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Women Are Tired And Disappointed With Male Instacart Shoppers’ Incompetence, Share 35 Examples
Modern delivery services are a sort of marvel, allowing tens of thousands to get items from the comfort of their own homes. But this comes with the wildcard element of not being able to see what you get before it arrives on your doorstep.
TikToker Lowmariam shared her frustration with a male Instacart shopper who made some pretty questionable substitutions. Soon, other netizens were all sharing their own tales of weird decisions, obvious mistakes, and unhinged shoppers. So get comfortable, perhaps order some snacks, and be sure to upvote your favorite stories.
More info: TikTok
@lowmariam dont make me angry
♬ original sound - Mariam
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
I feel like a lot of these are due to autotranslation issues and cultural differences.
Justin Smith 2 years ago
The chips are kettle cooked. It makes them crunchy and don't break much.
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The Veil of Fire 2 years ago
Why be so vague? Help the dude out, at least give them a brand name. Cape Cod kettle salt n vinegar potato chips. Communication with proper words. Can't blame the dude 100% I think this is 50/50 error.
RELATED:
#2
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
No grocery store has ever run out of vanilla ice cream.
Marcellus II 2 years ago
I assure you last Saturday I had an aldi without. No sorbet of any type, no vanilla, no chocolate, strawberry, ... . Some cones and lollies, yes. And ten types of frozen chips.
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TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago (edited)
Yep, he didn't try hard enough - the shop I worked at had basically a whole vault full of Vanilla ice cream
Memaw Mitch 2 years ago
I requested chocolate chip, with a back up of cookies and cream, I got an out of stock msg. I asked for plain chocolate or vanilla then, out of stock. Apparently they didn't have any ice cream at all.
First and foremost, if you are a little confused by the terminology here, an Instacart shopper is simply a delivery person who is sent a list (made by the client) and picks up the items from a store. Obviously, what’s in stock will differ from what might be shown online, so the “shoppers” are often left to make judgment calls on replacements.
So while the idea of a “personal shopper” might sound luxurious, the reality, as shown in the TikTok clip above, is that you might end up getting what is more akin to a mystery box than your grocery list. And for some reason, male Instacart shoppers are notorious for making truly bizarre calls when some item isn’t available.
#3
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Extreme opposites. The bread won't rise. It'll sink.
#4
Jacqui Russell 2 years ago
I got a box of Maltesers as a substitution for the Christmas turkey. On Christmas Eve.
Michael Waterman 2 years ago
Sexist. Im a male with a 4.98 dasher rating, what a twrrible article, didnt read one word past title.
#5
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Not having static cling in your special places can only be a plus.
If some of these examples don’t seem too horrible, just imagine how badly it might go if we introduce alcohol to the mix. In 27 states, as well as Washington D.C. and parts of Canada, Instacart users can order alcohol through the service. Given the leeway that the shoppers seem to have, one can see a simple, game night order of a few beers turning into a bottle of Tequila.
#6
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
I'll net it was a language barrier issue. I've never used Instacart, but I suspect the problem was automated translation. So what language is "Ice Cream" and "Sour Cream" similar? After checking about two dozen languages, the only one that even sound similar is English. Seriously, I had no idea there were so many different names for Ice Cream. Sour cream is pretty consistent though. BTW did you know that the FDA classifies sour cream as a type of cheese?
Autistic Axolotl 2 years ago
Once when I was little my mum got sour cream and told me it was ice cream, It was disgusting
#7
#8
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago
To be fair, without precise description nobody can help you with that one
Richard Michael 2 years ago
Maybe be less vague about what you want next time. He's not a mind reader.
CwtchyMama 2 years ago
Saw a substitution online offering mushrooms as a substitute for tampons so I think we need more women programmers
dremetrius 2 years ago
Getting the feeling many commenters haven't used instacart. You pick the exact item you want. There is almost always a photo to go with. You are also often asked to pick a substitute in case an item is out or confirm your just want it refunded. Worst case scenario, mascara guy could have asked a cashier for help finding the item.
