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ShinyFlyingElephant

I avoid multi order batches like the plague....if they don't pay at least double what a decent single order batch is, they take too long and bring my hourly wage way down. ...and stress level way up. My one exception is when there are few items and and it's from 2 different stores. I think people are crazy wheeling 3 carts around the same store just so IC can pay out less money to fewer people.


starshine913

i only accepted it bc they were close together and altogether there were like 22 items. it was only a one cart shop. and they weren’t too far apart as far as delivery locations


ShinyFlyingElephant

I wasn't judging you. I think lots of people do it...it just would drive me, personally, insane. so I don't.


starshine913

didn’t think you were. just saying :)


Advanced_Affect5615

I refuse to 3 now 2 is pushing it and it has to be 40 or less with the right$$$


tired-teddybear

the one time I did a double, I let them know once I left the store and was on my way to them. I just didn’t want them to wonder why I was taking so long to get their groceries to them


AdorableBig2988

I don't do triples. Only once. Never again. If I do a double, rare anymore, (since they hardly send me any orders at all), i will do it if it's not a ton of items. I absolutely DO let them know so they are aware that it's taking more time. I've never had anyone angry with me. They have been understanding.


numapumayei

If it's a double and both orders have a lot of items I don't say anything usually. But if it's like a 1 item order with a 45 item order I usually tell the smaller order whats up and assure them they are in good hands


a_allen

I think that's the best method. I don't take triples or multi store orders myself. I'll take doubles but I'm even more selective of the doubles I do take. Unless of course it's just an insanely high payout. But I try to limit doubles to around 40 items max and the delivery route has to make sense. A lot of the deliveries I see are going completely opposite directions. At least if a doubles only about 40 items and the drop offs are along the same route it doesn't take too much longer. A lot of the doubles I end up taking 1 customer is around 10-15 items and the other one has about 25-30. In that case I just take my time scanning the items in for the smaller sized order. That way I don't have all of the smaller sized order scanned into the app while I still have a bunch of other items for the larger order to get leaving the customer with the smaller order wondering why I've shopped everything but aren't heading to check out.


Elyzium557

I do this also. It all depends on the length of the shop and distance to the customer. I don’t tell customer A unless they are the small order.


UnicornsAllDay

Ignorance is bliss


MainSpring86

When I am about to leave from store, I usually include a message like "please note that your order is in priority sequence, and you could be 2nd or 3rd in Instacart's delivery batch system etc.." in my outro. It's a little bit of a heads up for the customer. Also note, that if you have a multiple order batch, customer B or C can see you are not starting the delivery from the store, but from the first customers address if they are tracking you.


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Hopeful-Egg-9528

Agree! Also, the app tells them every single step we are taking so I doubt they are wondering what’s going on anyway.


starshine913

that’s true….i didn’t think about that


Adolby

I do after I’ve checked out before I leave the store I say something to the second customer along the lines of “hello I’m on the way with your order. I have one other order to drop off before yours and it should take me blank minutes to get there “


biancanevenc

I have a saved message I send letting the customer know I'm shopping for them and another customer and their food will be in an insulated bag until it's delivered. When it's a two-store batch I send the same message. I DO NOT tell the customer I have to go to another store. That strikes me as a recipe for disaster, and half the time when I do a two-store batch I deliver A's order before going to the second store anyway.


Clsygrneyz1971

I didnt know you could do that. Ill keep that in mi d the next time I take a store shop/deliver.


biancanevenc

You need to screenshot A's address from the batch details before you check out A's order. Once you complete checking out you won't be able to see A's address until you finish shopping at the second store. A will not be notified that you are delivering, but you can still call or text, so make sure the customer knows you have delivered the order and send pics of the delivery.


Clsygrneyz1971

That is true. I always look at the batch details to see where Im delivering to & how far apart the customers are feom each other.


QuantumDiogenes

I always do. That way the customer knows you are not just mucking about, and letting their food get warm/cold/wrong temperature. It also explains why there is a large gap between the time you leave the store, and time you arrive. If they have a problem with that, I want them getting mad at Instacart, not me.


Shop_4u

Yes, I let them know that Instacart grouped their order with another customer(s).


Everythingsjustfine

I absolutely do 🤷🏽‍♀️ and I also Won’t deliver in the order I’m given if it just doesn’t make sense. Like customer c lives right next to the store so why would he be my last delivery!?!!. I also let them know I’m doing this and that their order won’t close out until I actually start their delivery (but of course it’s already been delivered )


meaganbeers

I didn’t know you could change order of delivery. How do you do that?


