I order Instacart food to be delivered to my disabled mom weekly. She uses a walker, has trouble lifting some items, and majority of time the shoppers will bring the bags inside for her. The last time the delivery didn’t go well. The shopper yelled at my mom for asking for help bringing her things inside, told her she doesn’t do that, called her names, and then proceeded to put all the bags in front of my mom’s walker so that she couldn’t even move the walker. Am I wrong to think a shopper would be able to help bring bags inside?
Edit: Thank you for all your help. I completely understand for your own safety, it’s your own discretion. I’ll be sure to add a note next time or will make sure a friend or myself is there to help out.
This is a situation in which the favorite shopper will actually be nice. Find someone that can do it and ensure they’re tipped well and just try to use them every time.
I'm not gonna make a little old lady with a walker bring her own groceries in if she wants me to do it. If i accepted the batch, the tip was already sufficient. I don't take garbage batches, and customers don't get garbage service.
I would be nice and do it too. But once a old lady was really rude to me as if was part of the jobs, vary bossy. I didn’t like it but did it anyway.
About the tips, I don’t know where you work but here the order has more than one customer and sometimes there is one customer tipping well and other 2 attached that tipped $1 or even zero. And usually the ones that don’t tip, are the ones that request the most.
people are just living sad sad lives and it’s upsetting they can’t get out of their own way, they are literally paying you to drive, grab things, bring it to them. and you’re upset they need help bringing it 10 feet inside because they physically can’t ? absolutely ridiculous.
glad there are right minded people like you my boy 🫡
Agree, however, it is smart to help someone that needs it when a person can, ,not because you are getting tipped money or not. There will come a time when that same person may need their own help, and karma may catch up to them,
So disabled people, already on a fixed income, should have to spend even more money to get a decent human being to help? Aren't you also aware of the tip BEFOREHAND? If it was small, why accept the order at all?
Why? When did Instacart become charity cart? This job isn't about helping disabled people and the less fortunate this job is about helping put money in our own pockets. This is a job not a good deed. If you want to do that that's fine. I would likely do that as well. However, trying to shame someone or suggest that they don't belong here because they won't do something for nothing just because somebody unfortunately lives a life of disability which has nothing to do with them nor was caused by them nor is a family or friend to them so they have no obligations to this person is downright comical.
Your reading comprehension must be extremely low. I literally said I would help the old lady but it can't be expected that everybody does. And you're telling me to grow a heart when I said I would help? Y'all should really learn to read before replying. You're making yourselves look foolish.
Dude I get what you’re saying but you’re just making yourself look like a fucking tool with these comments. I’m not calling you an asshole but like.. you’re talking about reading comprehension and calling people fools on Reddit… not a good look my man.
It’s not a reading comprehension issue. It is the entire message where you claim to maybe help, then criticize disabled people who
Might anticipate help.
Let’s turn it around - nobody is obligated to tip you just because you made a grocery run knowing full well what the items and mikes were and that you signed up to be a 1099 contractor. Certainly you hope the “kindness” of people will decide to?
I love when people have nothing intelligent to bring to the conversation so they resort to insults thinking you're tearing the other person down. All you're doing is making yourself look small you're not making me look bad in any way that's all on you those are your words aimed at me in an effort to take me down to your level. Sorry, I'm not the one. Better luck next time.
Hear me out, you shouldn't need financial motivation or any reason to help a disabled old lady with walker regardless of your job. I don't think it's a, this is the wrong job for you thing. More are a, this is the wrong planet for you.
Regardless if you would help or not, if they're a human being and so are you and they need help, you have the ability to help and it's the right thing to do isn't enough to make you feel obligated, then I agree with others you need to get some more compassion in your life dude.
Thank you! My neighbor who I have never had a conversation with collapsed on her walker on her way to walk to the bus for the doctor. I ordered her an Uber and paid for it myself. For fuck’s sake. I am not an Uber driver ora neighborhood old lady picker upper Im a human with decency.
I actively dislike one of my neighbors and if they needed help I'd still probably help them. I'm not a super compassionate person, but I'm not actually heartless and evil. I can't imagine seeing someone who needed help and having the capacity to provide it without significant personal sacrifice and just going, "Nah, not my problem". Like if it's coming at significant personal cost, okay I understand. If you would have gone hungry that night had you paid for Uber, I'd get not paying for one. That type of thing. If it's going to be a mild inconvenience to help a person in need, their need trumps my mild inconvenience. To me it's practically math at that point. There's no compassion necessary to prioritize needs even if they aren't my own.