The Veil of Fire 2 years ago
Again a situation where being more specific works better then not. Mascara...answer the questions for the shopper. 1- brand? 2- color? 3- waterproof? 4- wand preference? 5- second option just in case?
Tamara Augustine 2 years ago
She would have placed the exact mascara in her cart. Shopper was just being lazy.
Load More Replies...Of course, Instacart isn’t exactly known for treating its workers particularly well, so perhaps they don’t really have any incentive to try too hard. In 2017, Instacart shoppers protested, alleging that on some days, their effective wage would be around $1 an hour. One doesn’t exactly have to be an economist to understand that this is not even on the same continent as a livable wage.
#9
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Well, at least you'll be comfy while you wonder if you're dying.
#10
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago
I don't think the extra fibre will solve the lactose problem at all
Ansi 2 years ago
Maybe they thought it would cancel each other out and make you 💩 normal?
Load More Replies... #11
The company has also withheld tips, which it blamed on a software bug, and charged customers unexpected and unexplained service fees. So if you were paid below minimum wage and a company stole your tip, would you truly really take your time to find the perfect replacement for a kiwi, or would you grab another sour fruit and move on with your life?
#12
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
I had that happen with blackberries. I was SO pissed off.
#14
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
I don't think I want to know the logic behind substituting tampons for tomatoes. Alliteration?
Jon Steensen 2 years ago
autocorrect perhaps? It can sometimes be really creative.
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While many of us really started using delivery services during COVID-19 lockdowns, Instacart was already going strong (as far as corporate profits were concerned) well before that. Covid did push the company to hire around 300,000 more workers, as people, naturally, needed groceries, and often didn’t want to go out to get them.
#15
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
I'd give him those veggie burgers, quite forcefully.
Justin Smith 2 years ago
They didn't get veggie burgers. They got chicken.
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Janos Schumacher 2 years ago
Made with black beans and TVP usually. They aren't terrible if you eat them as they are. They aren't a meat substitute by any means.
Load More Replies... #16
Howl's sleeping castle 2 years ago
They showed me Scotch brite scrub as an alternative to sanitary pads
The Veil of Fire 2 years ago
Guys need a special compulsory course in high school and college on how to deal with detail feminine issues and detail child care. all the ugly nasty stuff like period pads and diapers. Extra bonus grade for male & female senior issues.
Cold Eagle 2 years ago
Tbf i can understand this one. Not saying it's not disappointing / frustrating!
#17
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Well, obviously. A little taco meat, cheese, lettuce. Best granola bar you'll ever eat.
These days, Instacart does allow users to “book” grocery lists up to five days in advance, which, in theory, should help avoid cases where the shopper is making last-minute substitutions that throw an entire recipe out of whack. For example, cooking a risotto without the right kind of rice is a fool's errand.
#18
Ms.GB 2 years ago (edited)
It just takes a little longer in the shower, I don't see the issue
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#19
Xitxarel•lo Panda 2 years ago
Kiwis are awesome ...period. eat two when you stop to sleep and you will poo like a bird. Also one of my friends is kiwi(NZ) and are also amazing. Kisses Errol and Vanessa
Bored Retsuko 2 years ago
Reminds me of the famous food fails pic on BP where someone replaced cucumber with kiwi 😂
#20
Personal shoppers of the past would often be employed by the store itself, which would most likely help when it comes to knowing what items are missing or not available. In fact, some boutique stores or more expensive locations won’t even charge you for a personal shopper, as you are already spending money at their establishment.
#21
Bored Retsuko 2 years ago
Awwww that would actually be a cute joke (coming from a friend or partner though)
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third molar 2 years ago
They are mutually exclusive. U either get mirror or u can have 20lb sugar and forget mirror.
#22
#23
It seems that the best solution would be to use these services to bulk up on general items, perhaps to save oneself the hassle of carrying bag after bag up a flight of stairs, for example. But as many of the examples show, more often than not, certain recipes need very specific ingredients that can’t just be substituted.
#24
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Sure, I think my lamp will love listening to music while it's off work because it's not plugged in.
#25
#26
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
If he thinks chow mein noodles and pork and beans are in any way similar, he's not going to get the halal connection.
