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50 Hilarious Pics From ‘Instacart’ Shoppers And Their Customers To Bring A Chuckle To Your Day
FunnyFEB 18, 2024

50 Hilarious Pics From ‘Instacart’ Shoppers And Their Customers To Bring A Chuckle To Your Day

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No matter what your job is, at some point, you’re going to run into some truly hilarious and bizarre situations that you’ll want to share with your coworkers. And the people working at ‘Instacart,’ a well-known grocery delivery company, are no exception.
That’s where the r/InstacartShoppers subreddit comes in. It’s a popular online community that invites folks to share their experiences working at the company, with all of its ups and downs. We’ve collected some of their more amusing moments to share with you, Pandas. Scroll down to check them out.
Marketing psychology speaker and the host of the branding and human nature blogs, Matt Johnson, Ph.D., kindly answered Bored Panda's questions about how newcomers can stand up against grocery delivery whales, and whether there's any advantage to shopping in person anymore. Spoiler warning: there are quite a few! Scroll down for our full interview with the expert.

#1 So I Had A First Today. Take The First Load To The Customer’s Door And Come Back For Another And There’s A Damn Goat In My Trunk Investigating Things

So I Had A First Today. Take The First Load To The Customer’s Door And Come Back For Another And There’s A Damn Goat In My Trunk Investigating Things
Report
402points

According to marketing psychology speaker Johnson, grocery stores are in a difficult spot due to how inflation continues to impact consumer spending on essential items. "However, despite the increasing popularity of grocery deliveries for their convenience, there are still several potential advantages to shopping for groceries in person for the average American," he told Bored Panda via email.

"One key advantage is the ability to personally select fresh produce, meat, and other perishable items, ensuring they meet specific preferences for ripeness, quality, and expiration dates. Additionally, shopping in person allows for greater control over the selection process, enabling shoppers to compare prices, explore new products, and take advantage of in-store promotions and discounts," Johnson said.

#2 That’s A New One

That’s A New One
374points

#3 Tips Pay The Bills But This

Tips Pay The Bills But This
367points

"Moreover, shopping in person can provide a sensory experience that online shopping cannot replicate, such as the ability to smell and touch products, which can enhance the overall shopping experience and potentially lead to more satisfying purchases. Lastly, for some individuals, especially those without reliable internet access or who prefer face-to-face interactions, shopping in person may be a more accessible and social experience."

Johnson noted that it is difficult for newcomers to stand out in the "fiercely competitive" grocery delivery business. "Since Amazon is already an established player, trying to compete on convenience and variety is not a viable option. Instead, newcomers can stand out by focusing on niche markets or specialized products: you don't need to be the best for everything, but, especially in the beginning, you need to be the best at something," he explained to us.

#4 Had A Delivery That Was Just 4 20lb Cat Food Bags This Morning, And Upon Arrival

Had A Delivery That Was Just 4 20lb Cat Food Bags This Morning, And Upon Arrival
366points

#5 Found Kittens While Shopping

Found Kittens While Shopping
352points

#6 The Only Type Of Customer I Like Meeting Me At The Door

The Only Type Of Customer I Like Meeting Me At The Door
Report
348points

"Newcomers can also leverage their relationships with local producers or farmers for fresh and sustainable products, which larger, existing players often overlook. Given the maturity of the market and the strength of existing players, newcomers face an uphill battle, but by going niche—either through their offerings or through their local relationships—new entrants may be able to carve out a distinctive position in the market and attract a loyal customer base." For more in-depth insights about human psychology, feel free to read Johnson's branding and human nature blogs.

#7 Nice Extra Tip Last Night!

Nice Extra Tip Last Night!
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270points

#8 Saw This Guy A Few Doors Down From My Delivery

Saw This Guy A Few Doors Down From My Delivery
252points

#9 When The Customer Stares While You Deliver

When The Customer Stares While You Deliver
247points

The ‘Instacart Shoppers’ online community currently has 164k members. Many of them have lots of stories—from good and funny to bad and downright weird—to share about working at the company. Many of them feature peculiar customer behavior or requests. The subreddit is a window into what life as a shopper can actually be like.

‘Instacart’ was founded way back in June 2012. Over the course of a decade, the San Francisco-based grocery delivery and pick-up service has become well-established in the United States and Canada. The idea behind the service is that personal shoppers get all the goods the customers order from the participating retail shops. 

#10 The Door On This Customers House

The Door On This Customers House
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241points

#11 Rude Customer Gets Equal Treatment

Rude Customer Gets Equal Treatment
228points

#12 Kelly Likes Her Job A Lil Too Much

Kelly Likes Her Job A Lil Too Much
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227points

At the time of writing, ‘Instacart’ has partnerships with 1,400 retail banners with 80,000 stores. In 2022 alone, the company fulfilled a jaw-dropping 262.6 million orders worth $28.8 billion. The average customer order was worth around $110. With so much revenue, it’s no wonder that the company has been expanding.

‘Instacart’ has been gobbling up many different e-commerce-related companies in recent years. These include white-label grocer platform ‘Unata’ in 2018 for $65 million, smart cart and checkout company ‘Caper AI’ in 2021 for $350 million, AI pricing platform ‘Eversight’ in 2022, as well as e-commerce platform ‘Rosie’ in the same year.

#13 Used To Be A Shopper

Used To Be A Shopper
Report
206points

#14 Rough Day

Rough Day
203points

#15 Wrong Item My A**

Wrong Item My A**
Golden Retriever? More like Golden DECEIVER, amirite?
184points

Grocery delivery services have become absolutely massive in recent years. It’s safe to say that they’re now mainstream in many parts of the world, not just in developed nations but in emerging economies, too. According to Statista, 60% of respondents from India said that they used grocery deliveries.

#16 Instacart Support Is So Good

Instacart Support Is So Good
184points

#17 Best Delivery Pic Ever!

Best Delivery Pic Ever!
183points

#18 Slow Day But Great Customers

Slow Day But Great Customers
Report
179points

Meanwhile, according to data collected by Statista, 52% of people living in Mexico and South Korea also use grocery delivery services. Brits are huge on deliveries, as well! A whopping 49% now order groceries. Meanwhile, around 40% of Americans do the same. However, Japan and Switzerland are among the developed nations that still haven’t embraced this shift in shopping. Only 20% and 10% of respondents, respectively, said they use these sorts of services.

#19 Weirdest Comment I've Ever Received

Weirdest Comment I've Ever Received
174points

#20 Met These Characters On A Delivery Today

Met These Characters On A Delivery Today
167points
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