Instacart Shoppers Say the Highest-Earning Orders Are Getting More Extreme, With Demands Like 72-Mile Drives

Instacart shoppers are reporting that the highest-earning orders on the app have become more extreme, requiring them to shop for hundreds of items or drive over an hour to deliver the goods. This change comes after Instacart cut base pay for its shoppers last month, reducing the minimum pay from $7 to $4 per order. Some shoppers are passing on orders that involve long drives or extensive shopping, as the payouts may not be worth the effort and time required, leading some to look for other job opportunities or consider working for other delivery services like DoorDash. Instacart claims that such extreme orders are only a small percentage of batches and that shoppers have control over which orders they choose to fulfill.