• Instacart

Instacart

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Overview

Instacart has a rating of 1.2 stars from 2,477 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Instacart most frequently mention customer service, credit card, and grocery store problems. Instacart ranks 134th among Grocery Delivery sites.

  • Service
    597
  • Value
    560
  • Shipping
    401
  • Returns
    408
  • Quality
    498
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 1.1%
Positive
1
Neutral
1
Negative
91
455
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How would you rate Instacart?
Top Positive Review

“Convenient Grocery Delivery Service”

Rekhmir S.
4/2/24

Instacart offers a convenient grocery delivery service, allowing me to shop from my favorite stores without leaving home. Whether I need fresh produce, pantry staples, or specialty items, Instacart delivers everything I need with reliable service and fast delivery. I appreciate the flexibility of scheduling delivery windows and the option to communicate with my shopper in real-time. Instacart has become a lifesaver, especially during busy weeks

Top Critical Review

“Bad customer service”

Mike K.
9/14/24

I had to wait on hold for 35 minutes before the problem with my order was addressed. The shopper delivered someone else's order. I'm not upset about that - nobody is perfect. What is outrageous to me is the time I had to spend on-hold waiting for a person in the "delivery mistakes" deptartment to get on the line. The person who answered my call was not allowed to take care of the problem, whether rescheduled delivery or refund, so I had to be punished with a long wait on the phone. When the wrong order delivered person finally got on the line, they rescheduled my delivery for tomorrow and promised some discounts or free delivery or something else because I had a hard time understanding what she was saying. For all the money I spend in a year with Instacart, I would expect far better customer service than this!

Reviews (2,477)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (654) credit card (194) service fee (172) delivery fee (136) grocery store (110)
Thumbnail of user donn123
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 2nd, 2020

Mistakenly given to me by the delivery person. That cost me $43 extra for a little convenience. $6.21 for tip. $9 delivery fee. $6.21 service fee. $6.64 tax plus a 20% increase in the price of all items. Take my advice: Shop for yourself if money is an object! It will cost you around 33% more to use instacart.

Thumbnail of user mog7
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 25th, 2018

The driver never speaks English and is always lost! I never get my order on time! The first time it happened I gave 3 more chances, only because I have 2 babies at home and can't always go shopping with them but, they still screwed me over! I'm disgusted with Instacart I will never use this "service" ever again!

Thumbnail of user lindar890
Texas
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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April 12th, 2020

I decided to give this a try and they failed on their first try! They delivered to wrong house, did not tell me they delivered items so who knows how long items (including ice cream) were sitting at my neighbors house! Once they saw that most of what I ordered was not going to be available, they should have provided an option to postpone my order. I had not used them before so after the umpteenth text saying item was "refunded" from order, they need to have a guideline to say do you wish to continue? Why would I want to pay an average of $1.00 per item delivered? That's what it ended up being by the time my order got pared down to only six items! When my neighbor guessed it was for us and delivered it, the order had stuff we did not even order! I have zero interest in using these people again. I only wish I had read the reviews first!

Thumbnail of user chrystynac
Texas
1 review
2 helpful votes
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November 4th, 2018

High prices for items and service, shoppers sent to worst stores in the area (as opposed to my own), stores are always out of the things I need and send me close to expired items and old produce and they can't hit a delivery start or end time since September to save their lives. This appears to have started when the in-store shopper idiocy was implemented. They just don't CARE. And for the premium prices they charge they should.

Thumbnail of user danielm3946
Illinois
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 20th, 2022
Verified purchase

Long time customer of Instacart, the platform works well enough when it works. But today I encountered a fun issue, I paid my yearly subscription and instacart locked my account. I called the support number and for over an hour was given the run around. End result, they can't help me and there's nothing I can do. Final result I'm out $99 and my only option is to pay another $99 for a new subscription...

What really bothers me is that I use instacart to support gig worker types. I purposefully tip high to try and help those that aren't as well to do as myself. All those drivers now lose $20 - $100 per week worth of my tips. I fear deep down that Instacart's lack of support has lead to a drivers baby not having a Christmas.

Tip for consumers:
Order direct from the stores, most of them offer free delivery and it's actually the same delivery people that gig for instacart.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user jond91
New Jersey
1 review
6 helpful votes
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March 10th, 2017

We also are new to using them and was surprised they charged us more for items that arrived clearly marked for less on packaging. We called and they stated we are paying their prices NOT the store prices and that seems to be totally unfair and a rip off. They state they charge and initial fee of $130.00 and will adjust that price after products are delivered. That in itself should have been a sign for us that something isn't right. I've never had a company charge me more before receiving an item. So to have to pay more on items clearly marked down is totally inappropriate.

