How To Get Instacart Shirt

How to get started every bit an Instacart Shopper

So you wanna brand money as an Instacart Shopper but don't know what to expect? You've come to the right place. I've been working as an Instacart Shopper total-time since Jan of 2020 and accept completed over 1,200 orders.

Many people sign upwards to be an Instacart Shopper just don't actually start shopping because they don't know what to look. They're afraid they'll accidentally have an order and are on the claw for it right abroad.

Don't worry, I'll guide you lot through the steps and will give y'all some details effectually what to look out for during your first order.

Similar I said, I started as a full-service Instacart Shopper at the beginning of 2020 without whatsoever idea of what was to come up. 2020 was of course a crazy year so my success on Instacart that year was driven past the chaotic circumstances, mainly a surge in new customers.

Nevertheless, even in 2022, I still use the same strategies that helped me succeed in 2020, going from my very first batch of $18 to getting $50 to $100 batches. Here is a comparison of my very first batch to a batch at the same shop, one year subsequently.

Batch earnings example on Instacart Screenshot of my outset batch and one year afterwards at the same store

I thought my first batch was the hardest thing I'd always washed and so don't wait to brand tons of money your first 24-hour interval, week or even month just stick with information technology and you lot'll get the hang of it.

Regardless of whether demand is high in your area, beneath are the basics to go you started. Instacart provides some very basic and in my stance, silly training with virtually no gritty real-life scenarios. Just fluff.

The best way to get adept at existence an Instacart Shopper is going out to shop so don't exist afraid to get out there. Your first gild will probably suck, heck, you first week will probably suck (mine did) simply don't surrender. Instacart is a peachy way to make money if y'all stay abroad from low or no tip orders.

Instacart is about completely tip-based so you won't terminal if you settle for crappy orders.

Fix? Allow's become started!

Instacart Shopper Signup

Signup is like shooting fish in a barrel. If you haven't already washed so, signup here.

And so, y'all'll be prompted to submit a picture of your license and motorcar insurance.

After that, Instacart volition run a groundwork check that includes criminal and driving records. Once yous laissez passer that, you'll exist notified.

If demand for Instacart in your area is depression, Instacart volition put you on a waiting list. It happened to me and took about 6 months, which was fine because I had some other gig at the time.

I will say that Instacart orders in my area have declined since May of 2021 so as a backup, I signed up for DoorDash and have recently been doing UberEats and Grubhub so I tin give you guys feedback on each app.

If you're looking for how to get started on those, see hither for DoorDash, here for UberEats and here for Grubhub or for a side-past-side comparison of Grubhub vs. DoorDash vs. UberEats, here.

I'll link to these again at the end of this page. I'll besides link to my other pages that provide some important Instacart Shopper Do'due south and Don'ts equally well every bit Instacart Shopper training and a more detailed look at how much Instacart pays.

Either way, I recommend you have i of the other food commitment apps as fill-in fifty-fifty if y'all want to practise Instacart every bit your main thing because of demand changes and app glitches.

Please note that in some areas there is a waitlist to exist an Instacart Shopper, and so in the concurrently, sign on to the other apps so y'all can first earning some actress $$.

One time you lot're cleared to shop, you lot will be prompted to take a picture in the app to verify information technology'southward you. Merely follow the in-app steps, information technology's all super piece of cake.

Now that you're all set, you're probably wondering how to grab an order. I know I was nervous to click on an order considering I didn't know if that meant I was accepting it or only checking it out.westward

This is often a deterrent and many people don't get by this pace to go out for their first order (batch).

Let me walk y'all through the process of finding your first batch below.

Finding your commencement batch equally an Instacart Shopper

Once you're ready to get started, striking "Become online". Y'all'll see a screen saying "Looking for a batch" so it should show you a list of available batches (orders) with the $ of the batch, if y'all're shopping for ane or more (up to three), the proper noun of the shop, how many items and the distance. Sometimes it says in that location are no batches. Keep swiping up to refresh the screen.

Screenshot of Instacart Go online home screen

I wouldn't recommend doing a 2 or three customer order your beginning week, leave that for later on. I still hate double orders because one is ordinarily a lower tipper that otherwise wouldn't get picked up every bit quickly and so I simply don't love them merely I accept had some big double orders.

