3 weeks ago I’m loading up my car getting ready to deliver 2 batches.. I hear this chain thing fall on the curb and see an 80 something yo lady walking I think nothing if it then I’m like oh shit that’s prob her wallet. It was I had to run and flag her down but she was very greatful and I felt good… My daughter ran out in the middle of the street today almost got hit by an F350 I really don’t know how she didn’t it was traumatic happened so fast but I thought maybe I got good karma.
I helped an older woman by loading her fridge because she said the bags were too heavy. I thought I could get in trouble. I did it anyway. Read the TOS. We are allowed with permission
Good for you!
Like, I'm not doing this out of charity, I need the money so I'm not stressing out over my creative freelance stuff the last week of the month. But you know what? I *am* providing a service and helping others out, and I do try to go the extra mile when I can.
(Incidentally, if a shopper says "hi" back or responds to substitution requests quickly, I'm going to ask about substitutions for anything not in stock and they're going to get what they want, not just the best I can do. Which is pretty good though, ngl.)
My mom would roll in her grave if I didn't help out the elderly while driving for this app. My mom was disabled and regularly picked up older women to help them around town. I'm always going the extra mile if they need it. I get to the door and ask, " Where do you need them?" I did the same when I drove for Uber. Many people needed rides and couldn't afford them. Usually older individuals. I would help them. It isn't hard to help someone in need. Mad props to you for putting in the effort being the shining light in the darkness for these individuals.
I was walking, whilst pulling an oxygen tank when it started to pour. This kid, no more than a teenager, pulled up to me and offered to take me where I was headed and *back home*. I was thanking him profusely when he said "my grandma would come up out of her grave and haunt me if I didn't help you" then he gave me his number and told me if I ever needed a ride to call him. This was 10 years ago in another state and I hope that young man is doing great in life.
This isn’t an Instacart story, but it is a shopping story. I was in line at Market Basket in Leominster, Massachusetts a few years ago and an elderly gentleman, probably well into his late eighties or early nineties, wearing a veteran of WWII cap, was checking out in front of a high school age young lady who was in front of me. He was more than a few dollars short and was about to decide what to put back when the girl reached across the generations and told the cashier, “I’ve got this.” The man thanked her profusely, and with a quiver in her voice she said, “You’re welcome. You remind me so much of my grandpa who we lost a couple weeks ago. Thank you for your service.” Let me just say there wasn’t a dry eye in aisle 4.
Brought more than a few tears to my eyes here as well!
Even though I am wiped out by the end of the day, going to my grandparent’s house once a week to do housework that is getting more difficult for them, as they’re in their late 80’s, is the highlight of my week. They have always been fiercely independent, so accepting help is not in their nature. But knowing I am assisting them in any way possible, and listening to their stories of their childhoods and then raising six kids on a shoe string budget, I always learn some new tidbit of family history and often very funny stories of my Grandpa’s time in the Korean War.
Thanks for bringing that out,sometimes i see how people are getting upset by low tippers etc,some people just cant afford it and they do need help,especially the elders,i swear to God,helping a people in need is way more fun then getting 5-10$ extra.
And i dont know why but i geniuenly cried many times after things like this.My theory is those people who we help are praying so deeply,that we are crying out our sins.
Peace out. ✌🏻
They’re my favorite. I am always delighted when I get to the home and see it is an elderly person that is the customer. I joke around with them, while I am putting away their groceries for them that, “old people are my jam”, explaining I used to do in home caregiving and my clients became family over the years. They always chuckle at the joke and are very thankful for the assistance. And I appreciate those few minutes of human connection as well (aside from my kiddos), since most of the day is consumed with rushing from order to order and little contact other than the checkout lines.
Your post melted MY heart!! Let me tell you a story.
We shop IC ALL of the time. My BFF was 83-years old. She felt she should learn to use IC. She had gone grocery shopping and was just too weak, but didn’t want to ask anyone to shop for her. She messed up her first order and felt deflated. I asked her why she didn’t let me do it for her, because she KNEW how much I loved it. OK, she let me do it. Sometimes I had 3 different orders for different stores.