While one can use ground chicken for a hamburger, it will most definitely not be the sort of dinner the Instacart user intended when deciding on what to eat. A very competent chef can make a solid meal out of almost anything, but let’s face it, most of us don’t want to be acting out a personal episode of Masterchef after a long day of work, we have a plan that we want to stick to.
#27
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Spit? Autowrong got me. I love when it waits until you're posting to change the word.
Load More Replies... #28
MushroomHead22 2 years ago
they didnt have no oil..... i know people can talk how they want, but this is getting ridiculous
#29
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
I mean, to me bananas are too sweet. I can't imagine the candy would be less sweet, though.
AzzyIsHere (They/he xenos) 2 years ago
for me i just can't handle the texture
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However, this still doesn’t answer the question of why male Instacart shoppers in particular seem to create so much chaos. But, the plethora of examples not just from this video, but all over the internet show that getting a male Instacart shopper is the equivalent of thrifting or a garage sale, you never exactly know what you are going to get (or not get.)
#30
Valdezinator 2 years ago
I dislike fig newtons so I would be upset but send them to my parents who love them
#31
#32
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
This one's the most bizarre so far, at least to me.
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
Maybe he only drinks juice when sick?? Idk... I can't trust anyone so I always do my own shopping. And now see my suspicions are very correct
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#33
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
I think the potatoes were staring, and made him nervous.
#34
#35
SalamanderPanda 2 years ago
I once ordered dog food and they asked me if Frosties were a suitable replacement 🤪
#36
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 years ago
Finger nail vs Wall Nail. English homonyms are fun aren't they folks?
#38
#40
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Now, trying to find cupcakes in the bread aisle isn't completely out there. I'm guessing the store wasn't out of bread, that shopping trip.
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago
You can find Muffins and Cupcakes in the bread aisle here in Germany
holly smethurst 2 years ago
Was he from the UK here we have bread and cakes in the same aisle.
#41
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
Same shape. Can't tell about size, unless there was a banana for scale.
#42
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
So you don't "ok" the price or total first? It's like a total free-for-all? Oh f**k that. Never.
RapidUnscheduledDisassembly 2 years ago
Depending on the setup of the delivery service and the competence of the shopper, you might get to OK substitutions. But if it's the actual item, you don't get any say in how much they buy of it and have no idea what they did until you get it.
Load More Replies... #43
#44
RapidUnscheduledDisassembly 2 years ago
If you order one banana, you get one banana. You don't get "one bunch".
Cold Eagle 2 years ago
On the bright side, I assume she asked for banana. So at least that craving could be satiated.
#45
#47
Donkey boi 2 years ago
Technically.... Garlic is a member of the onion family. And, as I LOVE garlic, I would be ok with this.
Jon Steensen 2 years ago
Well if "translate" the Danish word for garlic directly, you get "white onion", so perhaps that outcome was the result of some kind of language barier.
BlackestDawn 2 years ago
I must be missing something here because I don't see how this relates, especially since the "white onion" was the wrong one.
Load More Replies... #48
#50
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago
Acceptable substitute if you don't like your guests...
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LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 years ago
Could just strain it, through a piece of cloth even, if OP doesn’t own a fine-weave strainer. This one isn’t a disaster or a deal-breaker, IMO.
#52
My “in my head” Voice 2 years ago
Well, wrap them with prosciutto and tell everyone it's a new culinary trend.
#53
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
I would be okay with that, if it didn't break the bank.
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What do you think ?
Zedrapazia 2 years ago (edited)
Wow, wow, wow, what a terribly sexist shitpost! Imagine if their roles here were reversed, everyone would be up the walls. This damn "All Men Are Trash" mindset some people and websites have has started to get me tremendously on my ovaries.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 years ago
These articles make me want to scream out loud. I worked retail in a grocery store for two and a half years during the thick of the pandemic - and let me tell you, it was *always* the female Instacart shoppers who would ask us employees where something was - they NEVER looked for it themselves (you know, the thing they’re getting paid for.) They would then ask us to lead them to the item even after we said which aisle it was on. So - at least in my area and in my limited experience, the majority of lazy, clueless Instacart shoppers were female and NOT male/NB.
