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Instacart Shopper Review – Earn Up To $20/Hr. Delivering Stuff

Are you one on the list who is in search of any side gig to make some extra income for any reason?

This is the chance to grab some extra bucks by doing our routine. In this, grocery shopping is one of the main tasks that we cannot skip.

How much time, on average, do you spend on grocery shopping? and Do you enjoy grocery shopping?

If you really enjoy this, food delivery services like Instacart Shopper are the perfect side hustle for you which offers plenty of flexibility.

Usually, grocery shopping means taking money out of the bank, but for Instacart Shopper, it’s time to cash in. 

However, frankly speaking, there are many food delivery side hustle jobs out there, and of which today, we shall discuss Instacart and a review of its Instacart shopper job.

So, Let’s find out everything about this company and how to start a new side hustle as an Instacart Shopper. 

 

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About Instacart?

instacart shopper review

Source: Instacart

Instacart is a website and mobile app founded in 2012 by serial entrepreneur Apoorva Mehta, a former Amazon.com employee. It is headquartered in San Francisco and operates grocery delivery and pick-up service in the United States and Canada.

This online grocery delivery service makes it easier for people to get food delivered to their doorstep. This company offers its services to more than 5,000 locations in the US and Canada.

It offers varied delivery options ranging from two hours to one week. With over 7,000 Instacart shoppers, this side hustle is something worth trying if you’ve some free time to work in a week.

 

How Instacart Works?

how instacart works

Instacart is an online grocery delivery service. It lets people order groceries and other household items online and have them delivered directly to the customer’s house.

Buying groceries and prepping meals at home is a great way to eat healthier and save money instead of relying on take-outs. But, lots of people don’t have that time to shop for groceries or any other reason.

So for those types of people who are short on time, using a grocery service like Instacart helps them to buy groceries and have them delivered to their doorstep.

For this, you just simply need to open the Instacart App, choose your local grocery store, and select the products you’d like to buy. Instacart lists almost every household product, including basics like packaged meat to prepared meals like frozen pizzas.

Once you place your order, and then the follow-up process starts with an Instacart shopper, who will pick up your items, notify you if there are any out-of-stock products and deliver your groceries within the slot time you’ve selected.

Moreover, Instacart helps people to get healthy, nutritious foods or snacks without spending hours in the store line. It is the most convenient method for people with a disability or limited mobility.

At the same time, Instacart is also helpful for people who are looking to make extra money. It offers a flexible job that lets people choose their own schedule and get paid to shop.

When someone places an order, you’ll have the option to claim that order, buy those items, and deliver them to the customer’s house. Depending on the type of role you do, you’ll get paid on an hourly basis or on commission.

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What Are The Instacart Shopper Requirements?

Instacart has two types of roles for people who are interested in working as Instacart shoppers: full-service shoppers and in-store shoppers.

Full-Service Shoppers

In this role, you will be included in both shopping and delivering groceries. Here, you will be working as an independent contractor. There is no limit to the number of hours you need to work in this role. It is always available whenever Instacart operates. Moreover, this role is quite comfortable for someone who wants to work flexible hours. The requirements for this role are

  • Must be over the age of 18
  • Must have a vehicle, auto insurance, two years of driving experience, and a valid local driving license.
  • Own a smartphone with android 5.0 or above or iOS 9.0 or above.
  • Be able to lift 30+ pounds
  • Must be available to work in the U.S or Canada.

In-Store Shoppers

In this role, you need to do the shopping, and delivery drivers will pick up the order. So, for this role, workers don’t need to have a car. You need to work for a maximum of 29 hours per week.

  • Should be over the age of 18
  • Must have a smartphone with android 5.0 or above or iOS 9.0 or above.
  • Be able to lift 30+ pounds
  • Must be available to work in the U.S or Canada.

 

How To Get A Job As An Instacart Shopper?

If you’re interested in making money as an Instacart shopper, you need to follow the below application process.  Instacart’s application process is quite simple and smooth.

  • Step 1: First of all, visit shoppers.instacart.com and then enter your basic personal information, like your name, address, and phone number. In this step, you are also required to indicate whether you have regular access to a car or not. 
  • Step 2: Secondly, you’ll need to attend an in-person hiring session, which typically lasts for two hours involving an orientation session and skills test.

Note: This step is for part-time workers only. In some cases, Instacart may reject the in-person hiring session when they’re trying to staff up quickly. Suppose you’re not going to attend an in-person session; you’ll proceed immediately to the next step.

  • Step 3: This step involves completing paperwork. Here, Independent contractors need to sign a contract agreement and W-9 tax form, while on the other hand, part-time employees need to sign an offer letter and W-4 tax form.  
  • Step 4: Finally, this step involves downloading the Instacart shopper app, where you need to set up your availability, step up gigs, and track your earnings. If you encounter any issues, the Instacart help team will be there to help you.

apply now

 

How Does Instacart Shoppers Work?

Firstly, you need to sign up to work with the company through the online application. If you work as an independent contractor, sign up to be a full-service shopper.

You can also sign up as an in-store shopper. This part-time job offers retirement and commuting benefits. 

Once you are done with the above application process, you need to follow the below steps. 

