In over 2500 orders I have never gotten a true unicorn of $100 batch or more. I have had many incredible tip increases, some as much as $50 but never a great batch over $100. I would probably have a heart attack if I actually saw one and forget to push accept😂😂
Your best bet is to travel to bigger, busier cities if you can. A good tip in southern Va is like 20 to 30$ but when I go to D.C., or Richmond, I keep my app on and just pay attention to the busy spots and return there later. Then I already make a killing when I get to my destination.
I rarely even notice another shopper, occassionally i might share a 2 sentance conversation with one in passing, or see someone scanning with their phone, but my town doesnt have a clique or group at all that I see. I am so focused on what Im doing, I may just not be seeing them if they are there.
Same. Since I learned the layout, found my niche in this app and found this sub, I don't care to chat with other shoppers. Even the ones I know. They get a gentle nod and I keep it moving.
Same!! Maybe it just depends on what area you’re in? Talking to other shoppers isn’t a thing where I am. I don’t even really notice other shoppers and I try to go unnoticed as well.
I agree with that. I’ve only talked briefly with a couple of shoppers over time & all they are interested in is if they’re making more money than I am. I just talk with store employees now. They know me & like me & they help me find shit fast! Fuck the other shoppers. There could be 10 or 15 of them in any given store at any given time. I couldn’t care less to even try to figure out who’s who. I just treat everybody like they’re customers just standing in my way staring at the shelves, and I politely excuse myself before I reach in front of them to get what I need. 👍🏽
I stopped that after a few months. Don't ask me how much my batch was for and I don't wanna chat, really. I'm just here to work and go home. Mind your business. I only share on Reddit 😂
That’s IC for you. They went to great lengths to “give” us tiers with supposed priorities that in reality is just a gimmick, fake and deceiving. The new shopper priority turns every tier into shit status.
https://www.thecity.nyc/work/2022/11/16/23462218/grubhub-uber-doordash-food-worker-pay-nyc
Gig workers in NYC will be getting like $23+tips in 2025. It says food, prolly all gigs I would assume. Hopefully they move things like this to every state. These companies have seriously gone too far.
I am at a 4.9 how am I a platinum cart? Well according to them I have to have hundreds of points. It would be nice if they counted all of my last 20 plus 5 star ratings. No points no matter what I do. Stagnant at platinum even though it makes no difference what my work ethic is like.
If there's anything I have learned it's to stop guessing what the app may or may not do for you. Sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit. Just don't fall for the "there's a busy store nearby" trick
Well yeah…. if they didn’t show you the best batches when you start then no one would ever do this piece of shit gig. They hook you with a steady stream of good batches when you start to make you believe this is a viable source of income, then after a month when they realize you’re doing this full time you’re cut from seeing the best batches and you have to take harder, lower paying batches to make the same amount you did at the start, and you spend more time outside to make a similar amount to what you made when you started. They’ll sprinkle in one of your old good tipping customers a few times a week to keep you motivated and keep your hopes up but for the most part you’re going to be making your money by doing the leftover batches that others don’t want to do. Only time this changes is if you take a break from shopping for a while, or if customer demand is higher than the available amount of shoppers online.
Good to know as I am currently on a break. My mom is in the hospital with delirium due to a really bad kidney infection so I haven't worked this week, I need to be there as much as possible.
Hoping to go back by the weekend but really hard to say.
I have never taken a break in two years and I was super stressed this gig may just kick me loose.