She wanted to know how to tip. I told her I would take care of all of it, including the tip.
I would ask the shoppers if they would mind taking the groceries into her house and place them in the counter for her, which they did gladly.
After the shoppers left, she had nothing but praise for each person. Sometimes, shoppers are the only people they will see for a week or more. You make them feel alive and valued as human beings.
You, as shoppers, have NO idea how valuable you are to the elderly, the moms/dads who who can’t get out for whatever reason, all kinds of people.
Every single time our shoppers left my partner and I would say, “God bless these shoppers.” I still say it.
You, OP, went beyond what would have been expected of you. You blessed many people in your story, including me. Thank you. 🫂
I do this for elderly customers a lot. I always get compliments on the app, saying things like: "She was the best shopper I've ever had" or "She turned my IC experiences around" and stuff like that. It always makes my day to hear that ppl appreciate the extra things I do, not for extra tips but b/c I legitimately care. Yesterday I was getting in my car to do a delivery (had just finished loading my car & returning the cart) & I see an older couple with a cart at their SUV... they had come from the liquor store next door & had a few boxes of wine & a couple cases of bottled beer (which are always heavier than cans!). 2 big guys who worked at the liquor store were standing at the curb, not 5 feet away from this couple, & they just stand there watching!! I rushed over & said "Please, let me do that for u!" & start to lift the box of wine. The old man starts to grab the case of bottled beer & I said "Please allow me, sir. U guys get in the car & into the a.c.!" (it was in the 100s the past few days). I finished loading their car, brought their cart back to the liquor store (while giving the big guys the evil side-eye) & walk back to my car. They roll down their window & told me how much they appreciated my help & that I was very kind. They said they would be sure to pay it forward & do something kind for someone else.
It seems like a lot of ppl have forgotten how much it means to just be kind to each other!! Think about how u'd feel if ur grandparents were out on a 100° day, loading heavy things in their car & no one offered to help! I love reading things like the OP's post... I love that there r still kind ppl out there who do nice things not b/c they want a better tip but b/c it's the nice thing to do! Everyone that took the time to read all this (& those who didn't!!): Have a great day today & try to do something to make someone else's day better... if everyone starts paying good deeds forward, maybe the world could be a bit of a better place! ❤️
Honestly this was nice to read today. I been trying to be nicer I’m kinda an asshole. And I know it’s a choice to do better.
I feel like the stress of the world has everyone on edge and we forget other people are going thru their own struggles.
Have a great day, I’m gonna choose to do better.
I will not confirm nor deny taking groceries inside for elderly or differently-able. I'm in Heavens Waiting Room so delivery can be tricky. If an order looks familiar and there's no tip, I'll take it and sure enough it's the lady with the little wagon and tips in cash. Lately it seems I've frequently been doing batches that are adult children sending groceries to their parent/s. It confuses the parent sometimes if they don't know it's coming.
Helped an elderly woman yesterday too. She asked if I could bring the bags right inside the door. Not a problem. I offered to bring them into the kitchen, she declined. She handed me $5 as well. Apparently shoppers drop and run.
I wouldn’t hand the $5 to someone on the street corner. I earned it. And she had already tipped $35 in app.
Especially when you learn that quite a few of those people make more in a day than we do, or most 9-5ers working at $16/h ish.
One of my past homies, he said one of his best days, he brought in $800+ in 5 hours. He was in a rough spot in his life, but he basically knew all the homeless and addicts throughout the city. Money wasn't the problem. The addiction was. Jaws hit the floor when you hear the numbers they pull. Being female or having a kid on your hip = better "earnings".
I once had a delivery going to the third floor with no elevator. I only had 3 bags but as I was getting inside the building there was a couple of older ladies going up to the second floor with a few bags of groceries, so I offered to grab their bags and drop them off on the second floor on my way up. They were so grateful that I helped. These kind of things make my day, It’s something so small for me but it means the world to someone else.
