“I Can’t Make This Up”: 30 Funny, Weird And Annoying Experiences From Instacart Shoppers’ Lives (New Pics)
Interview With ExpertGrocery shopping used to be a fun and exciting experience. I would take my time perusing all of the new products and contemplate what I wanted to make for dinner each night of the week. Nowadays, however, it’s often a stressful game of searching for discounts and deals and trying to spend as little as possible without starving until I have to return to the store.
To make this process slightly less painful, many people opt to have their groceries delivered. But these services can be hit or miss for customers and couriers. We took a trip to the Instacart Shoppers subreddit and gathered photos and screenshots of their most amusing experiences down below. Keep reading to also find a conversation with Sergio Avedian, Senior Contributor at The Rideshare Guy, and be sure to upvote the pics that remind you to always tip couriers generously!
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MVP- Better Believe I Doubled The Tip
I am stuck at home with a toddler and so happy to pay for someone to do my shopping. Look at the bags I was greeted with when I got home! I was giddy.
I would save these bags, folded in a drawer, for when I was having a bad/sad/frustrating day. Then I would take them out and look at them and smile, knowing that a random stranger cared enough to do something like this for me :)
Customer Made Me Sob!!
I've never had a customer put this much effort into giving me a review and I've been doing this for over 3 years. I honestly didn't do anything special, it's how I treat all my other customers. It's really refreshing to feel noticed and appreciated. She made not just my day but my whole life lol. I'll be forever grateful.
Delivery For Ms. Kitty
To find out more about what it's like to work as an Instacart shopper, we got in touch with Sergio Avedian, Senior Contributor at The Rideshare Guy. He was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and discuss some of the pros and cons of this profession.
"Working as an Instacart shopper offers flexibility and independence, making it an attractive option for those looking to earn extra income on their own schedule," Sergio shared. "Shoppers can choose when and where they work, which is a major perk, especially for those balancing other jobs or personal commitments. The potential to earn tips can also increase overall pay, and for those who enjoy grocery shopping, the job can feel relatively easy."
Nicest Thing I’ve Ever Received On Delivery
This Initial Message
Customer Left Me An Envelope With Money
Customer messaged me in the app saying there’s an envelope for me. I picked it up and saw this note with a $5 bill inside. Thought it was super sweet and wanted to share.
"However, there are some challenges," Sergio continued. "Earnings can be inconsistent, as they depend on order volume, customer tips, and batch availability. The job also requires using your own vehicle, which leads to gas expenses and wear and tear."
"Some orders can be physically demanding, involving heavy lifting or multiple-store trips. Additionally, navigating crowded stores, long checkout lines, and item substitutions can be frustrating," the expert added. "Despite these downsides, many shoppers find Instacart to be a convenient way to earn money on their own terms."
Got Tipped $70 Bc Neighbors Called The Cops
To make a long story short, Karen neighbor called the cops on me because I was “parked illegally” on the street… I was on the side of the road in a residential neighborhood with my hazards on. Guy I was delivering to came out and talked to the cops with me. When I left I saw the notif that he increased my tip from $8 to $68. Thanks!!
I Was Supervised On A Delivery This Afternoon
First Time This Has Happened In 2 Years Of Shopping
I've seen on here so many times where the customer is like "yeah get yourself a drink too" but never had anything even close to that happen until now
So what kind of person would make a great Instacart shopper? "Someone who is detail-oriented, efficient, and customer-focused," Sergio says. "Strong time management skills are essential, as shoppers must navigate stores quickly while ensuring accuracy with orders."
"Being physically fit helps, as the job often requires lifting heavy grocery bags and making multiple trips to and from a vehicle. Patience and problem-solving skills are also valuable, especially when dealing with out-of-stock items or special customer requests," he continued. "Friendly and professional communication can lead to better tips and higher customer ratings."
