I did the math on Costco’s mark up with instacart plus the fee (IC membership?) plus the tip makes me realize people don’t do math. HEB curbside (3% mark up, no fee, no tipping) has been terrific.
This issue has made me really reconsider Costco as I know Sam’s has been very agile. I don’t need delivery, just curbside, which I think would have been great.
I read a facebook post today from a woman who was looking for yam recipes. She wanted to order 5 yams from Instacart, but received 5 x 5lb bags of yams. I thought of this thread! 
I started skimming this, and though she got several bags of yarn! Either way, time for a home business, I guess.
I think if you are an experienced Instacart shopper (after you’ve done 5 or more batches) you get the better batches. If those aren’t snatched, then they get posted to the newer shoppers. The person I shopped for had done 7 or 8 orders but maybe because she didn’t tip well her order wasn’t taken by an experienced shopper.
But no, you don’t get to see their ratings, just how far they are from the store, the number of items, and the estimated fee for the order (but not whether the tip is included in that amount). I read Instacart had signed up 30,000 new shoppers, but of course many are like me who did one or two and then disappeared.
I talked to a college kid who was doing Grub Hub. She had the same experience that she’d take an order, get to the restaurant and it wasn’t ready, have to drive to an apartment complex and find the apartment, and then get dinged in the ratings for being late. She wasn’t making a lot.
Just had a real nice instacart delivery from Costco. She called with suggestions for substitutes when something wasn’t there.
What a difference with today’s order! While I didn’t know at the time, a Publix employee must have done the shopping, and Instracart took care of the delivery. At the start of the shopping, I received what I assume was a standard message from the shopper, letting me know she had begun, that the store might be out of stock on items and to please review and approve substitutions. It was a rather long introduction message, so assume it was predone.
All my items were marked if substitutions were allowed, and if so, which. My first text was that Raisin Bran was out of stock in all sizes, so would we want Raisin Bran Crunch. The same husband mentioned in the last Instacart tale, does not like RB Crunch, so I told her no. As she seemed to be paying attention, I mentioned to her that the Yahrzeit candle I wanted was over in the Kosher section; I didn’t want to receive a Glad scented candle, and how many shoppers would know what a Yahrzeit was? 
She immediately replied she knew where to find it and would check when she got to that aisle. She was also shopping in what I think is a normal order; deli, meats, regular aisles, with produce last.
Once she was done shopping, I expected to see she was on her way, but Instacart showed she was still shopping and hadn’t checked out. At that point I thought, this women is good and she is doing two orders at the same time. About an hour later, still well within my deliver period, I received a text that a different named person was on her way. When the groceries were delivered, they were in a paper bag instead of the normal plastic, with my name on an outside ticket. The deli meat was timestamped 2 hours before my delivery time. I also noticed that on my list within Instacart/Publix, there was a notice about refrigerated or frozen items would be keep cold; I have never notice that with prior orders. My Publix, prior to COVID, had pickup where items were shopped for you and left in cubbies at the front of the store; I never paid attention to how those were done, but I guess with Instacart? I am guessing this is what happened today with my order, and I couldn’t be happier! No wonder she knew how to shop and where to find a Yahrzeit candle!! I only wish I had ordered more items which I had a great shopper.
In some areas, Instacart has in store shoppers but another person who just does the deliveries.
Since your last tale was what, two days ago? I sort of assumed it was the same husband. If not - damn, girl! You work fast!!!
It was a week ago, but hey, during these times, anything is possible!! Luckily, I am back to work 4 days a week, otherwise I might be looking for a new husband; although after 40 year, I guess it isn’t worth it 
@twoinanddone I have been ordering weekly since mid March, and this was the first time I had a shopper and deliverer. Maybe because more people are doing their own shopping? I had thought that I would do my own shopping, although I would like to give it a bit more time to reduce my exposure. Since I am back at work, I am around people enough. If I could know that I would have a good shopper every time, I might consider sticking with Instacart a while longer.
Two local Kroger instacarts one month apart. Excellent. Shopper was the deliver person. Placed at garage door. Photo substitution offers, and two not available. I think instacart is independent but works with the Kroger chain. Delivery $10 and I added a tip online.
I have either Instacart or Whole Foods deliver almost every day, I hate to admit. I have a houseful of young adult children plus SOs, so a lot of mouths to feed.
Whole Foods is usually pretty bad, shopping wise. No communication and cannot add items either with the shopper or even after the order is placed. However, I really like their meats, breads, cheese, and produce options, so I persist in using them.
In my area (northeast) most of the local stores use Instacart, but I’ve found that a store where I’ve never ever stepped foot in (Shaw’s) is pretty great. They have Bell & Evans chicken and a good selection of organic items, plus their house brand is nice. The quality of the transaction mostly depends on the shopper. I’ve had a couple of not so good, but mostly excellent. It’s all pretty time consuming, but worth the effort. I immediately chat with the person and say hello and thank them for shopping for me. I send them pics if I want a particular substitution and ask them to send a pic of the shelf if they are not sure. One shopper had never heard of buttermilk and went off looking in another part of the store.
Just keep a keen eye on the substitutions and ask for a refund with the shopper on anything that’s not clear.
I’ve had fabulous delivery service with my Whole Foods. The online ordering process is a little clunkier than my Hannaford (can’t adjust orders) but the delivery itself has been super.