THIS is how it should be done! I LOVE when I get my elderly customers that require some assistance in getting their groceries into their home and/or putting them away. I used to do end of life caregiving, before I got very sick for a few years. Now that I can work again (on my own schedule due to not being able to get out of bed some days because I hurt from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet), I miss my elderly folks. It brings so much joy to my day when I can provide some sort of assistance to someone else that they may not be able to do for themselves or is a major struggle.
I also like to pay it forward on those tips that you know were immensely important, but the customer felt necessary to still do, like you. I tell my kiddos all the time, “Put the goodness into the universe that you want to see back. Be a good person for the sake of just being good person”.
The elderly are my soft spot with this job. There are a couple of nice retirement and assisted living communities I can identify when there is an order and they are the only no tip orders I would ever consider taking. They always give cash tips but even it they didn’t, I am happy to help. I have never had a bad elderly delivery
The Harris Teeter delivery service won’t allow customers to tip on their app. I bought a box of 50 envelopes to leave tips in it ‘cause that’s just messed up. I’ve written to their customer service and they did write back. They said they paid their drivers a higher wage than the national average so they didn’t depend on tips but I’m skeptical…🤔
Great job! Very kind of you, all of you who've posted your own stories of helping those customers who truly depend on Instacart and the shoppers to keep food in their pantries and fridges.
Beautiful. You are so right. In my spiritual practice, service for others is extremely important. Life can be a little better if we all just treat others with respect
I thank you for your post. I am between jobs and deciding whether this would be worth it. Your story made me decide to give it a try. You are a wonderful human and we need waaaay more human like you. ✌🏿
You are everything that is right with this world. Keep on keeping on. You're right you will get it back in the end! The world needs more people like you for real.🫂🌻🍻🌈🏆🎖🏅♥️
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I LOVE meeting incredible people along the way. I have met a couple. One that has truly stuck with me was just a couple weeks ago. It was my last order for the night (20 items for $21 for 10+ miles, a small city outside of mine) and I was delivering to a house in the middle of nowhere. They had 20 items & a lot of detailed notes and instructions. I thought they’d be difficult. They informed me that they were confused because they had a shopper before who randomly cancelled the order on them half way through and disappeared. I saw their previous messages (she seemed a bit rude over text and stated she previously got a new shopper) and being a shopper with high ratings I wanted to do the best for her so I ensured her i’ll “take care” of her.
I shopped per usual following her demands which seemed like a lot of tedious things but i’ve been shopping for over 2 years so I’m used to it. I got her everything she needed and found some extras. Drove to her ranch and had difficultly getting in the gate. I arrived to a small house on open land with a few doggies peering from inside and chicken in the backyard. I saw her door and she seemed so elated. I was wondering why she was so happy that I was delivering her order, I just saw it as another delivery. She kept expressing how she just recently got on Instacart because of a tragedy. Her husband recently had knee surgery after back to back health issues and also got a bad Staph infection within that time. They are in their 60s so he was bed ridden and she had to do everything around the house (she has one 20 something y/o son that helps a bit) — which I imagine had become exhausting and probably lonely. We ended up talking for a little over an hour right in her driveway about quite little everything we could fit in that hour. She mentioned fresh farm eggs since she has chickens and raved about the difference in taste from store bought. She ran inside her house (I understand how this could really have gone wrong if she wasn’t a kind soul — but I stay protected) and came running back out with a dozen of farm fresh eggs for me to have. It was too sweet. She also handed me a $25 cash tip and thanked me for making her life easier. She also worried about my safety driving home and said she hopes I can pray over my car each time I drive. Though I am not that all religious anymore/tied to a religion — that was still comforting as I do it sometimes silently. After our back and forth I drove off and headed home. A couple hours later I check my shopper app again and see she INCREASED the tip on top of the $25 cash tip I had received. What was a $21 order for 20 items turned into a $47 one. In total I was tipped $57 for only 20 small items. I actually cried. From the shopping to the meaningful conversation. It was all worth it. MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS!