I Delivered To A Very Pawlite Customer Today
My Proof Of Delivery Photo
Customer Tipped Me $50 After I Had A Breakdown🥲
During this batch: i ripped my pants when i started shopping, i left my windows down in the rain and hail and somehow i guess i was so stressed i left my car running while i was shopping ??? like have never done that idk what happened. my windows were so foggy and it was raining so hard i couldn’t see very well, the car in front of me didn’t have brake lights and i nearly rear ended them and all the groceries went flying. customer b’s eggs broke and both orders were mixed up and all over the car. i pulled over in the rain and sorted through the groceries for awhile and hoped i got everything right but at that point i couldn’t even see past my tears. i tried to hold it together when i got to the door but was very obviously not ok. i told her about the near accident and how the groceries went flying and apologized but she was just worried about if i was ok. genuinely the kindest customer i’ve ever had. after the second delivery i saw she tipped me $50🥹 she had also messaged me to tell me all her groceries were there and everything was perfect. i told her how much i appreciated it but idk if i could express it well enough through messages. i hope she knows she really made a difference
I don't want to be one of those people...but 2 hours to decrease tip? Since I don't use it, do they see the tip amount before they deliver? Couldn't they have the tip amount be high then reduce it to zero after it is delivered? I am not familiar with it so I am just asking
On the other hand, Sergio says this job may not be ideal for those who dislike grocery shopping, struggle with time management, or have difficulty lifting heavy items. "People who rely on a steady paycheck might also find the income too unpredictable," he noted. "Additionally, those without reliable transportation may face challenges, as the job requires frequent driving. Overall, Instacart shopping is best suited for self-motivated individuals who enjoy flexible, on-the-go work and interacting with customers."
Pay May Be Low But This Was A Great Tip
Some People Are Awesome
My Favorite Part When Delivering Orders ❤️
We were also curious about what customers should know before ordering their groceries to be delivered.
"Before placing an order on Instacart, customers should know that their experience depends on the shopper’s ability to find items, store availability, and communication," Sergio told Bored Panda. "It’s important to be responsive to messages in case substitutions are needed, as some items may be out of stock. Adding specific instructions, such as preferred replacements or 'no substitutions,' can help ensure a smoother experience."
This Dog Wouldn’t Let Me Stage The Items LOL
One Of The Strangest Orders I’ve Ever Shopped
So I get an order for 18 items for $28 and I take it and then realize it’s like 113 units or something like that. I contemplated canceling but decided to just shop it as quickly as possible. All fruit mind you. $308 worth of fruit to be exact 😆. Turns out the guy ordering sends an order like this to his sister on her birthday every year as a prank. I shopped and checked out fairly quick and get to the house. I start handing bags to the lady and she goes “honey the fruit is here again”. I’m glad I followed through with the order it was definitely worth the laughs and ended up being $48 after tip increase for a bunch of fruit. Hopefully they have a good blender or donate some of this because there’s no way anyone is eating this much fruit. 🍎🍌
I’m Happy That I Told Customer About Gas Leak
Customers should also keep in mind that tipping is a big part of a shopper’s earnings, Sergio says. "So offering a fair tip for their time and effort is appreciated. Delivery times can vary based on order size, store traffic, and shopper availability, so planning ahead is key. Customers should also double-check their address and order details before confirming to avoid delays or mix-ups."
I've Now Done It All... Homeless Camp Delivery
I can't make this up...I delivered hot dogs, burgers, POPSICLES, ice cream, donuts, cheesecake, and organic veggies to a homeless camp...
She met me at the railroad track intersection with a pull cart 🤯🤯🤯
Can't make this up.
We’ve a very well hidden collective of 20+ women who live on a rather inaccessible shore of state property here on our island. Most locals don’t even know about them and you’d have to do some serious off-trail bushwhacking to come across them. Unless you know of a secret entrance thru a 100 meter thicket. They’ve outdoor solar showers, a kitchen tent, a communal geodesic dome tent & their personal living spaces. Since many areas of our district don’t have water mains (or any infrastructure; mostly off-grid) there are county spigots where folks fill up their 50/100/200 gallon water jugs or tanks. I’ve helped this “intentional community” with hauling water to them, as I’ve a few friends who live there. Many have jobs/careers, but most are artists, musicians, massage therapists & the like. They’ve communal cars parked at a public overlook lot about 1/4 mile down the road. They’re not homeless. Nor do they generally consider themselves unhoused. They’ve chosen this & it’s awesome.
