Why Is Instacart So Slow? Everything You Need To Know As a Shopper or Customer
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Recently, Instacart has been so slow for Shoppers to get more batches. If your full-time gig is delivering groceries for Instacart and you have no side hustle to support, this can literally affect your earnings.
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In this article, I’ll explain why Instacart sometimes feels slow and share some simple tricks to help you earn more money.
You’ll learn how to grab more batches and maximize your Instacart earnings. Plus, I’ll introduce you to some other great apps like Instacart that can boost your income.
Similarly, if you’re a customer curious about the reasons behind slow Instacart deliveries, I’ve also delved into that topic.
Instacart typically aims for a 2-hour delivery window, so if your orders consistently take longer, there might be underlying issues.
Whether you’re a shopper or a customer, if you’re interested in understanding the causes of Instacart’s slowness, keep reading!
Why Is Instacart So Slow? [For Shoppers]
We know that Instacart is one of the biggest and most popular grocery delivery services in North America.
Instacart made $2.5 billion in 2022 alone, according to the Wall Street Journal. It’s available in more than 14,000 cities across Canada and the U.S.
If Instacart is doing so well, then we have to wonder why the app is so slow sometimes. And so, here are the real reasons why Instacart is so slow.
But take note, this is for shoppers.
1. You Don’t Shop During Peak Times
The first reason why Instacart is slow is you don’t shop during peak times or hours. There are best times to do Instacart as a shopper because, during those times, there is an influx of orders.
Instacart works on supply and demand. When demand is high, the supply will definitely be high for shoppers to get more batches.
Instacart is a grocery delivery service, and because of that, customers place more orders when they are mostly at home to receive the items. Therefore, if you work during peak hours – you can get more batches to grab.
The best times to shop for Instacart are:
- Weekdays (Monday – Friday): Around 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. This is the time most people have closed from work and can receive their orders.
- Weekends (Saturday and Sunday): Any time. Most people are at home during the weekends so many orders are placed.
- Holidays: Such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Hanukkah, and days between Black Fridays.
You can also check peak times in your specific location using the Instacart app. To check, just open your Instacart app and tap “see best times to shop” below the available batches.
2. Your Shopper Rating Is Low
Another reason why Instacart is slow is that you have a low shopper or customer rating. Instacart shoppers who have at least a 4.7-star rating get more batches than those with lower ratings.
So if you have a low Shopper rating, try as much as possible to raise it. Aim for 4.7 stars, and you will start to get more batches on Instacart.
The cool thing is that Instacart has created a new rating system to help you get to 4.7 and maintain it. With the old system, when a customer rated you badly it affected your very next orders but with the new system is different.
For instance, Instacart drops ratings from customers who gave fewer than 5 stars in their last three orders. Also, when customers rate you poorly because of delays due to bad weather or a store running low on inventory, that also won’t be counted against you.
Here are some of the things to do to increase your Shopper rating:
- Deliver groceries on time.
- Be polite when talking to customers.
- Always remember to provide your customers with updates on your whereabouts while you’re shopping for them. This keeps them informed and reassured about their order.
If you are able to do these things customers will be happy with your deliveries, and they will give you good ratings on Instacart.
3. You Are Competing With Other Shoppers
You know, there are more than 600,000 Shoppers on Instacart and everybody is trying to grab some batches so definitely, Instacart will be slow.
Also, if some of these Shoppers try to hack the system by using Instacart batch grabbers, then you don’t have a chance.
Instacart is pretty efficient at assigning orders to Shoppers. But, when there are plenty of Shoppers in your area and not as many orders to fulfill, it can become challenging to secure orders promptly.
However, the best way to solve this issue is to improve your Shopper rating. Shoppers with high ratings get more orders on Instacart.
4. You Work In Wrong Areas
Instacart is slow in calm areas, so if you live in a small city this may be the reason why you are not getting more orders. People love to shop on their own in small cities meaning Instacart won’t be useful.
So look for a vibrant area where people are likely to use Instacart for their grocery shopping. Also, it’s advisable to always hang around grocery stores when working for Instacart.
If you don’t live closer to a grocery store, then you must not stay home while waiting for orders because other shoppers will get ahead of you when orders come in.
Tips For Shoppers To Make More Money On Instacart
If you are earning less because Instacart is sluggish, here are a few tips to help you maximize your earnings:
- Work during peak hours: 4-9 p.m. on weekdays and any time on weekends.
- Improve your Shopper rating: Aim for 4.7 out of 5 stars.
- Be selective when accepting batches: Try to choose high-paying and short-distance batches only.
- Accept double-orders: Complete double or triple-orders to earn more money whenever one is available for grabs.
- Wait near stores: Hang around grocery stores to get ahead of other shoppers when orders come in.