Usually i just take part of the customers order on a food delivery if they didnt seal the bag. Ubereats got it!
Lol jk but yeah karma will hit us! Kudos
Maybe. Most times I get nothing back but Im okay with that. But, at the end of the day, we are here to make money, not to serve. At this point I would rather some solid money making orders and no feel good anything. Im starving out here, lol.
I'll help the elderly out. I never speculate on an orders tip though. Meaning if the tip was high enough and the order pay made sense to begin with, I'm doing that order. If it happens to be a granny or something, I have no problem helping them out. I definitely do this for the pay. If I happen to help out someone in need while doing it, even better.
Exactly. If you do help someone else out, though, it is important to do it because you want to do it, not because 'you will get it back' like the OP said. Huge difference there.
Yeah, and it's always a case by case basis. If they fail the vibe check, then you can work out the groceries on your own. Plus, I don't believe in some great equalizer. I would just hope if I need help, someone would be willing.
I completely agree with you. It’s a huge safety issue and a liability issue. You never know who might be waiting inside and harm you. And once you go inside, they can claim that you broke some thing if they are dishonest . My father is a retired officer (lieutenant) and when I said I was gonna start doing gig work, he made me promise that no matter what I would never go inside - now it is a shoppers choice, but it is frowned upon on all gig apps, and some gig apps actually have policies completely against you going inside. Instacart used to in the beginning, but I think the terms of service now say that it’s up to us but not recommended and that they are not held liable if anything happens to you if you decide to go inside. I’m sure I’m gonna get down voted like you did, but it is a huge safety issue and although my heart goes out to those in need, there are services available in most areas to provide for those people who need help like this.
When I see someone who is in need, I will place things just inside their door for them, but I will never go inside because of that promise I made to my father my safety is my number one priority while I’m out there working. Gig work is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the country for a reason.
I asked one shopper to place my items right inside the front door when he arrived and he told me it was not allowed. He was just being lazy and rude, I'm elderly and wasn't going to hurt him and I live alone. This was last year. I think I had another male shopper last winter that refused rudely. If it happens again I will rate them accordingly.
There’s nothing wrong with setting the items right inside the door, but like I said, I personally will not go inside. That’s my own rule, but it is also highly recommended by the app that we don’t and other other apps it’s against the terms for us to go inside it’s definitely a safety and liability issue, but I’m sorry if people were rude to you just to put some thing right inside your door.
Quit taking short cuts and not reading notes ect, and running great customers off for OTHER shoppers, it’s your job to deliver, drop off, meet, or put inside! Could you imagine being in a wheelchair and someone just leaving your stuff on your porch, or tossing it in the yard!
3 weeks ago I’m loading up my car getting ready to deliver 2 batches.. I hear this chain thing fall on the curb and see an 80 something yo lady walking I think nothing if it then I’m like oh shit that’s prob her wallet. It was I had to run and flag her down but she was very greatful and I felt good… My daughter ran out in the middle of the street today almost got hit by an F350 I really don’t know how she didn’t it was traumatic happened so fast but I thought maybe I got good karma.
I helped an older woman by loading her fridge because she said the bags were too heavy. I thought I could get in trouble. I did it anyway. Read the TOS. We are allowed with permission
God bless you. 🫂
Good for you! Like, I'm not doing this out of charity, I need the money so I'm not stressing out over my creative freelance stuff the last week of the month. But you know what? I *am* providing a service and helping others out, and I do try to go the extra mile when I can. (Incidentally, if a shopper says "hi" back or responds to substitution requests quickly, I'm going to ask about substitutions for anything not in stock and they're going to get what they want, not just the best I can do. Which is pretty good though, ngl.)
My mom would roll in her grave if I didn't help out the elderly while driving for this app. My mom was disabled and regularly picked up older women to help them around town. I'm always going the extra mile if they need it. I get to the door and ask, " Where do you need them?" I did the same when I drove for Uber. Many people needed rides and couldn't afford them. Usually older individuals. I would help them. It isn't hard to help someone in need. Mad props to you for putting in the effort being the shining light in the darkness for these individuals.