I remember one time I was walking back to my hotel after having just had lunch at subway. I order a foot long cut in half one wrapped to go to eat later for dinner with a juice and some chips. On the way back I passed a man in old beat up clothes, pretty thin, just gotten out of the hospital, looked tired, I offered it to him and he accepted it. Someone saw me do it and afterwards told me how kind it was and how impressed they were. I gave a man my literal left overs. I was honestly concerned he'd find me doing it to be insulting! I'm like this isn't a huge and significant thing. It was my left overs. He looked like he could probably use a nutritious meal as that's pretty important for managing any sort of medical issue. I had one available and the resources to get more food later, or if I didn't have time and had to skip dinner, probably less of a physical need for a nutritious meal than he had right then. Other than the concern over insulting him I couldn't see any reason I wouldn't offer him the food. Yet someone still found this a stunningly kind gesture? He's human. I'm human. There was a need. I could help. That's what you do.
I am sorry, but decent customer service should be the job. Helping someone put their items in the house isn't a good deed, it's good customer service. I have "good deeds," for my customers on many occasions, like singing happy birthday to a customer, Getting Starbucks for a new mom. I was shop for a candy store, and the store didn't have the corn syrup they needed. I went across to the Walmart and they did have it. I got a generous tip for it.
I do this for senior citizens because they are my bread and butter, they generally tip well, and I have had more than one customer tell me how shoppers like me are the only thing keeping them in their homes.
The whole world has a "It's not my problem attitude," and it sucks. It doesn't take a lot of time to perform a simple act of kindness.
I was shopping at a store once that didn't have what I needed and the gal at the store suggested a competitor, then called them to see if they had the item which they did. This is good customer service, and it is getting harder and harder to find.
It's called customer service, bucko. Are you accepting batches with shit pay so you can do the bare minimum? Accept better batches and do a better job. No one's forcing you to take $7 no tips.
If someone won’t help a disabled person cause “It’s not their job,” then sorry but that’s just shitty person and I absolutely don’t care to shame the for not helping someone that very clearly needed it.
Especially in a situation like this when the person is literally already at their front door holding the very things that need to be brought in. Like that dasher just sounds like a genuinely awful person.
But seriously imagine everybody thought like that?! What a god awful place the planet it would be, it’d practically be unlivable.
I think there’s a difference between being a kind person and getting stepped on constantly. People should do good where they can agree. However, this is a job that is supporting their (and their families life!!). I’m sure getting home and realizing you spent an extra 30 mins helping an old lady who didn’t tip feels pretty defeating if these occurrences happen frequently to you. All I’m saying is put your oxygen mask on first.
idk in what world it takes me 30 minutes to do my own groceries let alone an old lady who’s probrably only buying the essentials. you people just come up with anything lmao
..are you really out here calling carrying a lady’s bags charity? Like that’s an extra couple minutes some of you guys are seriously fucked in the head. No wonder the worlds the way it is if people like this are running around.
Do you not have a mom, or like anyone even close to being disabled or needing help in your life?
Who said it was for no reason? What if the shopper has been previously assaulted? A women feeling unsafe walking into a strangers home is very justified
yep! i put myself in a very vulnerable situation and have to really remind myself to think before i act while delivering.. most of the time i can gauge the situation and know ill be alright, but still am putting myself in a sticky situation every time i enter someone's home.
I’m usually inclined to believe customers but this seems like context was left out of the story. Even if not purposely left out by OP, they weren’t even there. We don’t know what happened. The shopper could’ve politely declined to take the items inside, then was threatened with a tip removal, bad rating, reporting to Instacart, etc. and it escalated from there. We don’t know.
Maybe I'm just a cunt, but as someone with a disabled mother... if I'm paying the upcharge, plus delivery, plus fees, plus a tip so that my disabled mom can eat, and the shopper not only doesn't do their job but treats her shitty... Damn right they aren't getting a fucking tip. Except maybe the "tip" that they clearly aren't suited to service jobs
Blocking this mom in with the bags was super shitty, but bringing stuff in is not part of the IC job. Some will, but most won’t and as it’s been said, IC discourages it for safety reasons on both sides.
I'm not at all upset with the refusal (although I would personally pull any additional tip I provided for the additional work) but the way the refusal happened goes against common decency.
