I’m physically disabled and have issue shopping due to bone tumors all over my bones (poly ostotic fibrous dysplasia with mccune albright syndrome). It hurts to live, walk, lift, exist, etc.
I’m also on what is essentially a keto diet to help keep my diabetes in the “pre-diabetes” state.
I use Instacart to help me survive and eat. It helps me not burden others and helps my independence.
Groceries are becoming more and more expensive. This is particularly true if you’re on a special diet like me.
Delivering five or so bags of groceries or a few larger (but essential) items can be like $150-200 on Instacart per trip. Then, when I check out, Instacart recommends tipping $40+?
That seems insane to me. Like $20 for that amount seems about right? Maybe throw in an extra $10 if I have some heavy things or items that are large in volume.
Should I be tipping $40+ dollars?
Fucking insane. Instacart is being miserly by not paying their workers a fair wage.
Just to be clear - tipping culture in restaurants is a big social issue that will be hard to fix… but… Grocery delivery had no tipping culture pre-instacart! They’re just cheap assholes.
Instacart is being miserly by not paying their workers a fair wage.
Instacart is paying their workers fairly. It’s just that the driver is not an Instacart worker.
They’re not employees, they’re contractors. And when you, the customer, place an order, they are now your worker as you’ve entered into a contract with this person. They aren’t working for Instacart or the store, they’re working for you. And you’re the one who pays for their time and labor, that all comes out of the service charges on your order.
That’s how all these apps work. They don’t get paid anything by the app, they get paid by you through the app.
This is simply a company using legal distinctions to shift the blame. These delivery drivers should be employees of the company. Besides, tipping is not topical for traditional contractors. Any payment is agreed upon ahead of time in the contract, and payment is made in accordance with said contract. Tips never enter into it.