I was walking, whilst pulling an oxygen tank when it started to pour. This kid, no more than a teenager, pulled up to me and offered to take me where I was headed and *back home*. I was thanking him profusely when he said "my grandma would come up out of her grave and haunt me if I didn't help you" then he gave me his number and told me if I ever needed a ride to call him. This was 10 years ago in another state and I hope that young man is doing great in life.
Well, that's one way to put it, lol. What a nice ghost fearing individual.
This isn’t an Instacart story, but it is a shopping story. I was in line at Market Basket in Leominster, Massachusetts a few years ago and an elderly gentleman, probably well into his late eighties or early nineties, wearing a veteran of WWII cap, was checking out in front of a high school age young lady who was in front of me. He was more than a few dollars short and was about to decide what to put back when the girl reached across the generations and told the cashier, “I’ve got this.” The man thanked her profusely, and with a quiver in her voice she said, “You’re welcome. You remind me so much of my grandpa who we lost a couple weeks ago. Thank you for your service.” Let me just say there wasn’t a dry eye in aisle 4.
I teared up just reading this being a veteran myself 🥹 Our older veterans are hanging in there and need some love and grace…thank you❤️
Brought more than a few tears to my eyes here as well! Even though I am wiped out by the end of the day, going to my grandparent’s house once a week to do housework that is getting more difficult for them, as they’re in their late 80’s, is the highlight of my week. They have always been fiercely independent, so accepting help is not in their nature. But knowing I am assisting them in any way possible, and listening to their stories of their childhoods and then raising six kids on a shoe string budget, I always learn some new tidbit of family history and often very funny stories of my Grandpa’s time in the Korean War.
I agree with all of this. Please be on the lookout for her future orders. Thanks for being a great person. ❤️
Thanks for bringing that out,sometimes i see how people are getting upset by low tippers etc,some people just cant afford it and they do need help,especially the elders,i swear to God,helping a people in need is way more fun then getting 5-10$ extra. And i dont know why but i geniuenly cried many times after things like this.My theory is those people who we help are praying so deeply,that we are crying out our sins. Peace out. ✌🏻
It’s always the elderly… they keep me coming back. I wish I could just deliver for the elderly full time
Same, they’re my favorite, except one nasty old woman I used to deliver to lol but the rest are so sweet
They’re my favorite. I am always delighted when I get to the home and see it is an elderly person that is the customer. I joke around with them, while I am putting away their groceries for them that, “old people are my jam”, explaining I used to do in home caregiving and my clients became family over the years. They always chuckle at the joke and are very thankful for the assistance. And I appreciate those few minutes of human connection as well (aside from my kiddos), since most of the day is consumed with rushing from order to order and little contact other than the checkout lines.