Most Heart Wrenching Instacart Order I’ve Had
I’d helped to run a wedding for friends of mine who lived quite a distance away, I arrived home after a couple of days with them for the celebration (and then some spa related recovery 😀) and on my doorstep was a delivery that had a DVD of a film we’d talked about over the weekend, a few beers (to drink whilst watching the film), a huge bag of cashews (a favourite of mine) and a card, written by the delivery driver for my friends saying thank you 😀 and the driver had added a note on the back about the film 😂
I Drew Up A "Thank You" Card For My Customers
I'm also an artist, so I thought of printing up some thank you cards. They've helped with getting consistent ratings, so I find it worth the occasional sheets of cardstock.
"While Instacart aims to provide convenience, shoppers are human and do their best to fulfill orders accurately," Sergio added. "Being patient and understanding can make the experience better for both the customer and the shopper."
And if you'd like to learn even more about what it's like to delivery groceries for Instacart, or other similar services, be sure to visit The Rideshare Guy!
I Bearly Made It To This Delivery
Delivered to a gated community here in our little mountain town and was met with this friendly fellow. I think could smell all the yummy groceries in my car, literally walked right towards my car before finally crossing the road.
Notice the bear/deer crossing sign behind him.
Why don't they move the bear/deer crossing sign to a safer place for these poor animals to cross?! Smh
Trapped In Customer’s Vestibule
Parking Was In Fact Not Free
I get this order, he says it's free parking. His apartment is in a business type plaza with no street parking. I get there and my gut tells me it isn't free. So I ask for assistant at the kiosk (the one that prints your parking ticket to get into the garage) and they tell me it's only free if a business validates my ticket. I ask if tenants can validate and she says no.
How many people did this guy get to pay for their own parking? Once you drive in, you can't leave without paying. Why why why do people do this?
In case you're wondering what happened: I message him and he insists it's free, tries to convince me to go up. Says he always has stuff delivered. I explain I'll try to find parking and get his stuff to him. He becomes hostile about how I don't listen. So I contact support...his order was canceled.
What was the purpose of the customer being an a$$, lying about the parking being free?
We hope you're enjoying your scroll through these photos, pandas! Keep upvoting the ones that you find most surprising, and let us know in the comments below if you've ever utilized a grocery delivery service like Instacart. Then, if you'd like to check out another Bored Panda list featuring this subreddit, look no further than right here!
Jesus Christ Crystal
Delivered To An Ice Cream Shop
So I Delievered To My Boss.. Surprised $450 Tip
Having A Stare Down With This Peanut Butter
Finally Had One Of “Those” Customers
i deliver in this area a lot. it’s a safe neighborhood. why are people so weird lol.
Just Lost A $15 Tip For Not Driving Past This Sign
They live about 15 miles from town and messaged me “this is the last time I pre-tip”. Good luck ever getting your groceries delivered again!
Because a skull and crossbones totally means "Go PAST this sign" - right? /s
Anyone Else Bring A Bud Along?
I have two dogs (and five cats at this point...) but still wouldn't bring one with me on a delivery trip, ESPECIALLY with food/grocery items. Even if you put all the groceries in your trunk, you never know if people are highly allergic to dog hair/dog dander, and when you have a dog... that stuff gets everywhere. I would bring my dogs with me everywhere if I could, and I love my pets more than I love most humans, but I still would respect my customers and not create a potential food safety issue or allergy issue by bringing my dog along with me to deliver groceries/food to my customers.
What In The Actual F**k?
She probably thinks we get paid by the hour. She must also think the sun revolves around her... like there's other customers you know?? Plus that won't work...