That'southward up to you but don't take a $15-$25 double guild unless there are just similar 10 items total. Just stick with ane customer the offset few times and then work your way upwardly to 2 customers. I've but done ii triple orders. Again, you're gonna waste material a lot of time shopping for AND delivering to three people so make certain it's at least a $40+ order.

Also, delight don't take orders where y'all accept to store at 2 different stores unless yous accept ice packs and insulated bags for the get-go order while you shop the 2d at the other store.

Case of available batch screen

You tin can click on a batch (don't worry, you won't accidentally be on the hook to shop, there'll be another pace) and see more details like tip amount and pictures of the items.

In my area, the average Instacart order pays $9 and so I can see correct away that neither of these accept a tip then I wouldn't even bother looking further into them.

There are tons of no/depression tip orders on Instacart and they're not worth your while, even so I know many shoppers accept them.

Instacart Costco order

As yous tin can run across, this example is also not great. While it'south non a long delivery distance, the tip between the orders is very pocket-size. You'd select the dorsum arrow to go back to the available batches screen to find a better one.

I just wanted to testify you that it takes a flake to accept a batch so you don't have to worry about accidentally accepting a batch.

If information technology's a higher paying batch, you don't take much time to look at all those details so you have to be quick to hit "Accept".

Simply once y'all hitting "Have" volition the batch be yours. It will say transitioning batch and you'll see the customer's proper name and address and if you click on the item count or info icon you'll be able to view the customer's items. I really always familiarize myself with the items before I start shopping.

If you're non already close to the store (never pick a store that's more than than 10 miles away at least not on your first batch. I recommend going to stores nearby and waiting for an order in your automobile).

You have to head to the store right away to start shopping even if Instacart says the gild is not due for a few hours.

Earlier you lot leave, brand sure you lot take you have either your Instacart debit card or Apple pay (or whatever your telephone uses) ready up.

I've had shoppers in front of me who forgot their card and also didn't accept Apple, Samsung, Google or whatever pay on their phones and so they had to abandon their orders.

You'll need your concrete carte for Aldi orders and I recommend having it in your car at all times once y'all receive it.

How to add together Apple tree pay on Instacart

Shopping your start batch

Once you make it, slide to "starting time shopping" and well, start shopping.

Your offset batch as an Instacart Shopper is going to be a little challenging since you are trying to navigate the app and also don't know the store layout.

Below are some tips to consider. I have a whole slew of grooming pages I'll link to in related pages at the bottom.

Don't worry, you don't accept to recollect everything only these are some pro tips I wish I'd known.

A few helpful hints and then yous tin can go a 5-star Instacart Shopper

At the beginning of your shopping, message the customer to let them know you lot're happy to shop for them and you'll let them know most unavailable items, etc. I accept a canned bulletin I re-create and paste from my notes app then I don't have to waste product time typing it.

Many customers don't reply. If the customer responds, that's a adept matter because you'll know they'll be responsive when it comes to approving suggested replacements.

Being an Instacart Shopper is vastly different from shopping for yourself. You'll see items you never knew existed in aisles you never walked downward earlier but don't go flustered.

It volition take longer than you'd similar and y'all'll see the clock ticking but keep you calm and if y'all can't detect items right away, be polite to a shop employee and inquire. Many Shoppers are incredibly rude to grocery store employees and only agree their phone up without being courteous.

I've made some incredible buddies at grocery stores that take helped me find stuff I never knew existed and saved me a ton of time. I still ask even after shopping 1,000+ orders but I mostly know my stores' layout pretty well by now.

Some of the states don't understand that good people skills volition assistance you become a ameliorate Shopper and in plough maximize your earnings. And so but be polite and ask for an particular. Y'all can of class concur the phone up to show the employee the item but simply be courteous and say alibi me or something a regular homo would say. Seriously!

Whatever you do, don't shop for frozen items (especially ice cream) first even if the app lists them first. That'due south merely common sense. I've spoken to dozens of customers who said they knew an inexperienced shopper because they went to the frozen alley first. Think about it, you might spend an hour shopping so why would you get ice foam showtime? You don't let your ice cream sit down out on the counter at home (OK possibly you practice but regardless) for that long so why would you lot exit information technology in the cart while shopping?