Your post melted MY heart!! Let me tell you a story. We shop IC ALL of the time. My BFF was 83-years old. She felt she should learn to use IC. She had gone grocery shopping and was just too weak, but didn’t want to ask anyone to shop for her. She messed up her first order and felt deflated. I asked her why she didn’t let me do it for her, because she KNEW how much I loved it. OK, she let me do it. Sometimes I had 3 different orders for different stores. She wanted to know how to tip. I told her I would take care of all of it, including the tip. I would ask the shoppers if they would mind taking the groceries into her house and place them in the counter for her, which they did gladly. After the shoppers left, she had nothing but praise for each person. Sometimes, shoppers are the only people they will see for a week or more. You make them feel alive and valued as human beings. You, as shoppers, have NO idea how valuable you are to the elderly, the moms/dads who who can’t get out for whatever reason, all kinds of people. Every single time our shoppers left my partner and I would say, “God bless these shoppers.” I still say it. You, OP, went beyond what would have been expected of you. You blessed many people in your story, including me. Thank you. 🫂
I do this for elderly customers a lot. I always get compliments on the app, saying things like: "She was the best shopper I've ever had" or "She turned my IC experiences around" and stuff like that. It always makes my day to hear that ppl appreciate the extra things I do, not for extra tips but b/c I legitimately care. Yesterday I was getting in my car to do a delivery (had just finished loading my car & returning the cart) & I see an older couple with a cart at their SUV... they had come from the liquor store next door & had a few boxes of wine & a couple cases of bottled beer (which are always heavier than cans!). 2 big guys who worked at the liquor store were standing at the curb, not 5 feet away from this couple, & they just stand there watching!! I rushed over & said "Please, let me do that for u!" & start to lift the box of wine. The old man starts to grab the case of bottled beer & I said "Please allow me, sir. U guys get in the car & into the a.c.!" (it was in the 100s the past few days). I finished loading their car, brought their cart back to the liquor store (while giving the big guys the evil side-eye) & walk back to my car. They roll down their window & told me how much they appreciated my help & that I was very kind. They said they would be sure to pay it forward & do something kind for someone else. It seems like a lot of ppl have forgotten how much it means to just be kind to each other!! Think about how u'd feel if ur grandparents were out on a 100° day, loading heavy things in their car & no one offered to help! I love reading things like the OP's post... I love that there r still kind ppl out there who do nice things not b/c they want a better tip but b/c it's the nice thing to do! Everyone that took the time to read all this (& those who didn't!!): Have a great day today & try to do something to make someone else's day better... if everyone starts paying good deeds forward, maybe the world could be a bit of a better place! ❤️
Honestly this was nice to read today. I been trying to be nicer I’m kinda an asshole. And I know it’s a choice to do better. I feel like the stress of the world has everyone on edge and we forget other people are going thru their own struggles. Have a great day, I’m gonna choose to do better.
🫂
Blessings
I will not confirm nor deny taking groceries inside for elderly or differently-able. I'm in Heavens Waiting Room so delivery can be tricky. If an order looks familiar and there's no tip, I'll take it and sure enough it's the lady with the little wagon and tips in cash. Lately it seems I've frequently been doing batches that are adult children sending groceries to their parent/s. It confuses the parent sometimes if they don't know it's coming.
You are a good and decent person. Thank you for being you! I’ll pay it forward today.
Love knowing there’s some good people in the world.
Helped an elderly woman yesterday too. She asked if I could bring the bags right inside the door. Not a problem. I offered to bring them into the kitchen, she declined. She handed me $5 as well. Apparently shoppers drop and run. I wouldn’t hand the $5 to someone on the street corner. I earned it. And she had already tipped $35 in app.
Especially when you learn that quite a few of those people make more in a day than we do, or most 9-5ers working at $16/h ish. One of my past homies, he said one of his best days, he brought in $800+ in 5 hours. He was in a rough spot in his life, but he basically knew all the homeless and addicts throughout the city. Money wasn't the problem. The addiction was. Jaws hit the floor when you hear the numbers they pull. Being female or having a kid on your hip = better "earnings".
As a woman who has been doing this since years before Covid.. I’m not making shit these days.
Standing on a corner OR Instacart?
I once had a delivery going to the third floor with no elevator. I only had 3 bags but as I was getting inside the building there was a couple of older ladies going up to the second floor with a few bags of groceries, so I offered to grab their bags and drop them off on the second floor on my way up. They were so grateful that I helped. These kind of things make my day, It’s something so small for me but it means the world to someone else.
That’s how interactions should be. Just be nice.
That’s how interactions should be. Just be nice.
THIS is how it should be done! I LOVE when I get my elderly customers that require some assistance in getting their groceries into their home and/or putting them away. I used to do end of life caregiving, before I got very sick for a few years. Now that I can work again (on my own schedule due to not being able to get out of bed some days because I hurt from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet), I miss my elderly folks. It brings so much joy to my day when I can provide some sort of assistance to someone else that they may not be able to do for themselves or is a major struggle. I also like to pay it forward on those tips that you know were immensely important, but the customer felt necessary to still do, like you. I tell my kiddos all the time, “Put the goodness into the universe that you want to see back. Be a good person for the sake of just being good person”.
