You may be familiar with the service known as Instacart; you may have even used it before when you didn’t want to leave the house. This type of delivery service is now more popular than ever, especially given the global situation where people are advised to stay home.
If you haven’t used Instacart before, but have been meaning to, you’ve come to the right place. Instacart reviews like this one will break down all the information you need to know. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about whether Instacart is a grocery delivery service that works for you.
What is Instacart?
Basically, Instacart is an app and website where you can order food and other items for your home. Personal shoppers will source items for you and ultimately deliver them to your home once they’ve purchased everything on your list. The service has a wide selection of partner stores, depending on your area, meaning you’re spoiled for choice.
Instacart express
Instacart Express is an Instacart subscription service that offers more benefits. Of course, it is a completely optional offer that suits people who use the service constantly. With Instacart Express, orders over $35 will have free delivery; additionally, the service fees on your orders will also see a reduction. This premium service offers two pricing options: $99 per year or $9.99 per month.
How does Instacart work?
As mentioned, a personal shopper will receive your shopping list and then shop for your groceries for you. However, before you start using Instacart, check to see if the service is available where you live. Then, once you’re sure Instacart will work for you, continue with the steps below to start shopping.
Create an account
You can create a free account through either the Instacart app or the Instacart website. The process is quick and easy: all you need to do is type in your name, email, and password.
Enter your address
Go ahead and sign in to the app or website; either way is fine. After you do, Instacart will ask you to enter your zip code or address so it knows where shoppers are supposed to deliver items. You will also be given a list of partner stores based on the address you enter. Choose which store you want to buy food from, but you can change this at any time if you change your mind.
Start shopping
At this point, it’s time for you to start shopping. Review the different options available; In fact, you can even compare the prices of the different brands and sizes available to help you decide if you’re making the right financial decisions. Once you’re sure you want to buy something, click “add to cart”.
Choose substitutions and delivery time
For each item in your cart, you can give your personal shopper some instructions in case they have substitution preferences. In the event that an item is not available, your personal shopper will still be able to offer you what you want based on these preferences. If you don’t have a replacement in mind, you also have a “Don’t Replace” option. This means that Instacart will not charge you for items that are not available.
It is worth mentioning that the amount you will be charged or refunded depends on the price of the replacement items. Then choose your delivery time. Depending on the time you placed your order, you may even be able to receive items within 2 hours.
Enter Payment Information
After reviewing your order and making sure you’re satisfied, type in your payment information. Then be sure to tip before finalizing your order.
Receive your order
All you have to do now is sit back and wait for your order to be delivered. Of course, make sure you’re available to take your personal shopper’s order when the time comes. When your buyer is on their way home, they’ll receive an email, text, or call; it depends on your preferences.
Prices
Instacart’s shipping fee starts at $3.99, but you’ll also have to pay a service fee that starts at 5% of your order total. If alcoholic beverages are part of your order, there will be a separate service fee for that. Some of the items you’ll find on Instacart may also be more expensive than their store price. Fortunately, stores indicate this directly in their pricing policy if they have higher prices on Instacart.
As mentioned, you need to consider how much you are going to tip your personal shopper. This is common practice for Instacart users, so you should also consider the tip amount when planning your budget. That is why it is recommended that frequent Instacart users subscribe to Instacart Express because in the end they will be able to save more.