Even if it's for a child with a food disorder, a please or thank you would be nice
Awesome Free Score After Cancellation
I did a small, 3 item Sam’s Club shop. Was 2 15lb briskets, some Hot sausage links and a pack of hot dog buns to be delivered to someone’s food truck. Delivery address was about 3.5-4 miles away from the store. Once I got there (a medical campus) I couldn’t find the food truck anywhere. I messaged them asking where exactly there food truck was. The then messaged me a totally different address about 45 minutes away. I told them that and how it’s not the address they listed, they apologized that it was the wrong address, and told me to cancel. I called up IC support and they helped me cancel it. This is about 30lbs and $150 worth of brisket I got for free
This Customer Thought I Was Ringing Her Doorbell?
I had this customer and they were freaking out on me even though i had not arrived yet. This was an alcohol delivery so I got worried about the delivery being face to face.
“Bring me my booze! Hurry up! Don’t make any noise, I’m hungover. I need booze! No, I don’t have a problem, why do you ask?”
$1m House; $0 Tip
Well, This Was A First…
$385 Worth Of Free Groceries
So customer was writing me back while shopping and just completely stopped...I tried calling numerous times to ask about a replacement but no answer. When I arrived to the business location it was closed and nobody answered. Usually I'll leave the items at door but this was a business and it had a wine bottle...called Instacart and they told me to return the wine and keep the rest! $36 order turn into $385 worth of free groceries.
Support Cancelled The Wrong Order: Now I Have This
Double order. Order A went through fine. Order B was being declined on payment. Support accidentally cancels order A. Now I have this Lego which is worth 5x what I would have been paid.
I really want one of these, it looks just like my cat. No money in the budget unfortunately.
Got Tip Baited
Dude, I was so stoked! Huge Costco order – two orders in a batch one order has some stuff and nine cases of 24-pack zero-sugar sparkling water! Other order had like 13 items, Delivered right to the door, as requested. Then I lugged all that c**p up two flights of stairs (no elevator!), said thanks, and finished the second delivery. But then I saw the pay – the tip was slashed from $170 to $10! All that happiness vanished, man, I was so hurt. I didn't screw anything up. Why would someone do that? I was practically gasping for air carrying all that stuff!
Anyone Else Get Bizarre Orders Like This LOL
When I worked retail, we had a customer come in that everyone called The Milk Lady. She claimed she was allergic to water and could *only* drink milk (whole milk, of course.) This is what her cart would look like when she would go to check out. DOZENS of bottles of milk. We had no idea how she could drink/use them all before they went over. All of my co-workers hated her because she would chew them out and yell at them if her specific brand she preferred wasn't in stock/didn't have the "correct" expiration dates. She was always nice enough to me (I worked vitamins/supplements but helped out in dairy enough times to encounter her pretty often) but she honestly did smell like spoiled milk. I don't know if it was because she actually truly only did drink milk, or if she had poor personal hygiene, but it was a bit gross.
Shopped An Order For My Best Friend Yesterday
This Guy…expects To Be The Only Customer
Shop most of a double order then get a message from this guy asking if he’s the only customer. When he found out I had one other order he threw a hissy fit and demanded to be the only customer to be shopped for. Yes, I was muttering obscenities under my breath as I put his items back.) What is wrong with people smfh (this was just part of the convo I happened to screenshot)
I Hate Lying Customers
What is the point when i have a clear picture of it being the exact item.
You Say Tomato… I Say Wtf???
I can’t tell if the shopper was seriously that clueless or if they think it’s a fun way to mess with customers? The garden center is on the opposite side of the store as the produce… I’m flabbergasted.
Found This Posted On A Local Group
Target Tipped Me $10
“Please Leave Inside Fence”
I love dogs (and cats!) but I would have to decline, were I the deliveryperson. These puppers might be the sweetest pibbles ever, but they are IN their yard/their territory and they may feel threatened/scared by a stranger walking in (especially with rustling plastic bags!) They might bite out of fear.