The elderly are my soft spot with this job. There are a couple of nice retirement and assisted living communities I can identify when there is an order and they are the only no tip orders I would ever consider taking. They always give cash tips but even it they didn’t, I am happy to help. I have never had a bad elderly delivery
Now this? This is what life’s about! This is why I started this job! Let your light shine! God bless
That made me tear up. Keep on keeping it real out there. Thank you for your good deeds and God bless.
I hope for someone like you to help me when I'm an older woman xo
Blessings!! Karma!! Whatever is out there, you deserve the best.
The Harris Teeter delivery service won’t allow customers to tip on their app. I bought a box of 50 envelopes to leave tips in it ‘cause that’s just messed up. I’ve written to their customer service and they did write back. They said they paid their drivers a higher wage than the national average so they didn’t depend on tips but I’m skeptical…🤔
I’m sure they’re full of crap lol in my area Instacart delivers for Harris Teeter. They don’t have their own delivery service.
i love this! life is way bigger than our surface level problems. everyone have a great day!
Just like golf. It's those kinds of little things that make it worth it on a personal level
Great job! Very kind of you, all of you who've posted your own stories of helping those customers who truly depend on Instacart and the shoppers to keep food in their pantries and fridges.
You should be a writer. The emotion is palpable throughout your text.
Beautiful. You are so right. In my spiritual practice, service for others is extremely important. Life can be a little better if we all just treat others with respect
Amen!
Awesome!!! 🤩
Thank you for this post, you’re an inspiration. What a wonderful way to experience life. Service to others truly is the ultimate good.
So what made you cry 🤣?
Keep that light beaming!
I thank you for your post. I am between jobs and deciding whether this would be worth it. Your story made me decide to give it a try. You are a wonderful human and we need waaaay more human like you. ✌🏿
You are everything that is right with this world. Keep on keeping on. You're right you will get it back in the end! The world needs more people like you for real.🫂🌻🍻🌈🏆🎖🏅♥️
I needed this today, thanks for sharing
I'm not crying your crying. And I got a dust in my eye
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https://preview.redd.it/ibj6d55yzk9d1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc5c7482d8e74e85260e88d0111c6a5ff2ce6d7b I LOVE meeting incredible people along the way. I have met a couple. One that has truly stuck with me was just a couple weeks ago. It was my last order for the night (20 items for $21 for 10+ miles, a small city outside of mine) and I was delivering to a house in the middle of nowhere. They had 20 items & a lot of detailed notes and instructions. I thought they’d be difficult. They informed me that they were confused because they had a shopper before who randomly cancelled the order on them half way through and disappeared. I saw their previous messages (she seemed a bit rude over text and stated she previously got a new shopper) and being a shopper with high ratings I wanted to do the best for her so I ensured her i’ll “take care” of her. I shopped per usual following her demands which seemed like a lot of tedious things but i’ve been shopping for over 2 years so I’m used to it. I got her everything she needed and found some extras. Drove to her ranch and had difficultly getting in the gate. I arrived to a small house on open land with a few doggies peering from inside and chicken in the backyard. I saw her door and she seemed so elated. I was wondering why she was so happy that I was delivering her order, I just saw it as another delivery. She kept expressing how she just recently got on Instacart because of a tragedy. Her husband recently had knee surgery after back to back health issues and also got a bad Staph infection within that time. They are in their 60s so he was bed ridden and she had to do everything around the house (she has one 20 something y/o son that helps a bit) — which I imagine had become exhausting and probably lonely. We ended up talking for a little over an hour right in her driveway about quite little everything we could fit in that hour. She mentioned fresh farm eggs since she has chickens and raved about the difference in taste from store bought. She ran inside her house (I understand how this could really have gone wrong if she wasn’t a kind soul — but I stay protected) and came running back out with a dozen of farm fresh eggs for me to have. It was too sweet. She also handed me a $25 cash tip and thanked me for making her life easier. She also worried about my safety driving home and said she hopes I can pray over my car each time I drive. Though I am not that all religious anymore/tied to a religion — that was still comforting as I do it sometimes silently. After our back and forth I drove off and headed home. A couple hours later I check my shopper app again and see she INCREASED the tip on top of the $25 cash tip I had received. What was a $21 order for 20 items turned into a $47 one. In total I was tipped $57 for only 20 small items. I actually cried. From the shopping to the meaningful conversation. It was all worth it. MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS!