Why Is Instacart So Slow? [For Customers]
The longest time it takes for Instacart customers to receive their grocery orders is 5 hours. But on average, customers get their orders in 2 hours.
If it takes very long for you to receive your orders on Instacart, these may be the reasons:
1. You Place Orders During Peak Hours
One reason why Instacart is slow may be because you place orders during peak times or hours. From 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. are busy times on Instacart since many people are home to receive their orders.
When the demand exceeds the number of Shoppers working at this time, your grocery order can be delayed.
2. You Live Far Away From Grocery Stores
Another reason is that you live far away from grocery stores. Every Shopper wants to deliver groceries to close locations so they can get back for the next orders.
It may be that Instacart Shoppers are avoiding your orders because of the distance they have to cover to get the items to you.
The most effective way to make your orders attractive, if you live far away, is to place orders in bulk. Bulk orders have higher pay so Shoppers will accept them even if the distance is long.
3. You Don’t Tip Shoppers Enough
This is also another reason why Instacart is slow. Shoppers can see how much they will earn after completing each order, including the tips.
Put yourself in the shoes of a Shopper, will you accept batches with higher tips or those with no tips at all?
Shoppers want to amplify their earnings when working for Instacart so they will always choose the best paying batches with good tips.
4. You Give The Shopper Too Many Unclear Instructions
Instacart Shoppers need clear instructions when shopping on your behalf. If you do not provide clear instructions telling Shoppers the items you want and the exact place where they should drop the items, it will take long for you to get the items.
So, when you use Instacart, remember to keep your phone nearby in case the Shopper needs to ask you any questions while they’re getting your groceries.
When your requests are detailed and specific, it makes the process faster and smoother.
5. You Don’t Pay For Priority Delivery
Instacart is slow because you do not pay for the “Priority Delivery” option. Instacart deliveries are completed within 2 hours but you can shorten the time to just 30 or 45 minutes by using Priority Delivery.
Therefore, whenever you are placing orders, select Priority Delivery if you want to get the items quickly; otherwise, you will have to expect the order within 2 hours or longer.
6. There Are Few Shoppers Available
At times, when there are only a few Shoppers available and an excessive number of orders come in, Instacart can struggle to manage them all.
So if you find Instacart to be slow, it may be that the orders have exceeded the number of Shoppers available.
7. Bad Weather
When the weather gets really bad, like heavy rain or snowstorms, Instacart sometimes stops deliveries to keep everyone safe.
And even on less extreme weather days, Shoppers have to be extra careful when driving on slippery roads, which can slow things down.
So, if you order groceries on a super rainy or snowy day, be ready for possible delays. Safety comes first.
8. Stores Are Low On Inventory
Instacart is also slow when stores are low on inventory. Shoppers have to wait to complete your orders if grocery stores are out of stock.
This is out of the control of Instacart or the Shoppers. Sometimes, the slowdown is because the stores don’t have enough products in stock.
9. Shopper Can’t Located Your House
If your Instacart order seems to be moving slowly, it might be because the shopper is having a tough time finding your place.
This can happen if the shopper is new or not familiar with your neighborhood, leading to possible delays in the delivery.
10. The Instacart App May Have Glitches
Instacart is slow when the app is having glitches. Occasionally, this problem may occur. The truth is that Shoppers are unable to pick up your order when Instacart is glitching.
To fix this issue: First, try reopening the app. If that doesn’t work, you can fix it by clearing your app’s cache or updating the Instacart app.
That should sort things out and get everything back on track.
Tips For Customers Speed Up Orders On Instacart
Here are the simple steps to follow as a customer to receive orders faster on Instacart:
- Place orders at the best times: Make your orders before weekends and peak hours.
- Make orders in advance: During holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve; which are busy times, it’s a good idea to order your groceries a week or two ahead to avoid any delays.
- Give clear instructions to Shoppers.
- Make use of Priority Delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Average Time For Deliveries On Instacart?
On a normal day, a grocery order can be delivered to you within two hours. But it may be longer if the order was placed during peak or rush hours like around 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
What Are The Minimum And Maximum Delivery Time On Instacart?
The minimum delivery time is 45 minutes and the maximum delivery time is five(5) hours on Instacart. But the average is 2 hours. Factors that can delay an order for about 5 hours are bad weather and stores being out of stock.
What Are The Best Instacart Alternatives?
The best Instacart alternatives for gig deliveries are Walmart Spark, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Amazon Flex.
Manuelo is an entrepreneur and a personal finance nerd. He is the founder of Dollars And Freedom. An expert in side hustles, online gigs, and everything about making money. His works have been featured on major financial publications, like Business Insider, GoBankingRates, Investopedia, Entrepreneur, and more. When he’s not busy with his blog or writing for others, you’ll catch him hanging out with loved ones or reading books on stoicism and self-development.
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