Thumbnail of user rosew394
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 7th, 2021

Instacart open the flood gate to let any and everybody work for them and it has become a rat race. The pay ×mileages × order size has become ridiculous. Customer service sucks,. Customer lies and instacart takes their side no matter how much proof you show. Them. It also makes it bad for you and you see any batches even though they are plenty available. They will show you asinine batches in Hopes you will take them.no real customer service to talk you. You get tricked I'm to taking orders where a person orders 4 cases of water and no elevator but they live on the 5th floor... it's not worth the wear and tear on your car.

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Thumbnail of user lorik96
California
1 review
9 helpful votes
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May 1st, 2017

This is the biggest fraudulent company EVER! I used them once, with NO notice of signing up for a membership, and they charged me $149 fee the next month! I didn't catch it until a month later. I have been on hold with their "customer service" for 52 minutes now! Ridiculous! DO NOT USE!

Thumbnail of user dougm441
New Hampshire
1 review
6 helpful votes
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April 13th, 2020

This service is a rip off. I paid my initial $9,99 monthly charge for free delivery. 9 days went by with no order delivered. It takes days to get a delivery window then nobody shows up. Then you get another promise for delivery with the same result, no show. Plus they put a $340 hold on my account to cover my order. This hold has not been lifted even after I cancelled the service. Good like trying to get customer support. It's non-existent. STAY AWAY!

Thumbnail of user rachelk586
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 15th, 2021

Order placed and paid for. Driver made decision to turn around and not deliver due to road conditions but would not respond to questions via text. Called instacart who would not change the order back to a pickup so we could actually get our order and thier refund policy is 7-10 days. They would not discuss or help.

Will never use this service again.

Tip for consumers:
Don't use Instacart.

Products used:
I didn't recieve my order and will change to a different grocery store

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Value
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Thumbnail of user job552
New York
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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November 20th, 2023

I mistakenly subscribed when I was putting in an idea while visiting my son. Instacart is not available where I live. I called was put through to subscription dept. explained and was told that since I got free delivery I could not get a refund. I told her I'll gladly pay for any benefit I received but I literally had the service less than an hour. I explained that I was older and sometimes things like this are difficult, she told me to have someone read the policy to me, and I was rude and hung up, prior she told me there are no managers for that dept. called again, was disconnected, sent email revived response no one manna the email go to app. Did a chat they said I couldn't get back my 106 dollars for my 7 dollar benefit. Refused to give me any information regarding the management of the company.

Products used:
None

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Thumbnail of user jimc1206
New Jersey
1 review
1 helpful vote
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August 6th, 2021

In the last month they left 2 paper receipts with my groceries that was approximately 40 percent LESS than what they charged my credit card. I called instacart and they said the shopper was not supposed to leave a receipt with my groceries. Now I know why. They are ripping people off big time! One store receipt was for $110 and they charged $175! Never using them again. Doing on line pick up at the store.

Products used:
Groceries

Service
Value
Shipping
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Thumbnail of user kimk1163
Oklahoma
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 18th, 2023
Verified purchase

Instacart guesstimates your total and adds 15%. Not just that but with the fees, delivery (which was supposed to be $3.99) tip and god knows what else. They used my debit account and charged $175.00!
My paper receipt said the total came to $111.46. Instacart's online total was $150.36! My banking account still said -175.00. I called Instacart to complain and basically customer service said that's what it is and that it will take seven days to return the difference and still were charging the $150.36. So basically they charged me about $40.00 for delivery! I WILL NEVER, EVER USE INSTACART AGAIN! They should be investigated!

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Thumbnail of user traceyh21
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 20th, 2019

I used instacart to supply groceries for my granddaughter while she is in college. Whatever your total is (in my case $69.00) your bank account will be billed an additional $85 that will tie up your money for days. So, my $69 cost was really $154.00, $85 of which was "pending" and therefore unusable by me for days. Stay away from them and yes, their customer service is overseas.

Thumbnail of user alexc158
Texas
1 review
10 helpful votes
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November 7th, 2016

We decided to try out instacart to prepare for a busy week. Almost half of our Central Market order was incorrect. After talking with Elizabeth, Aaron, and David in customer service for over 30 minutes, they refused to issue me a full refund, even after admitting they provide a full delivery service and "dropped the ball" on my order. I will not be using this service in the future.