Load More Replies...
Fat Harry 2 years ago
YAY! Another "men are s**t" post!! It's been fully ten minutes since the last one, I was starting to miss them. For the record, this is not about being male, it's about being clueless. I have three daughters and frequently buy period products. If the usual product wasn't available, I'm intelligent enough to make a sensible substitution.
XenoMurph 2 years ago
So, imagine this had the genders reversed. There would rightly be uproar about gender stereotyping.
Sherman Von Gee 2 years ago
If women were this bad at following directions then we'd deserve to get shamed for it.
Load More Replies... J Adams 2 years ago
Never heard of instacart, where I live you place your grocery order direct with the store, a member of staff does the shop for you scanning each item before it’s placed in the cart, usually it’s fine but the scanner the staff use shows stock levels of each item so if something is out of stock it shows the staff member possible substitutions based on key words, so if you order a strawberry face mask as example you could end up with a strawberry yoghurt, you have to remember the staff member in store putting the orders together isn’t just working on your order they could be doing 20 at the same time and because of time constraints mistakes happen, if you don’t like or are unhappy with the service there’s an easy answer, go to the store yourself
dremetrius 2 years ago
Grocery stores here do that now but pre-covid, none did. Instacart is pretty much Doordash for groceries. I used it frequently during a period of particularly bad health and thankfully I always got excellent delivery people. They helped me feed myself healthy meals when it was most important and when I was last capable of getting them for myself. I sometimes still use it during bad mental health streaks - it's pricy, but again I feed myself better, and I am way, way better at not impulse shopping when grocery shopping online. Regarding errors, occasional mistakes are understandable, but flagrant or continual errors should be addressed. That's a part of job training in any job.
Load More Replies...
RandomEpiBioPerson 2 years ago
r/Pointlesslygendered. I'd say an excuse can be made for about 2 of these. Otherwise, the gender focus is unnecessary.
majandess 2 years ago (edited)
You're right. I think seeing the terrible substitutions is funny, but there doesn't need to be any gender involved. Could easily have been "Instacart Shoppers Who Weren't the Brightest Bulb in the Box" and it would have been fine.
Load More Replies... silowew628@picvw.com 2 years ago (edited)
Since we're embracing sexist tropes, can we do a post about how we should never trust a female mechanic or engineer? Are we going to do some racist and homophobic stereotypes as well?
Mabelbabel 2 years ago
I've no idea whether I had a male or female member of staff doing the picking, but I placed an order a few years ago that included a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream (I was planning on making Baileys cheesecake for Christmas). Instead, I got a four-pack of Carlsberg Special Brew (strong beer, 9%). It was Christmas, Baileys is popular at Christmas and they'd probably sold out, but Special Brew?? I suppose its alcohol, but it wasn't exactly a close match (we kept it, I tried using it in beef and ale casserole, and all I can say is "Don't")
Robin 2 years ago
First of all, wow sexist!!! Secondly, the app notifies the customer when the shopper starts shopping as well as notifies the customer every time there is a substitution, which is then approved by the customer......so if you got sour cream instead of ice cream you either approved it or you completely disrespected your shopper's time by not responding at all....so your fault as a terrible customer just like this sexism happened today because of a terrible author.
Ms.GB 2 years ago
That's what they're supposed to do. I've had shoppers skip that part..don't remember their gender because my first thought wasn't "Oh it must be a guy" but rather "What a lazy asshat!"
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Nolgoth 2 years ago
This entire listicle is why i had my grandmother turn off "allow substitutions" for when she orders from walmart. Would much rather get nothing at all and have me go out and get the missing items than have her get things that she didnt order. Has happened a few times where we got everything ordered but also got extra stuff, like one time got a 12 pack of orange soda. Wasnt charged for it 🤷♂️
Zedrapazia 2 years ago (edited)
Wow, wow, wow, what a terribly sexist shitpost! Imagine if their roles here were reversed, everyone would be up the walls. This damn "All Men Are Trash" mindset some people and websites have has started to get me tremendously on my ovaries.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 2 years ago
These articles make me want to scream out loud. I worked retail in a grocery store for two and a half years during the thick of the pandemic - and let me tell you, it was *always* the female Instacart shoppers who would ask us employees where something was - they NEVER looked for it themselves (you know, the thing they’re getting paid for.) They would then ask us to lead them to the item even after we said which aisle it was on. So - at least in my area and in my limited experience, the majority of lazy, clueless Instacart shoppers were female and NOT male/NB.
