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While on Instacart, there are various stores and opportunities for you to earn from and shop for, and sometimes Instacart likes to put them together to get those orders done. Which is not that surprising, but there are some practices that we need to talk about to keep your ratings high.
So in this article, We are talking about:
EVERYTHING You MUST Know about Multi-store batches
What they tell you vs how it actually is
Everything in between!
Disclaimer: The content of this article does not contain and is never intended to be legal, business, financial, tax, or health advice of any kind, This article is for entertainment purposes only. It is advised that you conduct your own research and consult with qualified professionals before applying anything you find online.
I also want to be clear that everything we are going to go over is very market dependent, and what applies to me and my market may not apply to you.
What is a Multi-Store Batch?
Multi-store batches are a type of multi-order batch that includes orders grouped together for multiple customers from multiple store locations. If applicable, multi-store batches can also be added on to single or multi-batches.
Quick breakdown: Single Batches are 1 “shop and deliver”, or 1 “shop only”. Multi-batches are multiple “shop and deliver” and/or “shop” only from a single location. Multi-store batches are with multiple shopping locations.
Shopping
Preview multi-store batches by selecting a batch with multiple store logos on the Batch Acceptance screen. You’ll see the full trip view of where to shop and deliver on the Head to Store screen.
The annoying part of this is that if you look at the order itself before accepting it, you can’t distinguish which batch is which unless it is SO obvious.
View items in a multi-store batch by selecting the Item Summary on the Head to Store screen. You’ll see item summaries for customers at the first store location on the Head to Store screen while you pick those orders. You won’t see the next store location’s items until you begin picking those orders. You can only view customer’s items for that particular store on the Head to Store screen
I have never been a fan of the select transparency that this company has put in place, like why can I not see which customer ordered what? Like are they afraid that I would unassign the order that seems like the most hassle or the least amount of value?
Not gonna lie, it has been done before. That said, they do have a policy in place that states that you either do it all or nothing. You can’t just unassign one customer.
Let the app guide you through the entire multi-store shopping process. Use the Shopper app’s guidance as you shop and deliver these batches to ensure on-time delivery for your customers. The app helps you stay organized by displaying a letter (A, B, etc.) for each customer’s order. You may see more than 1 location of the same retail location. Not all retail locations have the same inventory, so you must go to all retail locations to fulfill orders in a batch.
This is why I am not a fan of these types of batches. Like to be honest, is this worth your time? Is the amount you would be paid for a batch like this worth the additional headache? I don’t think so.
Maybe if it was like “Publix and Publix Liquors” in the same location, MAYBE but even then.
Keep your vehicle organized by designating different areas for different orders as you progress through the batch.
I usually like to keep one customer's order in the back seat and one in the trunk. Bonus points if you bag them in your own bags and label them to be clear and different.
Be prepared to communicate with customers. Use these suggestions to help you when messaging—
In the app, you can communicate directly to customers when you’re actively shopping or delivering their orders.
Tap the messaging icon in the upper right-hand corner to communicate with a customer. The in-app chat shows the customer’s name and the letter assigned to the order.
To help you stay organized, you can also use item-level messaging.
Once you’re almost done shopping each customer's order, consider letting them know. This way, you can make sure you got everything that your customer needs and minimize issues during checkout.
Review customer chats before checking out to make sure that you didn’t miss any customer messages while you were shopping.
A lot of drivers have different philosophies on this, some like to send an intro text to ensure proper communication and solid ratings. Whereas others like to only communicate in case of a replacement being necessary and ensuring speed and efficiency.
Not to mention how some customers see your communication as an invitation to start adding things to the order. Which for single batches is already annoying, imagine that happening with multiple stores?
Imagine the perishables in the car waiting to be delivered and the second customer add 3 more things to her list? Ridiculous.
Checkout
When possible, choose the least busy lane so you can take the time to stay organized during checkout.
Personally, I would prefer self checkout but that is preference by personality not efficiency. Do what is best for you.
Pay for each order separately and in the correct order (A,B,C). The app guides you through each step.
NOTE: As a reminder, Instacart charges the customer for what you scan into the app, not what the cashier rings up at the register. Although accuracy remains essential, you don’t need to contact Customer Experience when an item incorrectly scans to the wrong order at the register. (Example: Customer A’s item incorrectly rung up with Customer B’s order.) Try to focus on making sure that you place the item in the correct customer’s bag.
In other words, pay for them separately but if you make a mistake and ring up items on other peoples orders, don’t worry you are human. They can fix it on the back end, they just don’t want to get clogged with those kinds of errors.