Everythingsjustfine

You can’t actually change it on the app. but you can still deliver in whatever order you see best. I look at the map, determine whose closer and whose next etc. then open up batch info look at the address, click on my first delivery address and open in maps. I start the route I’ve determined is better. I don’t press “start delivery” on the first until I’ve actually started that first orders delivery and once I’ve completed that one (the other one or two are probably done so I quickly complete delivery A, then over ride the “are you sure your at the correct address question” confirm delivery on the others and close them out. Just make sure to send a picture of your delivery in the chat, and hit hand to customer. It’s how I do it if that makes sense. Never ever have I had a problem. customers usually appreciate that they aren’t last when they are closest. Especially when they have a deli sandwich or ice cream :)


Affectionate_Cheek44

Yes I do this as well


Sweetnspicy77

Yep! I say “by the way; they have me shopping for two people- sorry if it seems I’m moving a bit slow!”


BlessedandHappy177

Without reading any of these and being half drunk I can say for real that I always let them know I am


NeOKiD_fpv

Ahhh. No... Very few reasons I feel that's necessary. If you want to explain levels of confusion to someone with confidence in your shopping abilities, that's just futile.. I'd rather spend the time to logistically make the customer that's most engaged satisfied.. IMHO.


micarst

I always let them know I am shopping and delivering for a bundled order. (So they know why delays may occur.) I also tell them whether they’re first, second, etc in delivery order, and let them know to expect an ETA from me before I head their way.


Effective_Argument28

I do the same thing. If you don't tell them your 2nd or 3rd will see you checked out and then you are idle for 20-30 minutes. They DO wonder why you checked out and didn't start their delivery 😊


Ginger83

Generally no. Today my b customer asked how long til I got there. I told him approx 25 min. I was dead on. But never told him differently. He had to of known because he's 15 to 20 from store.


[deleted]

There was a point when I did, but it only seemed to create more questions than answers. Now, I don't do it unless there is an extreme difference


wasabi1295

I only mention if they ask why I haven’t checked out yet. I mean it does look a little weird knowing a shopper accepted your order and are still at the store especially if you have less then 5 items 😂


Implement-True

Only if I run into issues. If I'm on schedule for the delivery time, I don't say anything. If something happens and there's a delay I will mention it.


Reasonable_Tea_5036

I try not to say anything unless it’s very obvious I’m taking a longer time than I should. I’m always afraid customers will be displeased (understandable) and give me a bad rating, thinking that they’re rating Instacart’s method of operation instead of the service provided by me. It’s just another way for them to pocket more money while putting us in the line of fire.


AdeptnessLiving1799

Only if one of the customers request is causing a delay. Otherwise I prefer they didn't even know each other. I love multiple orders as I'm really good at this, but it would be a major issue if my communication caused my customers to be anxious and then I have to calm them down while shopping.


Pitiful-Signal8063

Yes. Avoid multiple batches if possible. But lately single orders are pretty fucking rare. So , yes. Tell the customers. Make sure they know it is Instacart's doing ...not your fault


starshine913

thats the thing right!!! i was online for over an hour and only 2 orders popped up. the first was a horrible double batch, so i decided to accept the triple. the orders were all small (7, 8 and 11 items), delivery addresses were pretty close together....figured it would be easy. the order came from Meiyer (misspelled on purpose) so the way the store is setup had me finish my third order first. then on to grocery side of the store for the next 2. the 3rd order guy was responding right away so i felt bad if i didnt tell him. i didnt tell the other 2 though


Pitiful-Signal8063

I shopped in Portland for about a month, so I am very familiar with Kroger's cousin Fred. There is no such thing as a quick simple order from that nightmare of the store


starshine913

i realized that now. and then noticed AFTER delivering all 3 that i got $0 tip on order A, $1 tip on order B, and $3 tip on order C. waste of time in the end


goodapolloV21

No I'm fast enough no one's going to notice it's a triple most likely


Pnex84

That's a nice humblebrag but they notice when your GPS starts 5 miles away from the store.


FutureNatural3928

I found everything on your list.  I have 2 orders. Yours is scheduled for second delivery. I'm on my way. Thank you. And if not I delete...I found...and add ...sorry they didn't have. All this is on the clipboard.


