Shipt, a delivery service company, was founded in 2014 and has its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. It enables customers to order groceries and household items conveniently through their application or website. Conversely, Instacart, established in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, offers a comparable service. It permits customers to buy groceries using their application or website.
When discussing Shipt vs Instacart, it becomes essential to take various factors into account to determine the more suitable choice based on individual needs. While they share similarities, there are distinctions in how they operate. Assessing these aspects is essential to make an informed choice about which service better suits your preferences.
Grocery Shopping and Customer Satisfaction: Shipt vs Instacart
Shipt
Shipt offers a real-time communication feature that allows you to interact with your assigned shopper as they handle your order. This facilitates personalized grocery selection based on your preferences. When using Shipt, customers have the option to pick their preferred stores and select the specific items they wish to purchase through the app. Additionally, Shipt permits customers to indicate their substitution preferences before placing an order. Moreover, you can choose the delivery time for your groceries, all within the same day.
Shipt partners with over 140 retail stores across the United States for their delivery services. Additionally, they engage individual contractors to manage and fulfill user orders. When a customer places an order, a designated Shipt shopper receives the order via the app and proceeds to purchase the listed items. Shipt’s app and website include a tipping feature, allowing users to show appreciation to the shopper.
It’s important to note that Shipt ensures that 100% of the tip amount goes directly to the shopper. The company does not deduct any portion. For customer support, Shipt offers assistance via phone round the clock, seven days a week, and throughout the year. So, Shipt ensures continuous service availability.
Instacart
Instacart offers the convenience of shopping from a wide range of popular grocery stores, local markets, pharmacies, and specialty retailers, all from the comfort of your home. Once you’ve made your store and item selections, Instacart dispatches a dedicated personal shopper to purchase and deliver your chosen items. What sets Instacart apart is the ability for users to specify their substitution preferences before finalizing their order.
Should you require any modifications to your order or need to select alternative items in the event of unavailability, Instacart provides a real-time chat feature within their app or website. Note that it enables direct communication with your shopper.
The designated personal shopper gathers all the items you’ve ordered from the store and personally delivers them to your location using their vehicle. It’s encouraged to show appreciation through tipping when using Instacart. Similar to Shipt’s policy, every tip you provide on Instacart goes entirely to the shopper responsible for fulfilling your specific order.
Bottom Line
In summary, both Shipt and Instacart prioritize delivering a positive customer experience and allow direct communication with your shoppers. However, Instacart’s integrated order tracker feature within the app might sway your choice in its favor.
Membership Costs and Perks: Shipt vs Instacart
Shipt
Shipt introduced a membership plan initially, charging users either $99 annually or $10.99 per month for access to their delivery service. However, the model has evolved, and now Shipt provides a pay-per-order choice priced at $10 per order, allowing flexibility for those who prefer not to commit to a yearly membership. Regardless of your membership status, Shipt is available to deliver your groceries to your home, workplace, or even during your vacation wherever you are located.
Being a member of Shipt comes with certain perks. Members gain access to exclusive in-app coupons and enjoy the benefit of having delivery fees waived for orders surpassing $35. For orders below this threshold, a nominal delivery fee of $7 applies. Subscribers to the monthly or annual plan receive the added advantage of unlimited same-day delivery for orders over $35. However, it’s important to note that orders including alcohol will incur an additional alcohol fee of $7.
Instacart
Instacart offers the flexibility to use its service without requiring a membership. However, for those seeking additional benefits, there’s the option of Instacart+ membership, priced at $9.99 monthly or $99 annually. Membership holders enjoy the perk of free delivery for orders exceeding $35 and receive 5% back on eligible Pickup orders.
On the other hand, non-members may face higher delivery fees, especially during peak hours. For same-day orders exceeding $35, non-members typically incur a starting delivery fee of $3.99, and fees for orders below $35 vary.
For individuals who use Instacart frequently, choosing the Instacart+ membership is highly advised. This membership tier, Instacart Express, ensures faster delivery and reduced service fees, leading to significant cost savings over an extended period.
Bottom Line
Both Instacart and Shipt offer an annual membership priced at $99. The mentionable aspect is that Shipt’s monthly subscription bears a slightly higher cost at $10.99, whereas Instacart’s stands at $9.99. If you envisage utilizing this service every month for a year or even longer, the annual subscription manifests as the economically prudent option over an extended period.
Conclusion: Shipt vs Instacart
When comparing Shipt and Instacart, the best choice depends on your personal preferences. However, there are several factors you can consider to determine which delivery service suits you. Firstly, check if both services operate in your location. You can easily do this by visiting the Shipt and Instacart websites and entering your ZIP code. Additionally, calculate the expenses involved. Determine the costs related to delivery, membership, and service fees to get a clear understanding of how much you’d need to spend for each service.
FAQs
Q1: Are there additional fees for using Shipt or Instacart?
Shipt may charge delivery fees, but they can be waived for orders over $35 for members. Instacart may have varying delivery fees based on the order total and membership status. Additionally, there might be service fees associated with the use of these platforms.
Q2: Can you use Shipt or Instacart without a membership?
Yes, both Shipt and Instacart offer options for non-members to use their services, although membership often comes with added benefits such as free delivery for qualifying orders.
Q3: How do I communicate with my shopper using Shipt or Instacart?
Both services offer in-app communication features, allowing users to chat with their assigned shopper in real time, providing preferences and clarifying order details.
Q4: Which service is better, Shipt or Instacart?
The choice between Shipt and Instacart ultimately depends on individual preferences, location, cost considerations, and desired features. Evaluating factors like available stores, membership costs, delivery fees, and user experience can help determine the better option for each individual.
