Although Instacart isn’t new, it has really grown in popularity this year. More people are choosing to have their groceries delivered by Instacart to keep them close. This new norm has brought up some new questions about etiquette: Do you tip grocery delivery? What is the Instacart tipping amount? Let’s take a look at Instacart tipping.
Do you tip grocery delivery? Instacart Tipping FAQ
These are the most common questions regarding tips for grocery delivery and Instacart tipping.
Do You Have to Tip Grocery Delivery Delivery?
You can tip your grocery delivery, that’s the short answer. In the United States, grocery delivery is a service-based business where workers depend on tips to make a decent living.
We are all familiar with tipping delivery men for Chinese food and pizza, but grocery delivery is more labor-intensive than restaurant delivery.
Your shopper will typically be out walking around the store collecting your items, checking expiration dates, communicating with you about possible substitutions and out-of stock items, dealing with crowds and waiting in lines, loading your bags, processing refunds for non-available items, and driving them to your home.
They also have to complete this work as fast as possible since they are usually paid per batch rather than per hour. Tip your Instacart customers – they earn it!
Are Instacart Drivers and Shoppers the Same Person?
In most cases, your Instacart shopper is also the one who delivers your groceries. On Instacart, workers who can fulfill both of these roles are called “full service shoppers”.
This is not always true. Instacart may hire an “in-store shopper”, who will then deliver your order to you.
Instacart tipping allows you to tip the driver if you have a separate shopper. (In-Store shoppers are compensated for not being eligible to receive tips by receiving a fixed hourly wage. This is covered in the next section.
What is the Average Salary of Instacart Workers?
The type of worker and the amount they make will impact how much you tip Instacart drivers. Let’s talk about that quick!
Full-Service Instacart Shopper Compensation
Instacart full-service shoppers (those who order and deliver) receive a per-order basis. The exact compensation they receive can vary depending on where they live, how large an order batch is, distance between deliveries, etc.
Instacart’s payment structure in 2022 will be:
Minimum $7-$10 per order for shop + delivery (full-service)$5 per order for delivery by in-store shoppers. Additional cost per mile (depends on where you live, but an example rate per miles is $.60). Extra charges for large orders and heavy items
They don’t get paid for driving to and from the store, or for tolls, or other automotive expenses. Be aware that these shoppers are independent contractors and are therefore not eligible for any employment benefits. They also have to pay self-employment taxes. These are two factors that can make tips more valuable to someone.
In-Store Instacart Shopper Compensation
Instacart considers in-store shoppers part-time employees rather than independent contractors. On average, they earn $13.50 an hour. Instacart tipping is not available to in-store shoppers, but they can receive regular taxes and employment benefits.
How much to tip Instacart Shoppers/Drivers
We now have the information we need to make an informed decision on how much we should tip Instacart drivers or shoppers.
Instacart recommends a default tip of 5% of your order amount. A minimum tip of $2 is required for each store delivery.
Personaly, I think that this tip amount is a bit low. The default tip amount at a restaurant is 15-20%. Full-service shoppers do the same amount of work as table servers, but have a lower starting wage. Add to that the fact that Instacart shoppers are making the effort to allow you to stay home in times of global crisis, and you’ll see why I recommend a minimum 10% tip.
Another rule of thumb is to consider how long it might take you to shop. The effort required to shop for 75 items at $1 each is a lot. This cost will not be included in your order total. If you have a complex order or live in an apartment that requires more effort to carry, you can increase the amount. Instacart cash tips can be given at the door, or via the app.
You will see two names for the driver and the shopper for your order. This means that the driver picked up the order from the in-store shopper. For large orders, tip the driver as much as you would for a delivery from a restaurant.
Instacart drivers and shoppers can be tipped at any amount you choose, but it’s up to you to decide how generous you are.
Instacart has changed its tipping policy to combat tip-baiting. The company will now cover the cost of tipping a customer up to $10, if they zero out the tip after receiving their delivery.
Related: How much should you tip your furniture delivery crew?
Instacart Tipping Etiquette (2022). How Much Should You Tip Instacart Shoppers Dollarsanity.
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