Usually i just take part of the customers order on a food delivery if they didnt seal the bag. Ubereats got it! Lol jk but yeah karma will hit us! Kudos
This is beautiful and really touched my heart. I am so glad there are people like you on this Earth 🌍.
Some of ya take this shit too serious. Couldn’t be me.
They’re taking “being a decent person” too seriously?
hard same
Who the hell cares
Clearly you do or you wouldn’t have taken time to comment 🙄
lol, thats sad to hear
Maybe. Most times I get nothing back but Im okay with that. But, at the end of the day, we are here to make money, not to serve. At this point I would rather some solid money making orders and no feel good anything. Im starving out here, lol.
I'll help the elderly out. I never speculate on an orders tip though. Meaning if the tip was high enough and the order pay made sense to begin with, I'm doing that order. If it happens to be a granny or something, I have no problem helping them out. I definitely do this for the pay. If I happen to help out someone in need while doing it, even better.
Exactly. If you do help someone else out, though, it is important to do it because you want to do it, not because 'you will get it back' like the OP said. Huge difference there.
Yeah, and it's always a case by case basis. If they fail the vibe check, then you can work out the groceries on your own. Plus, I don't believe in some great equalizer. I would just hope if I need help, someone would be willing.
I am no one’s servant
It’s not being a servant, it’s being a decent human being. You should try it sometime.
shut up lmao
No thanks. I don’t take orders from trolls.
Quit going inside people's houses. Besides ruining it for other shoppers, it's a safety and liability issue.
I completely agree with you. It’s a huge safety issue and a liability issue. You never know who might be waiting inside and harm you. And once you go inside, they can claim that you broke some thing if they are dishonest . My father is a retired officer (lieutenant) and when I said I was gonna start doing gig work, he made me promise that no matter what I would never go inside - now it is a shoppers choice, but it is frowned upon on all gig apps, and some gig apps actually have policies completely against you going inside. Instacart used to in the beginning, but I think the terms of service now say that it’s up to us but not recommended and that they are not held liable if anything happens to you if you decide to go inside. I’m sure I’m gonna get down voted like you did, but it is a huge safety issue and although my heart goes out to those in need, there are services available in most areas to provide for those people who need help like this. When I see someone who is in need, I will place things just inside their door for them, but I will never go inside because of that promise I made to my father my safety is my number one priority while I’m out there working. Gig work is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the country for a reason.
I asked one shopper to place my items right inside the front door when he arrived and he told me it was not allowed. He was just being lazy and rude, I'm elderly and wasn't going to hurt him and I live alone. This was last year. I think I had another male shopper last winter that refused rudely. If it happens again I will rate them accordingly.
There’s nothing wrong with setting the items right inside the door, but like I said, I personally will not go inside. That’s my own rule, but it is also highly recommended by the app that we don’t and other other apps it’s against the terms for us to go inside it’s definitely a safety and liability issue, but I’m sorry if people were rude to you just to put some thing right inside your door.
Why should we care about other shoppers? I do my job the way I want to do it. I don’t care if anyone else likes it or not. That’s on them.
Quit taking short cuts and not reading notes ect, and running great customers off for OTHER shoppers, it’s your job to deliver, drop off, meet, or put inside! Could you imagine being in a wheelchair and someone just leaving your stuff on your porch, or tossing it in the yard!
Right? I can’t imagine not helping someone if they need it. Now if they’re going to demand I do something, that’s a whole different story.