive and I'm sure some people think its the tip for the shopper, who ends up getting stiffed.

Do not deal with instacart. I was making great money. Had almost 1,000 reviews with 4.8 rating! This company falsely accused me of shoplifting basically saying I took an order that wasn't mine which was false. They claim they viewed the film. I know they didn't or they would know this is a lie. Also I asked many times to see the film thinking maybe they got my name mixed up with the wrong face. They falsely terminated me and feel like I don't have the right to see this film which I know it's not me... This happened on 2/14/2018.
They won't show me the film. I had a batch that day a Binnys liquor store off Franklin & Grand. For 3 customers. 2 had a box each and 1 had 2 total of 4 boxes. If they looked at the film as they said they will see I only had 4 boxes. Then no one in that store knows my name and don't know how my name came up. Not sure if they got my name tied to a different face. But they lied and said I took an extra box from the staging area. How did I get if out? In my pocket?
I'm currently seeking a lawyer

Stay away from this company. At first it was okay, but then I noticed that their shoppers were making ridiculous replacements for out of stock items. At first, they would text you and get your approval, but then that stopped happening. For example, I requested a pre-made tilapia meal (already cooked, with rice and vegetables) that just needed to be reheated from their seafood counter. When it wasn't available, they brought me frozen tilapia instead. When I contacted customer service, they replied "thanks for the info. Is there anything else we can do for you?" Totally avoided the question as if they were complete idiots.

I imagine that their seed money is running out and they are about to go out of business. Be careful and don't upload your credit card information. Who knows whose hands it could end up in.

Total rip off scam of a company. Some store over charge. Does not honor the terms of agreement they have available and steal the rewards and money people earn on their store rewards card. Terrible customer service and wait times.

Brian E. (Instacart Customers)

Feb 21,2:19 PM PST
Hi Mike,

Customers who shop with a loyalty card on the Instacart platform will not receive in-store sales, but will be able to collect any loyalty points that accrue on their card. Sorry for the inconvenience.

This branch in Eugene has displayed a disappointing and dysfunctional delivery system. They are always late, the delivery is always incomplete or in poor quality. I contacted the supervisor in Eugene named Tyree and unfortunately, he was extremely rude, condescending, unable to offer logical solutions to compensate for their lack of efficiency and basically hung up the phone on me!
I then contacted the team lead, Sean, whom I found very supportive and helpful. Had it not been for Sean's excellent customer service, I would have entirely stopped using Instacart.
In result, The Eugene area needs to work on it's quality-performance and customer service etiquette.

Thank you,
Bay Area company owner

The idea of having food delivered in great. The set-up of the system needs a ton of improvement. I ordered several items from two separate stores. The first store order was perfect. The second store delivery was a terrible experience. I ordered filet mignon which online was charged $58.54. The actual purchase price from the store that the buyer paid was 19.32. I also never received an item that I ordered and there was no mention of this via text (received other texts regarding items). I called to receive a refund and had to wait on hold for over 10 minutes before speaking to someone. I finally did receive a refund but there is no way that I will ever use this service again. I understand some markup as well as a service fee but a markup of almost $40 is insane and unreasonable. STAY AWAY!

I love the idea that I can have food delivered to my door, the person who delivered it did a good job and we could work out the kinks in time I can live with $145 a year for delivery and the service charge, that was workable. It was the tip, that pushes it over edge, its an optional 10% 20% no other option. But if there was another option it still pushes the price that extra inch over what Im willing to pay and feeling bad over not tipping will send me to do my own shopping. Bummer

First of all people need to stop concerning themselves with the amount of money other people are making. Instacart does not employee the drivers/ the people who deliver your items. They are independent contractors who use their own car, gas, up keep so on. Even toll roads.

They are not paid by the hour only on each delivery they do and its not 20-25 dollars. Its under 10 dollars. And for those of you who don't tip or tip 10% which is a shame, because even in restaurants its 25% you don't want to pay the person who did you a service.
Anyone who says o, they got paid already I dont want to pay them twice is rude.

You are not paying the delivery person because you are paying a surcharge to use the app, or any other fee, that the company wants you are only paying for your (items, groceries) That is nasty and rude not to pay someone who did a service you did not want to do. And for those who tip on the app, why not tip in the person hand. Because who is to say that I get my tips from instacart. There have been several days where i see no tip. I have no way to see if you actual tip unlease they say I have tip.

Instacart delivery drivers are people and not animals. Instead you have customers being nasty, This is a one person job, and when you know what you order to sit on your $#*! and not help get your groceries to your door especially as a man is shamefull. Then not tip on top of it. Order 2 months worth of food and water not leave instructions how to get to you at night when office has closed.

The people who live in high rise buildings your order is not the only order deliver person has in their car. It is right for you to come to lobby to receive your items as you know your building and not right to walk blocks in your building to