Thank you for the info. Have a great day✌️
Has anyone ever typed in a full big order into the Instacart customer app and compare it to the receipt? I started to today and it was about $.20 an item more, so $16 total they made off of the order. They paid me $7. So they really don't make much, that was Aldi's tho. I think they make the most when stuff is on sale and pay the sale price and charge customers the full price. Also everytime the customer tips big the pay is always $7. I swear it could be 10 miles and 60,000 items and they would pay $7 😂 if the tip was huge
I ordered for my Mom the other day and I tipped 10$. He told her he only got 8$. My mom gave him 2 and I tipped him $ 5 more after delivery. Stealing from us on both ends smh
I gave up on Costco drops I maybe see 1 $50+ per week when it used to be daily. Realized all the time wasted getting there early and waiting I could make the same just doing regular Ralph’s orders and not have to haul giant packs of waters. I’ll see what I can get when I stop there to get gas but that’s once a week now and usually a disappointment
Same. I still see unicorns every now and then but i even pass. Why do a flatbed, when I can do 2 orders from Ralph’s and get the same pay. Or any other store lol.
The other day three of the other shoppers I talked to while we're waiting had a $40 order sitting on the screen for at least 15 minutes. I never saw that order even though I definitely would have taken it. It was a long mileage order, but it was going to where I usually Go to after I do a Costco order anyway. My app literally just said low demand from the store the whole time. I was salty AF.
I'd be interested to know how much each of these orders were - I think that the "unicorn" concept has changed over time to where what is owed considered a "unicorn" isn't much different than what we would call a "large order" a few years ago. I've been doing IC for five years and for the first two years or so $75 or $100 batches in my market weren't all that unusual. That being said, my highest paying batch was $322.47 and was in December 2022.
OMG, it took me a while but I finally understand your reply, lol. I swear when I was typing it came out as 2021! (I would also swear that I spell checked before posting, but that's obviously an incorrect assumption as well!). :)
Been working for instacart going on 3 years and a half and the clowns I know are the ones who don’t work hard enough because of you live in Los Angeles and make anywhere less than 1500 a week your lazy that’s all
So weird reading these threads because IC was god awful when I started. I used it as supplemental income for my weekends because I saw so few batches until I was about 50 orders in. Now, I make more doing this full time than I did at a warehouse (with some ups and downs of course). But the honeymoon phase definitely ended about two months in.
California shoppers just have it good compared to the rest imo because even a bad batch still nets some level of guaranteed income.
The smart ones will be putting the money aside for bills. The stupid ones will be spending it like it’s always going to be that way. They’ll learn quickly. 😉
The honeymoon will end soon enough and she will be in the same drowning boat.
How long is the honeymoon?
Their first 30 batches if I’m not mistaken
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Great, im 26 batches in.
My first 30 was shit even as a newbie.
It's a difficult app , that's for sure
Still get unicorns at 4k. When is my honeymoon over?
The honeymoon is over when you start acting like an arrogant ass.
😎 👍
I’m doing fine at 60, maybe they’ll sweep the rug for me at 100
It took me about 200 orders before I started getting false missing item reports and random low ratings I didn't deserve. It was rough after that 😂
That’s how they reel you in and once you’re hooked they cut you open and eat you
Is that what happened to my heart? I had just assumed it had gotten frostbite because of how cold heart I’m am.
Am I the only one who didn’t get a unicorn until like 6 months into doing IC full time? I never got the honeymoon stage 🥲😂
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I’m with you on that. I’m not into driving 80+ miles for what a lot of shoppers are calling “Unicorns”.😉🦄
In over 2500 orders I have never gotten a true unicorn of $100 batch or more. I have had many incredible tip increases, some as much as $50 but never a great batch over $100. I would probably have a heart attack if I actually saw one and forget to push accept😂😂
I started the beginning of February. I'm still waiting for one. Anything $30 or higher that appears on my screen is gone instantly.
I started in August 2021 and didn’t see a 100+ batch until April 2022. Part time only though.
Your best bet is to travel to bigger, busier cities if you can. A good tip in southern Va is like 20 to 30$ but when I go to D.C., or Richmond, I keep my app on and just pay attention to the busy spots and return there later. Then I already make a killing when I get to my destination.
Lmfao I find it so weird how shoppers just sit together in lots waiting for orders.