Reported This Guy, Felt So Uncomfortable
Dang Girl What Did You Do
Depending on where OP lives and when they usually place their orders, Anastacia might be one of the only shoppers/deliverypersons working in that area at that time. :x
Order Was Cancelled As I Was Checking Out
I May Actually Lose My Mind
"I was in the store yesterday but couldn't get any of this shopping done myself." (I know a lot of people are disabled or have other mobility issues, but this one doesn't seem like that kind of a situation. Maybe they were in the store too close to closing for the deli/etc. to be open but... )
I Was Delivering My Order When…
Strong wind knocked over the basketball net right on to their truck while I was waiting for the customer. 😳 luckily I never got to see the reaction since the customer never showed up for their order.
Me When A Customer Said I Ruined Her Christmas
Jealous Of My GF 😂
"Tip Yourself 5 Dollars"
Takes 5 dollars out of my wallet and puts it back
Thanks I appreciate you!! 😅🤣
Side note didn't see a "funny" flair so used this one guess it works as well.
It Finally Happened
Was trying to deliver an order this morning and the customer had 4 dogs. I couldn’t open my door for almost 5 minutes because the dogs wouldn’t leave the area and I finally open my door and one of the dogs jumps on me and bites my arm. Anyone who’s been in this situation before? What have you done?
I’m Sorry What?
Why Does Instacart Think This Is Acceptable? 🤦🏻♀️
How do they get away with this nonsense? $23 batch pay?? The $44 tip is a joke. The amount of time and work that would require, then to drive it all 40 miles!! I don’t know who’s more delusional, Instacart or the customer?! The water alone roughly weighs 4,350 lbs. I’m dumbfounded.
My Biggest Order Ever. Just Pick Up At Best Buy
Is somebody drunk? Such a big tip, and such a specifically odd amount.
*cue Panic Attack*
And this is where the driver cancels the order because these people never tip.
I Hate These Type Of People
They should be put on the list of folks to not deliver to. What if nobody comes any time soon? Why couldn't customer go down to get their order?
Instacart Needs To Ban These Customers
This A$$hole Has Ordered 629 Times
What Do I Do?
Well It Finally Happened To Me 😂
For anyone who may be confused, this is someone who has either stolen an actual customer's login credentials or their credit card and is trying to scam the deliveryperson AND the owner of the account/CC. It's easy for thieves to flip/sell gift cards (which is why they are asking for the Lyft gift card) vs. most actual physical goods.
My First Bad Experience
This lady was constantly sending me messages asking me to send her pictures of the items she wanted to see how they looked, I did not mind. She then started refunding a lot of items so I told her to cancel my order. It was a big order 60 items nothing heavy, 30 items were fruits and vegetables and the store is 1.9 miles away. The tip was $50 plus a paid for fast delivery. Am I wrong for wanting to cancel the order?
I'm confused... who is the subtitle from... Personal Shopper or the Customer?
I used to shop for Instacart. Many people do not seem to understand that shoppers are NOT employees; they are independent contractors using their own vehicles and paying their own overhead costs. The app offers these shoppers a ridiculously low amount (sometimes as little as $5 per order) and the fees they charge the customers do not go to the driver. Imagine spending an hour shopping for someone, then delivering it to the customer's front door for less than $10. They are providing a personal service and deserve to be tipped WELL. And for those screaming "just go to the store yourself", many of my customers were elderly and disabled and rely on services like this. I enjoyed interacting with them, but the wear and tear on my vehicle and the abuse by entitled a******s who refuse to tip made it impossible to continue. If you use these services, TIP YOUR SHOPPER WELL!
I shop through the Mariano’s/Kroger app, so those people are actually employees of Kroger and they deliver everything in a Kroger box truck thing. The app doesn’t even allow tips. Edit: and they shop in a warehouse, not a store.
Load More Replies...I LOVE Instacart! They let me be lazy! The older I get, the less effort I want to spend getting ready to go out: style my hair, do my makeup, change my clothes, drive to the store, shop, drive home, put the groceries away, change my clothes, wash my face... Nah!