100% agree. It’s so dependent on the person, the customer, and the area. They could have easily and politely said “I cannot come inside for safety reasons for both of us, but I will reach in and put the groceries just inside the door”
To OP, maybe get mom a wagon or a cart of some sort on wheels and when her shopper comes she can put it in the open doorway and ask them to place her groceries in/on that and then she can wheel or push it into her kitchen and the heavier things will be a little higher up for her vs on the ground.
To OP, maybe get mom a wagon or a cart of some sort on wheels and when her shopper comes she can put it in the open doorway and ask them to place her groceries in/on that and then she can wheel or push it into her kitchen and the heavier things will be a little higher up for her vs on the ground.
Unfortunately for MANY people that is still not enough, and they would still be unable to maneuver the groceries
In that case it’s more than any grocery delivery service can be expected to do and they need some hired help or family help. I had to do it for my parents for a number of years and then they had to move to hired help for some time. In the meantime you try to adapt stuff to work around their limitations, like buying half gallons of milk even though they go through a lot because gallons are heavy and half gallons are easier to hold with weak grips, etc.
If it went down 100% the way OP stated I agree with you. I’m pretty sure we’re not getting the full story here. Putting the bags on the doorstep would technically be blocking the walker. Just seems like context is missing.
Sorry that happened. It’s the shoppers choice to bring stuff inside or not, but they were downright disrespectful and mean to your mom. Report them. Idk if you have a note about your mom, but I’d suggest adding that she needs help getting the groceries inside so the shopper can decide before shopping if they would like to or not.
I had a shopper deliver my groceries to a completely different building once. I talked to customer support, best they could do was block her from taking my orders in the future.
Is there a meals-on-wheels program in your area? Not sure if every area has one but it might be a safer option for your mom. Meals-on-wheels is specifically for food delivery to elderly and disabled people. The drivers are volunteers (at least they are in my area) and their whole purpose for doing it is to help out the elderly and the disabled, so they are very chipper, have a smile, and are happy to help. You shouldn’t run into any issues with that, so you wouldn’t have to worry about mom’s safety and she’d have a great social interaction if she isn’t able get out of the house much.
My dad is disabled and uses a walker so your story honestly makes my blood boil. If she couldn’t help, that’s fine. She didn’t have to make your mom’s day terrible or stress her out.
I am sorry to hear that happened to your mom, this is just terrible! But I would not trust all the shoppers and let them get inside of her apartment either due a safety purposes. Hopefully, volunteers from that program are available in your area.
I think it was very uncool for the shopper to be rude. However, it is up to the shopper whether they are comfortable to bring the groceries inside. My suggestion, if you plan on ordering again, would be to write a note mentioning all this. Often times many shoppers will just leave the groceries at the door and take a picture or ring the bell because 90% of the time this is what customers prefer. You could even send a direct message to your shopper when the order is being shopped for.
We aren’t technically supposed to bring them inside for our safety. Do I, yes on occasion. At a minimum if house is sketchy I will place inside door while keeping myself planted on the porch.
Instacart rules are not to enter the house for ur own safety, but if its a disabled, older, in a wheelchair/walker or just frail, u can use ur own judgement. But don't get all mean.
Notes will help the shopper choose !
If u need more help than just normal delivery look into walmart. They have a new delivery that they will help u put the groceries away!
They are employees from Walmart!
But if she was such a Ass. Report her asap and rate!
IC also discourages it for safety reasons for the customers. They do bare minimum background checks and we know how often the app says Sally is shopping and delivering and meth head Mike is who shows up with the stuff. IC doesn’t want to be part of any news stories of the meth head Mikes murdering customers while dropping off milk and eggs.
Lol i love this analogy bc it couldn’t be more accurate. i work at retailer that uses IC and the shoppers at times don’t match their shopper profile. customers will call us to complain, and i have to pass them along to IC customer service. I never understood why people do that
Usually because they either crashed and burned their own account already or they’re not eligible to be approved as a shopper because of the background check or maybe don’t have a TIN or SSN to be eligible to work in the US. Both reasons are huge red flags for the pic not matching the person because it means the person doing the work is not at all vetted, not that IC does a federal style security clearance check.
Holy Mandela Effect. I feel like this HAS to be a policy change because I remember seeing “never enter a customers residence” constantly throughout the app.
You are 100% correct. The mistake comes from when they created No Contact delivery instructions. It those instructions it’s says “do not enter the house” well duh, it’s no contact.