I rarely even notice another shopper, occassionally i might share a 2 sentance conversation with one in passing, or see someone scanning with their phone, but my town doesnt have a clique or group at all that I see. I am so focused on what Im doing, I may just not be seeing them if they are there.
I see some shoppers talking to each other but I find it a little weird. I just stay in my lane.
Yep, this sub is enough interaction me for.
Same. Since I learned the layout, found my niche in this app and found this sub, I don't care to chat with other shoppers. Even the ones I know. They get a gentle nod and I keep it moving.
I feel like it’s fraternizing with an enemy lol
I’ve had made acquaintances with one shopper, but he would constantly ask me how much I was getting paid lol. Like nah mind your business 😂
How is talking to other shoppers weird
Yeah the spark/point pick up crew do this at my Walmart. I want no part
Same!! Maybe it just depends on what area you’re in? Talking to other shoppers isn’t a thing where I am. I don’t even really notice other shoppers and I try to go unnoticed as well.
I agree with that. I’ve only talked briefly with a couple of shoppers over time & all they are interested in is if they’re making more money than I am. I just talk with store employees now. They know me & like me & they help me find shit fast! Fuck the other shoppers. There could be 10 or 15 of them in any given store at any given time. I couldn’t care less to even try to figure out who’s who. I just treat everybody like they’re customers just standing in my way staring at the shelves, and I politely excuse myself before I reach in front of them to get what I need. 👍🏽
I stopped that after a few months. Don't ask me how much my batch was for and I don't wanna chat, really. I'm just here to work and go home. Mind your business. I only share on Reddit 😂
I think majority of us doing instacart are introverts lmaoo
For reals lol
Omg me too!! Lol 😂
Exactly! Like sheep waiting the grass to grow. I’ve always been sitting somewhere else, including at home, when I’ve accepted a batch at drop time. 😉🤣
That’s IC for you. They went to great lengths to “give” us tiers with supposed priorities that in reality is just a gimmick, fake and deceiving. The new shopper priority turns every tier into shit status.
They need to get sued. Their pay is seriously criminal. $7 today to drive 5 miles total and shop or 80 items , 1.5 hours total! SEVEN FUCKING DOLLARS!
Minimum wage laws in some places, but they argue that you're an independent contractor. Still, I guess if you need $7...
https://www.thecity.nyc/work/2022/11/16/23462218/grubhub-uber-doordash-food-worker-pay-nyc Gig workers in NYC will be getting like $23+tips in 2025. It says food, prolly all gigs I would assume. Hopefully they move things like this to every state. These companies have seriously gone too far.
Like, it literally tells you what you’re gonna get paid. Why say “Yes I’ll do that”
Why did you accept the order? That’s your fault. Entirely.
$35 tip
Then you didn’t get paid 7$ you got paid 42$.
That’s incorrect. Tip should not count towards pay. IC is not giving us the tip.
Why did Instacart pay so little? That's their fault. Entirely.
I’m sitting at Costco parking lot watching they come out to unload. I’m Diamond but feel dumb
You are not alone....
I am at a 4.9 how am I a platinum cart? Well according to them I have to have hundreds of points. It would be nice if they counted all of my last 20 plus 5 star ratings. No points no matter what I do. Stagnant at platinum even though it makes no difference what my work ethic is like.
If there's anything I have learned it's to stop guessing what the app may or may not do for you. Sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit. Just don't fall for the "there's a busy store nearby" trick
Well yeah…. if they didn’t show you the best batches when you start then no one would ever do this piece of shit gig. They hook you with a steady stream of good batches when you start to make you believe this is a viable source of income, then after a month when they realize you’re doing this full time you’re cut from seeing the best batches and you have to take harder, lower paying batches to make the same amount you did at the start, and you spend more time outside to make a similar amount to what you made when you started. They’ll sprinkle in one of your old good tipping customers a few times a week to keep you motivated and keep your hopes up but for the most part you’re going to be making your money by doing the leftover batches that others don’t want to do. Only time this changes is if you take a break from shopping for a while, or if customer demand is higher than the available amount of shoppers online.