I recommend knocking out deli and produce items offset considering those take the longest. You'll take to weigh pretty much every slice of produce, which is abrasive but is of import. I sometimes don't first the clock (I don't swipe showtime shopping) until I'k done with deli and produce. This is where I use the particular info to first shopping without actually starting the clock.

Don't make replacements when an particular is unavailable. I know this goes against your logical inclination since refunds usually cutting into your tip but customers dislike when you brand replacements willy nilly.

When I first started, I relied on Instacart's suggestions. It turns out, customers hated them and along with my own replacement suggestions Instacart and I were incorrect 9 out of 10 times so don't carp making a replacement. Just let the customer know something is out of stock and if they have a possible replacement in listen. Even if they don't respond, I'd err on the side of caution and refund with a message saying why yous refunded.

Information technology's weird psychology but virtually customers adopt to select a replacement or be presented with options rather than you making a replacement without contacting them.

Just message them and if they don't have a replacement, simply refund the item. Trust me on this, yes you might lose a couple of $$ on the tip but you'll get a skilful rating. Customers capeesh when you let them know that you'll exist issuing a refund for an unavailable item fifty-fifty if they don't respond.

Don't worry nigh this on your starting time few orders.

Checkout

OK, hopefully yous've made your way through the store, asked store employees for help when needed and either refunded or replaced items (with the help of the customer) and shopped frozen items last.

Now head to checkout.

Checkout is mostly smooth unless it's Aldi where you'll have to handbag too. Always double check to make sure you have the cashier scan the customer's shop loyalty card if applicable.

Also, make sure the bag person doesn't brand the items too heavy. I've had many broken bags and a few broken items as a consequence of way too heavy numberless so just mention that right as the person starts bagging. I often bag the groceries myself since I know what weight I want the bags to exist.

Just follow the app's instructions to complete checkout and head to your car. Deeply load the bags into your car.

Delivery

Slide "Start Commitment" and your navigation should also outset or select navigate if information technology doesn't. Brand sure you read delivery instructions before you lot start driving so you know what to practice when you become to the customer.

Most customers but want you to leave the bags at their door merely sometimes they have specific instructions as to which door, etc.

There is i thing that new Shoppers (and delivery people in general) forget that customers mention quite oftentimes and that's leaving room for the customer's door to open up. Many client's doors open outward so when yous place bags in front of their door, make certain there is enough room for them to exist able to open their door so they're not blocked in.

This is of import!

Or else...

If the customer comes out to encounter you lot be polite and say hi, how you're doing or whatever you want. Again, you'll make mad tips if you actually accept customer service skills.

For that hour or so you're shopping for the client and delivering, y'all're the service person simply similar a waiter is when you're eating at a restaurant. Information technology's simply that you don't get trained on client service skills by Instacart similar the waiter would by the restaurant.

One time you're done unloading the bags, swipe finish delivery and you lot can move on to the finding the adjacent batch nearby or call it a day. I called it a day after my first batch because I was then exhausted.

You lot did it! You completed your first batch as an Instacart Shopper

That'southward it! You lot take officially become an Instacart Shopper.

In the coming weeks, you'll get to know your area better and you'll be able to decide which batches to take and which to leave. Information technology's quite a flake of trial and mistake to become it correct based on what's bachelor in your surface area.

I actually recommend getting practiced at a few stores so yous're not always driving all over the place and lost at unlike stores. The long-time 5-star Instacart shoppers in my area all only shop at a couple of stores and have done and so for years. So it doesn't matter if your boondocks just has a couple of stores, get to know them and yous'll do well.

Here'south a super quick 5 footstep training to help you succeed equally an Instacart Shopper from the start.

f you are looking for something more in-depth, check out my Do's and Don'ts of Instacart, hither.

If yous desire to find out more most how much Instacart pays on boilerplate, check that out here.

For geting started with DoorDash go here, UberEats, here and Grubhub, hither.

I also take a comparison of DoorDash vs. UberEats vs. Grubhub, here.

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