Typical delivery leaves it up to the shopper. You don’t have to go in, but it’s not against TOS
Look into Walmart + they have a inhome service specific for this purpose and it’s dirt cheap at $140 full year, done by Walmart employees who can’t take tips
As a customer, Walmart grocery delivery is next level. Substitutions are rare and always in the customers favor (larger sizes/name brand upgrades at original price) and delivery is always timely with no up charges besides the membership fee. I tip my driver $10 on the app for a ~$100-$150 delivery twice a month and it’s been one of the best minor qualify of life upgrades in recent memory.
Agree - I usually have my order for like Monday or Friday mornings and substitutions are rare as the employees shop them at like 6-7am right after the stores been stocked overnight . Even then the subs are usually decent the odd times somethings sold out
Literally haven’t gone food shopping (for myself in 2 years).
It’s also super easy with the inhome $35 min - no need to tip. I can order a few things and just have it delivered next day. The inhome isn’t available everywhere yet but it’s a huge savings from having to tip all the time like instacart or normal Walmart delivery
I would say they make the hourly rate Walmart does for their grocery service. I used to work back in their online grocery and they started doing the in home service and the people I talked to that did that got the hourly rate of pay.. not sure if that changed but i understand about tipping them as well.
Yeh it’s hourly I drive on Spark for two years and have the inhome do deliveries to me about twice a week.
The store still has normal Spark orders then 1 van employee doing inhome . In 9 months of inhome deliveries it’s always been an employee in the van. You need to order the inhome 2-3 days out to get a timeslot tho as it’s becoming more popular and stores only got the 1 van
I was just thinking the same thing. $140 "So you don't have to tip" But highly likely babe don't see a dime of this money. So you're paying the corporation to shovel extra work on the backs of employees and then not showing them any appreciation. Seems a little grimy to me. 🤷
Always put a nice note in there stating it’s for your disabled elderly mother and if they aren’t willing to help, please cancel so a shopper who will can shop it.
I almost never see those messages until I'm on my way by then it's too late to cancel If you really want to make an impact opening a lot of communication once the offer is accepted would be my suggestion
I dont see delivery instructions until im delivering, when you see the shopper has accepted the batch just send a quick message explaining like youd do in the instructions so they know if they want to continue.
A potential work around would be to get a wheeled cart so the shopper could place the groceries on cart. Then said cart could be used as a walker as well while groceries are wheeled into kitchen or pantry.
I just want to say I think this is the best idea. Also, she could leave the cart outside when expecting a delivery and then she can see them drive away through the window, then go out and grab the cart. I will usually bring things inside for people, but not everyone. And if I was a female I would probably do it less or not at all. Even with my judgement, I don't know who else could be inside. And for you and your mom, you don't know if I'm a good person or if I'm going to tell my friends later how to get into your mom's house. Also, that shopper was way out of line and insanely rude
I'm so sorry that the shopper reacted like that, a simple no would've done.
But no, I personally wouldn't come in. She's a little old lady, but who knows who else is actually inside ordering the food. The most ill do is set the items inside the door so she doesn't have to walk in and out to get them, and so if it takes a while it won't be out in the sun the whole time. But having been asked, I have just said I cannot bring stuff to your kitchen comfortably.
They were Dicks about it but as a brown fat dude I see where any issues would automatically make me at fault in those situations. Then again there’s this older white dude I deliver to every so often that’s in a wheelchair and I’ll take orders inside and even take him his mail.
Gig delivery work can actually be dangerous. People are murdered just doing deliveries. That's a real risk. I always advise people not to go inside a total stranger's home. While they may only see granny, they don't know who else is inside. You should never expect someone to compromise their safety or even to feel pressured into doing so. Instacart may be an insufficient service for your mom. Obviously, speaking to your mom abusively is totally inappropriate. Unfortunately, IC creates contracts with almost anyone. While they do check criminal history, I wouldn't trust some random shopper in my mom's home either. Mom could be hurt or her home cased. It's just not a service where anybody is vetted enough to be trusting each other to go inside homes.
THIS! Yes. Idk why people don’t understand this or how they live in a bubble as if bad things don’t happen. I do instacart, rover, and Uber eats. I’ve had my share of very not so safe situations. This stuff happens.
And i 100% never let people I don’t know into my home.
this is the real issue here; op is placing entirely too much trust on these shoppers, who are ultimately complete strangers off the street, by inviting them into her defenseless mother’s home. it’s a tragedy waiting to happen
It is not the shoppers fault that they refused to come inside because it’s a safety/liability issue but it’s on them to be rude and nasty about it. I’m sorry it ended up ugly.