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Thumbnail of user robertm7684
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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February 14th, 2023

Instacart is ripping off the elderly and disabled. There is no customer service. It's all about their revenue. I finally got resolution by telling the company executives and a few board members that I would go to the news and all senior citizens agencies to complain. Still will never use them again.

Shipping
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Thumbnail of user cecilr11
Illinois
1 review
1 helpful vote
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November 11th, 2017

If only the shoppers were better trained and the customer service could handle the amount of business they have. It seems like there i an issue with every order I place, especially with Mariano's. Their apps are unreliable and the excuse I hear every time Have to call, which I do as a last resort, is "our apps are not working". Why is it that I see my order status on line and your shopper doesn't reply? Why is it that your shopper doesn't respond to messages, or that you don't name your shopper? I understand Jewel is developing their own shopping service and I'm there. Thanks for the memories, Instacart.

Thumbnail of user shirleyl758
Hawaii
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 5th, 2022

I also found a Costco receipt in my order. My ground meat was $27 and instacart charged me $32! On top of everything I bought they upped the price they still added on a delivery fee and a automatic 15% tip. Will never use them again. This company is a rip off!

Thumbnail of user jacquelyna9
California
1 review
4 helpful votes
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June 17th, 2018

My total was $174 for the food including the $5.99 delivery fee. I was planning on leaving the driver a good tip until I noticed that instacart charged me $230. They took $56 extra dollars just "in case" they needed to substitute other items. I cancelled the whole order and was told it could take 3 days for me to get my money back. I have a broken foot and can't drive, now I can't feed my family

Thumbnail of user edwardc70
District of Columbia
1 review
5 helpful votes
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May 20th, 2016

I have no problem paying more for groceries through Instacart. For me, it is very valuable to have groceries delivered to my home. However, Instacart has terrible customer service, unlike Peapod and other food delivery services. If you have any problem with an order they make it very difficult to get "live" help.

They also do a terrible job of updating their site with the current inventory from the stores. I order items on the site, only to be told by my shopper that the items haven't been sold by the store for more than six months. It's a total waste of time to develop a $400 order from Costco only to discover - in a call from your shopper - that more than half of the items are unavailable! Ridiculous!

Get competent Instacart.

Thumbnail of user edisonb23
Florida
1 review
5 helpful votes
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November 23rd, 2022

No different than any of the other services out there...everything's fine while you're making large orders that carry larger tips with them. As soon as I tried to make a smaller order: delays, rescheduling, redistributed to a different delivery driver altogether. They're no different or better than any of their competitors. Cancelled membership after only a few uses.

Thumbnail of user xyu796117
New York
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
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June 29th, 2023

I ordered food by Costco.com since last Saturday. My credit card was approved. But later instacart Cancelled it said May be fraud. I filed a form per their request and attached my driver license and credit card picture since last weekend. Now it's Thursday, still locked. Nobody contact me. I called Costco.com on line order Dept and each time was transferred to Insracart. Each time was told we're put it to highest priority to unlock the account or ask me reset up an account with Instacart directly then I can order food right away. But I just want to use Costco.com and I want to see how long they can unlock my account.

Thumbnail of user laurag352
Georgia
1 review
1 helpful vote
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February 6th, 2019

Unless you like throwing money away, this is a waste. They overcharge for the groceries. My shopper accidentally left the Kroger receipt in the bag so I was able to see what the groceries actually cost. After the fees, tip, and up charges, this "special" service cost me $45.11! I am not that busy or lazy. Kroger click list has a service that will do the same thing for me except that I have to drive by and pick up the groceries. They only charge $4.95. I will be using that in the future. Instacart horrible. I will never use them again!

Thumbnail of user juliag174
Ohio
1 review
18 helpful votes
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April 2nd, 2020

First order was not right and took forever to get it corrected. Since still in quarantine, tried again, once credit came through. This Second experience was much better, but still not sure if I'll use this route again. Nevertheless, wanted to give stars where due.

Thumbnail of user kathleeng1069
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 24th, 2021

First time using this service, no wonder it's free. I totally got the wrong order, the customer service person was nice, but his accent was incredibly hard to understand. Then, instead of truly making it right, by working extra to give me what I ordered, they offered me a credit... um, no why would I try this service again? They also offered me a refund, which I took. Do not use this service if you are depending upon the items you order

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Instacart delivers groceries from local stores in two hours. Choose from stores like Whole Foods Market, Target, Costco and Petco. Try us today for free.

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