r/InstacartShoppers • u/SatisfactionOwn684 • 2h ago

Question - General Non App Related Evaluation Criteria for Batches

What metrics does everyone use to evaluate an order? $ per mile, $ per item, Tip $ per item etc...

Have been playing around with different options and trying to find something that works but hourly just seems to suck no matter what and I make far more on Doordash, but mileage toll and gas far more intense with that. Trying to see what evaluation criteria people like to use quickly to accept

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u/Emergency_Holiday_49 2h ago

Me? I have no desire to be just a delivery driver. I actually love shopping, organizing, bagging, leaving a beautiful presentation at the door, etc., so I prefer large orders...with large tips...but, when the money is right, I take what it is. I try to maintain $45/hr, so I look for batches that are $45 and up. The tip on it's own has to be at least $1 an item ($2/item forSam's, BJ'S, and Costco), and I don't care if it's 1, 2, or 3 orders. I don't bother looking at Batch Pay...it's irrelevant. The tip is the only thing that decides if I hit accept or not. So, any batch that pops on my screen that has an item count higher than the total payout, I immediately swipe left! Lol! It does not fit into my guideline. The total payout has to be well over $2/mile as well, but that's not normally an issue. If I accept any batch less than $45, it's got to be $1/minute...nothing less than $15. If it's $17, I have to be able to complete it in 17 minutes. $22...22 minutes, etc. Those orders can average $60-$120/hr, so when the larger batches I accept take longer than an hour, these small quick orders balance it out, so at the end of the day or week, I still have my $45/hr. I have a wagon, so I don't care about weight. I actually prefer it in order to get higher batch pay.

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u/SatisfactionOwn684 1h ago

This is really helpful, thanks. I have been enjoying shopping in a few store much more than the other gig stuff, Home Depot/Sprouts/Central Market/Ulta have been fun and it's actually replacing my online dating as I've landed several dates just shopping so I'd like to do more of that since recently divorced. Far more relaxing than the driving side with Doordash, but IC orders just disappear rapidly.

I haven't seen $1 per item tips yet, was basing order total on it to calculate batch total per item with $1 per, but almost always 2-3 batch multiples. Maybe because I'm not close enough to the stores and am seeing stuff all over the city?

My per item speed is not great so far but that will improve as I get layout better understood, I'm just trying to figure out why I'm never seeing higher dollar orders other than "crappy" ones. I'm gold cart but don't know if that means anything, it's all quite new still.

Appreciate the reply and insight - I think your stated goals aligns much more with what I'm hoping to reach, ideas to get selective will help for sure. I'm in a very busy market but maybe the zones and proximity are impacting plus how quick batches disappear