Full-Service Shoppers: Full-service shoppers do everything. They’ll take orders from customers through the app, then go to the grocery store, purchase the products, and then deliver them to the customer’s doorstep. To work as a full-service shopper, you need to have some requirements, as I mentioned above.

However, as a full-service shopper, you’re responsible for stepping into the store and for bringing the groceries to customers. Moreover, full-service shoppers get paid commissions based on the size of each order and the number of orders they deliver. Plus, they also get tips from customers.

But the thing is that you only get paid when you get orders. If you don’t get any orders, you might still have to wait at the store, and you don’t get paid for that.

Although full-service shoppers’ work is more profitable, the amount you get paid is inconsistent.

 

In-Store Shoppers: In-store shoppers receive orders from customers, find all products in the store and then bag them for customers. Here, you don’t need to deliver groceries to the customer’s house, so there is no need to have a vehicle and no worry about driving around the city.

Moreover, you’re getting the advantage of Instacart’s retirement and commuting benefits. Plus, you’re getting paid at an hourly rate, which makes it easier for you to tally your income.

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How Much Does Instacart Shopper Get Paid?

The amount you can make as an Instacart shopper may vary widely.

Full-service Instacart shoppers may get the most varied pay, depending on the number of hours they work, order size, the location they work in, the distance they travel, and tips they receive from customers.

According to Glassdoor, the average pay is about $10-$15 per hour, but you can also make more if you deliver quickly or get tipped well.

While the in-store shoppers are paid on an hourly basis, usually in the same $10-$15 range. But, in-store shoppers don’t have the ability to get tips.

 

The Pros & Cons of Instacart Shopper Job

Pros

  • Flexible working hours, you can set up your working hours in the app and go online whenever you want to work.
  • It has both part-time and full-time opportunities, so you can work accordingly.
  • Recently implemented fast pay, so payment can be made a day after delivery is completed.
  • Highly comfortable for people who loves grocery shopping and for people who always love to drive.

Cons

  • Payments are not consistent. So, not suitable for those who want to make quick and more money.
  • Driving for prolonged hours can be an additional burden and not comfortable for people.
  • Higher expenses like gas, wear and tear, and vehicle repairs add up more.
  • Must be able to lift and carry heavy grocery loads.

 

Instacart Shopper Review

Coming to our review of the Instacart shopper job, WE DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT.

Instacart is a legit company to work with, and the pay rates are also good.

If shopping is something you enjoy, then this is a great gig for you. But, like any other delivery job, this Instacart shopper’s job has both good and bad things.

This side gig doesn’t make you rich, as you couldn’t expect more than $20 per hour consistently.

However, working as an Instacart Shopper is an easy way to make money for people who have spare time and for people who want to make extra money.

The advantage of being an Instacart Shopper is the freedom to choose your own working hours and the ability to pick up the type of role you want to work.

 

Important FAQs About Instacart Shopper Job

Where is Instacart available?

Instacart services are available in both Canada and the US. It’s up there as one of the most widely available grocery options.

Visit Instacart’s site to check to see if there is availability in your area or not, and you can even sign up for notifications and make check if there are any updates.

 

How many hours do I have to work to earn $300?

It completely depends on how fast you work. The more deliveries you do, the better they pay.

The only thing you have to do is to work hard if you want quick money and of course, it depends on your location too. 

 

Do I still get paid even if I don’t get any orders during my hours?

Absolutely No! You only get paid if you shop and deliver an order.

 

Do I need to pay anything to work for Instacart?

No,  You don’t need to pay anything. All you need is driving insurance, gas to refuel the tank, and a neat car because you should not be delivered in a nasty car, right?

 

Some Best Alternate Opportunities

If you’re the one who hates driving or if you want a consistent income or any other reason, then you’re here to learn some other best alternatives to grocery delivery driving jobs.

As the pay rates of grocery delivery jobs are typically low, why don’t you choose other best options that are available in the market? Well, without higher expenses of car and gas, you can easily earn some decent income from the comfort of your home.

Here, we’ll discuss the best shortlist of online jobs.

1. Try Transcription

Transcription jobs generally pay $15 – $30 an hour, and If you have good typing skills, then you can start working in this field without prior experience.

There are several companies out there to hire a transcriptionist. On average, transcribers make $4000+ every month working from home. You can start by joining this free training if you are interested in this field.

Do Check, 27 Best Online Transcription Jobs For Beginners- $15/Hr.

 

2. Become a Proofreader

To keep it simple, proofreading is nothing but reviewing a document or an article or some written stuff to check or highlight the errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. 

So, for this, you need to have a keen observation to find mistakes, knowledge of grammar, and skills to proofread in less time.

The earning potential of this job depends mainly on your experience, efficiency, and the company you’re working for. On average, proofreaders make $20 an hour or even more. What else would be easier than reading stuff and getting paid? Interesting right?

Signup for this free Proofreading Webinar to learn how to make money as a proofreader.

Do Check, 27 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners- Earn $30/Hr.

 

3. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is usually an independent contractor who provides administrative services to their clients while operating outside of the client’s office.

A typical virtual assistant might perform simple tasks like scheduling appointments, making phone calls, making travel arrangements, and managing email accounts.

As a virtual assistant, you can make around $15 – $75 per hour based on your service. Join the 30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Business Success course to learn about this field.

Do Check, 15 Legit Companies That Offer Virtual Assistant Jobs.

 

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