Load More Replies... Fat Harry 2 years ago
YAY! Another "men are s**t" post!! It's been fully ten minutes since the last one, I was starting to miss them. For the record, this is not about being male, it's about being clueless. I have three daughters and frequently buy period products. If the usual product wasn't available, I'm intelligent enough to make a sensible substitution.
XenoMurph 2 years ago
So, imagine this had the genders reversed. There would rightly be uproar about gender stereotyping.
Sherman Von Gee 2 years ago
If women were this bad at following directions then we'd deserve to get shamed for it.
Load More Replies... J Adams 2 years ago
Never heard of instacart, where I live you place your grocery order direct with the store, a member of staff does the shop for you scanning each item before it’s placed in the cart, usually it’s fine but the scanner the staff use shows stock levels of each item so if something is out of stock it shows the staff member possible substitutions based on key words, so if you order a strawberry face mask as example you could end up with a strawberry yoghurt, you have to remember the staff member in store putting the orders together isn’t just working on your order they could be doing 20 at the same time and because of time constraints mistakes happen, if you don’t like or are unhappy with the service there’s an easy answer, go to the store yourself
dremetrius 2 years ago
Grocery stores here do that now but pre-covid, none did. Instacart is pretty much Doordash for groceries. I used it frequently during a period of particularly bad health and thankfully I always got excellent delivery people. They helped me feed myself healthy meals when it was most important and when I was last capable of getting them for myself. I sometimes still use it during bad mental health streaks - it's pricy, but again I feed myself better, and I am way, way better at not impulse shopping when grocery shopping online. Regarding errors, occasional mistakes are understandable, but flagrant or continual errors should be addressed. That's a part of job training in any job.
Load More Replies... RandomEpiBioPerson 2 years ago
r/Pointlesslygendered. I'd say an excuse can be made for about 2 of these. Otherwise, the gender focus is unnecessary.
majandess 2 years ago (edited)
You're right. I think seeing the terrible substitutions is funny, but there doesn't need to be any gender involved. Could easily have been "Instacart Shoppers Who Weren't the Brightest Bulb in the Box" and it would have been fine.
Load More Replies... silowew628@picvw.com 2 years ago (edited)
Since we're embracing sexist tropes, can we do a post about how we should never trust a female mechanic or engineer? Are we going to do some racist and homophobic stereotypes as well?
Mabelbabel 2 years ago
I've no idea whether I had a male or female member of staff doing the picking, but I placed an order a few years ago that included a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream (I was planning on making Baileys cheesecake for Christmas). Instead, I got a four-pack of Carlsberg Special Brew (strong beer, 9%). It was Christmas, Baileys is popular at Christmas and they'd probably sold out, but Special Brew?? I suppose its alcohol, but it wasn't exactly a close match (we kept it, I tried using it in beef and ale casserole, and all I can say is "Don't")
Robin 2 years ago
First of all, wow sexist!!! Secondly, the app notifies the customer when the shopper starts shopping as well as notifies the customer every time there is a substitution, which is then approved by the customer......so if you got sour cream instead of ice cream you either approved it or you completely disrespected your shopper's time by not responding at all....so your fault as a terrible customer just like this sexism happened today because of a terrible author.
Ms.GB 2 years ago
That's what they're supposed to do. I've had shoppers skip that part..don't remember their gender because my first thought wasn't "Oh it must be a guy" but rather "What a lazy asshat!"
Load More Replies... Nolgoth 2 years ago
This entire listicle is why i had my grandmother turn off "allow substitutions" for when she orders from walmart. Would much rather get nothing at all and have me go out and get the missing items than have her get things that she didnt order. Has happened a few times where we got everything ordered but also got extra stuff, like one time got a 12 pack of orange soda. Wasnt charged for it 🤷♂️
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