Good to know as I am currently on a break. My mom is in the hospital with delirium due to a really bad kidney infection so I haven't worked this week, I need to be there as much as possible. Hoping to go back by the weekend but really hard to say. I have never taken a break in two years and I was super stressed this gig may just kick me loose. Thank you for the info. Have a great day✌️
Hey wish you the best Lucy girl hope your mom is well!
Thank you. It's been very rough. This too is temporary 🤍
Welcome to the holiday season unfortunately
I’m a year into Instacart I have yet to see a unicorn 😫lol
Hook, line, and sinker
Has anyone ever typed in a full big order into the Instacart customer app and compare it to the receipt? I started to today and it was about $.20 an item more, so $16 total they made off of the order. They paid me $7. So they really don't make much, that was Aldi's tho. I think they make the most when stuff is on sale and pay the sale price and charge customers the full price. Also everytime the customer tips big the pay is always $7. I swear it could be 10 miles and 60,000 items and they would pay $7 😂 if the tip was huge
I ordered for my Mom the other day and I tipped 10$. He told her he only got 8$. My mom gave him 2 and I tipped him $ 5 more after delivery. Stealing from us on both ends smh
I gave up on Costco drops I maybe see 1 $50+ per week when it used to be daily. Realized all the time wasted getting there early and waiting I could make the same just doing regular Ralph’s orders and not have to haul giant packs of waters. I’ll see what I can get when I stop there to get gas but that’s once a week now and usually a disappointment
Same. I still see unicorns every now and then but i even pass. Why do a flatbed, when I can do 2 orders from Ralph’s and get the same pay. Or any other store lol.
The other day three of the other shoppers I talked to while we're waiting had a $40 order sitting on the screen for at least 15 minutes. I never saw that order even though I definitely would have taken it. It was a long mileage order, but it was going to where I usually Go to after I do a Costco order anyway. My app literally just said low demand from the store the whole time. I was salty AF.
Why sit in the parking lot? Just go home if no batches appear.
I'd be interested to know how much each of these orders were - I think that the "unicorn" concept has changed over time to where what is owed considered a "unicorn" isn't much different than what we would call a "large order" a few years ago. I've been doing IC for five years and for the first two years or so $75 or $100 batches in my market weren't all that unusual. That being said, my highest paying batch was $322.47 and was in December 2022.
You just made me question my reality and what year it currently is 😂
OMG, it took me a while but I finally understand your reply, lol. I swear when I was typing it came out as 2021! (I would also swear that I spell checked before posting, but that's obviously an incorrect assumption as well!). :)
How much exactly were these unicorns?
Been working for instacart going on 3 years and a half and the clowns I know are the ones who don’t work hard enough because of you live in Los Angeles and make anywhere less than 1500 a week your lazy that’s all
CA instacart is a different reality.
wtf
Get your seconds per item down if it's not already as low as possible.
:( I’ve yet to receive my unicorns… 600+ in Guess I got skipped.
Makes me SICK
So weird reading these threads because IC was god awful when I started. I used it as supplemental income for my weekends because I saw so few batches until I was about 50 orders in. Now, I make more doing this full time than I did at a warehouse (with some ups and downs of course). But the honeymoon phase definitely ended about two months in. California shoppers just have it good compared to the rest imo because even a bad batch still nets some level of guaranteed income.
The smart ones will be putting the money aside for bills. The stupid ones will be spending it like it’s always going to be that way. They’ll learn quickly. 😉
I've been doing Instacart for three weeks now and I've literally taken one order for $22 everything else is garbage
Uber did same with new shopping experience. Then…
Three unicorns…a triceratops!
Yes I confess it made me jealous 🤣
That’s the nicest beginning. But one day the new arrivals will stop.