So don’t make a habit of that mistake. I am sure they could find a way to deactivate or dock you on it, I just haven’t heard anything about it.
Consider keeping the receipts and writing the customer’s name on each receipt. This way, you can keep receipts for each order organized, in case you need to make a return or if the app prompts an in-app receipt check.
I would name and date the back of each receipt, and if you are using multiple shopping apps, write the name of the customer on it. I usually NEVER get return calls, but if I do, I don’t want to be the disorganized one.
Bagging
Bagging orders correctly for each customer helps ensure the correct items go to the right customer. The better you bag, the easier it is to stay organized, and the easier it is for customers to unpack their orders post-delivery.
If you are shopping at different stores, this is a non issue because you will be bagging in different branded bags. That said, I would go into this with some sort of plan.
If possible, prepare extra insulated bags before accepting a multi-store batch.
I would put the customer's order in those bags before going into the next location to keep the perishables cold. Also, as we said earlier, utilize the backseat and trunk to separate orders if possible.
Consider labeling the bags with A, B, etc., and the customer names to organize orders.
My bags have a slot to put a business card sized label in there, and you can put A/B/C etc. You can also label if an bag is cold/hot, heavy/perishable, organization possibilities are endless here.
Just make sure you have the equipment to execute on those plays.
Keep in mind that some store locations do not offer bags (such as Costco).
That is pretty much every wholesale club. I would utilize the mentioned strategies to compensate for that, especially when they order something from the meat section and you don’t want it dripping in your car.
Packing
Stay organized when re-packing orders back into the cart. Once you finish the bagging process, repack the orders into the cart and take them to your vehicle.
Prepare your vehicle packing space. Designate different areas of your vehicle for different orders. Consider using clean bins or boxes labeled A, B, C, etc., to pack your orders into to keep them separated during delivery.
Literally everything I have been saying. Also, I use these collapsible milk crates to keep myself organized and when I am done with the order, I fold up the bags and keep them in the crates to keep organized.
Delivering
Review the order prior to delivery to ensure that all items/bags go to the correct customer. You can review the items in each order by looking at the receipt or reviewing each order's items in the app.
Check your vehicle after delivering to make sure you didn’t misplace any items.
If you are bagging everything and staying organized, this shouldn’t be a problem.
NOTE: Delivery sequence is based on each customer’s requested delivery window. This helps to ensure customer’s orders arrive within the requested delivery window. Follow the route in the app to safeguard on-time delivery.
Which it is usually A B C etc. If you shopped for them first, you are probably dropping it off first.
Host and Leech
Usually I find these orders to be Host and Leech orders. Usually the order isn’t enough to be a good order on its own so they have to attach a decent order onto it to make it somewhat appealing, otherwise it won’t get done.
After all, who wants to Shop for 98 items at ALDI for $8?
I am still a firm believer of #NoTipNoTrip, so I choose not to work with those orders out of principle.
All One Customer
In my market, sometimes I will get an order like this and it’s like Publix and Publix Liquors because they don’t sell certain types of Alcohol in the main store, so they will have you pick up the items in the Liquor side separately, especially when dealing with Alcohol laws.
Or like a Liquor store order on top of a grocery store order, a pharmacy order, etc.
So if it looks like it is all in one customer, that might be the reason. That doesn’t mean you should take it for that reason alone, the money has to make sense but nevertheless, it may not be as much more work as it lets on.
Perishable Management
Sometimes they will have you do 2 full shops on top of each other which means if you aren’t careful you can be leaving perishables in the car!
Which is why I would say if you are a gig worker that prioritizes shopping orders, you might want to consider investing into coolers and ice packs to maintain the cold items, just in case. Especially if your second order has a replacement by a ghosting customer.
Also, this also further proves the point of if a customer decides to ghost you, you cannot waste your time trying to continue to contact them, we have to move. If they have a problem with that, they have to get over it.
Not for Every Shopper
I don’t know if you noticed by the way I said it in the last point I made, but this system isn’t for everyone.
If you are a gig worker that prioritizes shopping, then sure it makes sense, but if you are a gig worker that just has shopping apps and sometimes takes one, then it may not be for you.
That said, having those options means you have a well diversified gig portfolio and you are working on your exit strategy like the members of the Driven Wyld Discord Server are actively working towards and accomplishing.
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Sign up for the tier that best suits your goals, and get started on making the most amount of money in the least amount of time in the safest possible way.
If you would like to add some other perspective to Multi-Store Batches on Instacart, feel free to email me: drivenwyld@gmail.com and who knows? Maybe your email or perspective and be featured in a post as well!
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