Instacart shoppers say they face unforgiving metrics: 'It's a very easy job to lose'

[Chili]

4. It's the only way I grocery shop now

Most times I don't have a problem, but...

(1) I don't use my fridge's ice-maker, so I get bags of ice, enough to last a week. My ice has been left at the store 3 times. Grrr.

(2) No offense, guys, but the men shoppers sometimes don't know where to find things, or pick lettuce instead of cabbage because they don't know the difference, etc. But not all - some of my best, fastest, most accurate shoppers have been men, even young ones.

(3) I know it's not a fun job, and it's usually a 2nd job because it's needed, but a few times I've had some really unfriendly or just plain snippy shoppers. I never rate for that reason - no point, and to me, snippiness is not worth making a job loss possible.

(4) The worst thing to happen was 2 weeks ago. Didn't get my food at all, and it was reported delivered. I was furious, somebody got $65 worth of free food. Now THAT I made a big stink about - you just dropped it off at the wrong address? Worse, I know the street it went to - I watch the GPS screen. My food went to someone with the same street name in the next neighborhood, with houses worth 2-3 times more than mine. Apparently they just kept it. I would've said, no, not mine, or, if I weren't home, I'd call InstaCart and tell them, this ain't mine. I did get calmed down when I called - they gave me a credit that included an extra $20.

Anyway, I'm always friendly and talkative to them when they deliver, and even joke with them by cell when they ask a question. The whole thing is a pain in the ass and expensive, but I work at home so it's just so easy to do instead of watching maskless people shop around you.

I like Whole Foods too, but they are even more expensive, at least the food is, and choices are limited.