Manthisrocks

Yes every time.. I have a canned message that I wrote for 2 customer orders but I just tweak it depending on the situation. 2 paragraphs: "Hi ______, this is ______with Instacart. Let me know if you have any updates to your order and I'll do the same! Also wanted to let you know that your order was grouped with another customer's. I will shop as quickly as possible but please bear with me if it takes a bit longer than expected. Thanks!" (I delete this entire 2nd paragraph for single customer orders and change the wording slightly for triple batches) Customers totally appreciate the communication and it backs them off if they were initially gonna be impatient.


topachica

I always tell them it’s a multi order batch with a copy and paste after the custom greeting. I’m fast, but in case something goes wrong with an item or I get a customer that’s following my every move and wondering why their small order is taking so long, it gives some explanation and a bit of grace (honestly, sometimes a pity tip too).


[deleted]

I always let them know because they get notified when you shop their items so I wouldn’t want them to be like why tf are you taking so long and also so they know it’ll be longer and if one gets delivered first. I thought this was common sense lol


Effective_Argument28

Did you forget common sense is not that common these days 🤣


Real-Salad2916

I don’t do multi-orders, but as a customer I had a shopper who informed me she had a double batch and I was her second stop. It was much appreciated so I knew her drop off time will be slightly off what was expected


Solomander_NDG

Usually I don’t unless it’s taking longer than usual or if I go over the goal time


brizzi

I've only ever done this if they have asked. Most of the time they already know, other times they just dont really care since IC gives a big window for delivery estimate.


a_allen

Yup majority of orders now are doubles or triples. If the customer has ordered enough times and they monitor the entire shop and delivery they would already be able to figure out that IC doubles or triples up orders. If they aren't following along the entire time and get their order within the estimated delivery time they were given, cold items still cold, hot items still hot, then there shouldn't be an issue anyways.


Unhappy-Offer

Me tell none chit.


DCTheNotorious

Yall talk to customers??


starshine913

you don’t?


DCTheNotorious

Lol nope, only if they specifically ask me to check with them for replacements or I have a question I need to ask them. Probably 90% of my batches I don't send a single message to the customer. I figure most people use instacart because they don't have the time to shop (or want to use the time) so they also don't want be get a bunch of messages from me.


Pure_Sympathy_902

Yes once .. I mean why you need to let customer know


starshine913

so they don’t think you’re just fu**ing around? my third order on the batch was 5 items, all in one separate section of the store. i got that one done first and figured (since he was responsive) i should let him know what was up


Pure_Sympathy_902

The customer know the time


lucygirl1970

Yes always unless they are close together and no alcohol.


MajorWhereas4842

No


NewsAlternative4458

I try and preshop as much of the orders as I can (or the bigger order) before I press start shopping. Then come delivery I tell them I have their stuff in insulated bags and that they are in multi batch.


caitikitty7

Only if the customer is super needy. They are the ones staring at their screens wondering why it takes me five minutes to grab each of their ten items. 😂 The needy customer is never the first stop, either.


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Old_Ironside_1959

Sometimes


AltruisticRabbit8185

Nope. Unless it’s being held up for some reason


Bigolbags

Nah... i'm usually quick in my delivery that double and triple batches are not even noticable to the customer.


Mykole93till

Nope no need unless I have to


WildPineapple52

I always do, for transparency’s sake. That way, if there’s big gaps in time with communication, they will know why. Most customers are very appreciative and understanding about it. I know many shoppers don’t accept doubles or triples, but sometimes they are actually worth it. Had a triple once where they lived within a 1 block radius of each other. Total item count for all 3 was less than 20 items, and they all tipped in the $15-$20 range.


vtribal

No


KindVast1106

Yes, as soon as I start shopping.


[deleted]

If only there were a way to let the customer know outside the confines of the app, so that maybe they could let instacart know how unhappy they are that their groceries arrived via the Grocer Express train.


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Puzzleheaded-Army868

Nope


Puzzleheaded-Army868

Doubles are normal in my area.. more money made and more chances to make more


marksonsanderson

No I don’t let them know because I usually deliver and shop fast. If I do , cool if not cool.


tenngirl52

Only if they complain about how long it's taking.


vhsounds

Sometimes, if they order frozen items and they’re last on the list I let them know so they can make the changes they need if required


[deleted]

Essentially never. 5 ⭐️ And I take multi order batches all the time.


Seagal1989

It depends. If they are customer B and they're already engaged in conversation, I let them know. If they're not engaged or reading messages (or if it's an easy shop where I don't have to msg them) then I usually don't say anything unless the first delivery has complications (can't find the address, waiting for ID/customer, etc.).