What is Instacart all about?

Instacart
In the interest of seeing how easy it is to become a recluse now in the this age of doorstep service, I tried Instacart for grocery delivery recently. Between Google Express and Amazon I can have just about anything I need delivered to me in a couple days. Save for those silly spoilable things like cheese or eggs, since losing my beloved Door to Door Organics this past November.  Before I tried their former competition to replace them I wanted to check out other lazy spoiled suburbanite options. It seems a bit ridiculous really since I live about 2 miles from the Natural Grocers that uses Instacart but why not try it. After all I am terrible at making grocery getting quick and easy. I inevitably make it my job to acknowledge just about every damned thing on the shelves despite being pressed for time. I am probably flagged on a list somewhere to be kept an eye on because of how long I spend staring in stores. But ANYWAY….

How Instacart  works:

  1. Fill your cart online with the products from the store you selected.
  2. Place your order and select a delivery time. You can select the tip amount at this time and note any special delivery needs. Your payment card is charge a temporary authorization charge.
  3. Around the delivery time your shopper starts shopping.
  4. They communicate any changes regarding store stock, and when done they check out.
  5. They head to your delivery location and walk your groceries to the door and leave.
  6. The actual payment is processed and the tip amount can be changed at this time.

My Instacart experience was mixed. Similar to any other online shopping Instacart is pretty cool in that you can grocery shop while binge watching your favorite show…or while sitting through some lame meeting for work. But the Instacart order itself was more involved that I had anticipated. While I did it on a day I was doing house chores and nothing imperative it could be disruptive if you scheduled your order during work or driving. As I kinda had to stop the things I was doing to respond to all the messages asking about substitutions for the items I had selected. Though I am not terribly picky about subs, your shopper can’t really trust if you tell them whatever works across the board. They get rated and too many people are so finicky. So it is a bit of a high maintenance process once your shopper is shopping. Plus it isn’t free, someone is doing work for you. Aside from the tip there is a service charge, which varies (mine was $8). And unless you subscribe to Instacart’s “Express” for an annual fee of $149, there is a $6 delivery fee. But I can see it being a great help on those super busy weeks. Not to mention for when you are sick, or if you want to send groceries to someone else. 

What is cool:

  • Groceries scheduled for delivery in as little as an hour.
  • Shop the night before and schedule delivery whenever.
  • Getting ice cream (and such) delivered.

Caveats:

  • While the person is shopping for you, you should be available via SMS or app to respond regarding substitutions. 
  • Higher price maybe than your local grocery pre-order/delivery options.
  • Limited to partnered stores in your area. 

In summary, Instacart is a useful option to have at your disposal to be sure. I am likely to use Instacart again but probably not necessary for me on a regular basis. Though it is limited to whatever stores in your area that are a partnered with Instacart, I would see it being great for the likes of new mom’s, people after surgery or just having guests over and needing some extra stuff without “making a run”. Now we need a Wine and Beer Run service.