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To help out my community as well as pay down some debt and rebuild our savings, I decided to take a part-time gig with Instacart. Well, my part-time gig turned into a full-time one rather quickly.
But as I’m shopping from store to store and making countless deliveries, I decided to tell you what it’s really like being on the front lines as well as sharing some tips for you grocery shoppers.
Here are a list of questions I’ve received over the past several weeks so I’m answering them all on here! 🙂
What’s it like risking your life every day?
It’s an afterthought. Truly, it is. If I worry about what’s going to happen, I’ll never leave and I’ll never get anything done. So, I don’t worry about it. I take extra precautions – I have disposable masks as well as a small army of cloth ones available. I constantly use hand sanitizer after every shopping trip and after every delivery.
I never wear the same clothing two days in a row (that includes jeans and other bottoms; it also includes any hoodies) and they’re always washed. I go through a lot of laundry detergent.
Why go out and work and not stay at home?
To give back to the community and serve those who can’t leave. The majority of my clients are elderly and families. A lot of the families have very small children so they really can’t leave. The elderly are at super risk if they do leave. I’m happy to help.
Doesn’t your family miss you?
Of course! But they also know what I’m doing is for their benefit as well. I have set hours so I’m not working super long shifts. I actually work very early in the morning and try to be done by 3 PM, but sometimes I don’t get home until 5. I also don’t work weekends and do more than 4-5 deliveries in one day. I know some shoppers do up to 10 in a day. They get paid more but they’re also away from home more.
What’s it like going from being working at home to being out in the workforce?
Honestly, I don’t like it. I really prefer to work at home. Reality speaking, I’m doing both so needless to say, my time is still stretched rather thin. Maks currently works from home and we’re both homeschooling Bear.
How long do you think you’ll do this?
I don’t know. Our safer-at-home order (L.A. County) is up on May 15th, but I don’t see the need for grocery delivery to stop then. I definitely won’t do it as much as before, but I see myself still doing it as side income. A lot of Lyft, Uber, and other delivery drivers also work for Instacart. It’s really up to us, the society, how sooner we can get back to ‘normal.’
What are some tips for grocery shoppers?
- There are toilet paper and hand sanitizer available; it’s where you go and when you go. Try to go to stores you’ve never been to or you wouldn’t think about venturing. They are the ones that will have one or both. And go in the early mornings!
- What is not available are yeast and flour; that’s the new toilet paper hoard. It’s becoming very hard to find either one.
- Early mornings are the best times to shop, between 7-10 AM. You’ll probably get all of your groceries and needs.
- Afternoons and evenings are the worst times. Guaranteed there’ll be nothing left.
- I wouldn’t recommend weekends, like at all. I also don’t recommend Costco or Trader Joe’s, unless you want to wait 45 minutes or longer. Those lines are super long.
- If you have to wait in line, bring a book or listen to music. Play a game on your phone. It’ll make the time go by much quicker.
Tips for leaving tips?
If you use a delivery service, please tip your driver or shopper. I’ve noticed some people wanted their groceries or food but didn’t want to tip. No bueno. Workers are going out of their way to make your life easier. No one is asking for a $20 tip, but if you have a heavy order, be considerate of the person doing the shopping for you. If you order free delivery, be considerate of the person making that trip.
While I receive very good tips and I’m very grateful for them, I’ve also had a person not tip at all and it was a waste of time. I’ve also had fellow workers share horror stories of customers not being appreciative of what the workers are putting themselves through to make the customers’ lives easier.
Also, be kind and patient to those making the deliveries and doing the shopping. Sometimes, the store won’t have everything and that’s not something we can control. When you use a shopping service, you’re taking a risk the store will just be out of a lot of things. Always have substitutions available in your list.
We’re all in this together. 🙂