I have done shopping in my night shirt and a pair of sweat pants. Lol. But I also only had a 5min walk to the store and back. So it was quick. Haha! I have a cousin who looked at me totally anxious on my behalf when I told her this, years ago. She was like "you didn't even put on a bra!?!?" And I said "nah, I was going right back home to watch TV on my couch. And I didn't plan to score with anybody in the fruit-and-veggies section anyways. So no need to look great.". It's a topic we just do not agree on. 😄
Load More Replies...Instacart is the BEST thing that came out of the pandemic! Most of us in NYC use it constantly. I love it, and I tip well!
meanwhile EVERYTHING that gets ordered for my apt bldg gets left in the wrong part of the bldg or in the yard or on the street where homeless people steal it and I don't blame them so I don't order anything anymore
Is this service used much? I can't imagine spending so much just so I don't have to go out myself (disabled ect not taken into account here)
I use it about 3 or 4 times a month, usually cuz I forgot to put something on the grocery list or cuz the store my husband shops at is out of the item. Instacart Shoppers go the "mega" Walmarts + larger Safeway stores. Plus - I'm lazy. 😁
Load More Replies...Personally I prefer to shop myself but did use these types of services in emergency. I like to choose my own veggies and I don't love the whole waiting game while I'm trying to relax. Also,I do grocery shopping like once every 2 weeks when I'm paid,I have a very strict budget and if I pay $350 for groceries,I really can't afford a huge tip and that might make people angry.
I used to shop for Instacart. Many people do not seem to understand that shoppers are NOT employees; they are independent contractors using their own vehicles and paying their own overhead costs. The app offers these shoppers a ridiculously low amount (sometimes as little as $5 per order) and the fees they charge the customers do not go to the driver. Imagine spending an hour shopping for someone, then delivering it to the customer's front door for less than $10. They are providing a personal service and deserve to be tipped WELL. And for those screaming "just go to the store yourself", many of my customers were elderly and disabled and rely on services like this. I enjoyed interacting with them, but the wear and tear on my vehicle and the abuse by entitled a******s who refuse to tip made it impossible to continue. If you use these services, TIP YOUR SHOPPER WELL!
I shop through the Mariano’s/Kroger app, so those people are actually employees of Kroger and they deliver everything in a Kroger box truck thing. The app doesn’t even allow tips. Edit: and they shop in a warehouse, not a store.
Load More Replies...I LOVE Instacart! They let me be lazy! The older I get, the less effort I want to spend getting ready to go out: style my hair, do my makeup, change my clothes, drive to the store, shop, drive home, put the groceries away, change my clothes, wash my face... Nah!
I have done shopping in my night shirt and a pair of sweat pants. Lol. But I also only had a 5min walk to the store and back. So it was quick. Haha! I have a cousin who looked at me totally anxious on my behalf when I told her this, years ago. She was like "you didn't even put on a bra!?!?" And I said "nah, I was going right back home to watch TV on my couch. And I didn't plan to score with anybody in the fruit-and-veggies section anyways. So no need to look great.". It's a topic we just do not agree on. 😄
Load More Replies...Instacart is the BEST thing that came out of the pandemic! Most of us in NYC use it constantly. I love it, and I tip well!
meanwhile EVERYTHING that gets ordered for my apt bldg gets left in the wrong part of the bldg or in the yard or on the street where homeless people steal it and I don't blame them so I don't order anything anymore
Is this service used much? I can't imagine spending so much just so I don't have to go out myself (disabled ect not taken into account here)
I use it about 3 or 4 times a month, usually cuz I forgot to put something on the grocery list or cuz the store my husband shops at is out of the item. Instacart Shoppers go the "mega" Walmarts + larger Safeway stores. Plus - I'm lazy. 😁
Load More Replies...Personally I prefer to shop myself but did use these types of services in emergency. I like to choose my own veggies and I don't love the whole waiting game while I'm trying to relax. Also,I do grocery shopping like once every 2 weeks when I'm paid,I have a very strict budget and if I pay $350 for groceries,I really can't afford a huge tip and that might make people angry.