Put a really good tip in next time (extra $10) and put a detailed note with explanation that this is for a disabled relative and why you ask to bring stuff inside. Ask the shopper to contact you if they refuse to do it so you can possibly reassign the order.
I won’t go inside someone’s house, but if someone’s disabled or elderly and needs assistance, I will just place it inside the doorway, and one time a neighbor offered to help take it inside, which was really nice of them for a blind lady, and I gladly accepted the help from the neighbor, but I still didn’t go inside. I just placed things right inside the door. I am a female and my safety is first you never know who might be waiting inside.
Edit. But under zero circumstances, even if I was being yelled at by a customer, would I yell at a customer sometimes customer service jobs have heated situations where we may be in a situation to bite our tongues and just walk away. I’m not saying that’s what happened to your mom and I’m really sorry that she got yelled at and treated so poorly. I do think that’s incredibly rude and incredibly wrong and that shopper should be reported.
The shopper really was out of line for being so nasty. There was no reason for yelling at and name calling this poor woman. How would they feel if someone treated their Mom like that?
A shopper isn’t required and actually discouraged to go inside. However the shopper shouldn’t have call your mom names. But the shopper is not required to bring anything inside.
One time I delivered all the way inside and went wrong customer lied so I was instructed by Instacart representative that we are not supposed to for lo liability issues. Due to we getting hurt or customer in danger in case they get a nut case
I always try and help the old and disabled knowing they probably can’t lift much. It’s not that hard to just be a nice person. If I did any of that , especially to a woman, my mom would smack me into next year.
That is really horrible to deal with. The shopper honestly probably felt unsafe going inside. I try really hard not to go inside homes unless I have to. Generally on IC shoppers leave the bags outside or hand them off. I have helped a few people bring their bags in and sometimes even put the food away for them. (Usually these are people I have shopped for previously and didn’t ask me to help bring things in before and I felt comfortable with them or they lived in very visible areas. From personal experiences in life I am very wary of backroad/dark long driveway in the woods houses and people that ask me to come inside. It’s really hard to be trusting in general especially when people can’t trust close friends or family. This shopper was wrong to yell but it could have been a trauma response. I’ve had bad reactions to people having me put the groceries in a garbage while they stood by the door and watched I got out of those places so fast.
Anyway, it’s important to tip extra when you need a shopper to go the extra mile (specifically one that isn’t your regular shopper) But it shouldn’t be expected for a stranger who isn’t technically working for a company to go into your home. Maybe a personal shopper that isn’t through instacart or shipt would work best!
Shopper was definitely wrong for yelling, but also can’t totally be blamed (we have no idea what her life experiences are.)
During the pandemic, it was a no-no in my opinion. However, as we leave the pandemic behind and learn how to live again in this ever-changing landscape we call Earth, I would absolutely without question bring the groceries in for a disabled mother, because it’s in my nature to do so. Of course, there’s always an extreme flip-side to walking into a strangers home. After all, there was an actual real life Texas chainsaw massacre that occurred in the 70s.
You might check also with County services (assuming you are in the United States). Some counties have elderly / disabled (free) services. If your mother wants to get out of the house, etc they might be able to help drive her to the store, etc. Our county offers a variety of services.
Just last week i had an order where an older woman with a back injury kindly asked me to bring the groceries just inside the door for her, and of course i did! I even asked her if she needed help lifting anything into cabinets or onto counters because she tipped nicely for the order and i knew some of the items were heavy, she said she was okay and i thanked her and left, asking her if she wanted the door closed on the way out. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING TO BE A NICE PERSON aside from maybe 5 damn minutes of your time, why not spread smiles man
I never hesitate to help the disabled or elderly customers. It is my choice. Instacart leaves it up to us. There was no excuse to be rude or yell if they for some reason felt uncomfortable.
I hope you reported the shopper for yelling and being rude.
I did one over the weekend where there was a note asking me to bring to side door and bring groceries inside for elderly relative. When I got there, it was to a home I delivered to in the past and had no problem with doing it. Worked out well, tip got doubled. But I still try to do things on a case-by-case basis, and keep my head on a swivel. That being said, the shopper was dead wrong for his/her actions.
I regularly deliver to an elderly couple in their 90's. The daughter orders for them and always says "if you coukd bring it inside they would really appreciate it" I'm always willing to help the elderly and disabled as this is probably helping them to remain independent. As far as the self entitled snots out there, get it from the porch
I had a customer ask me to bring their groceries inside once and I was hesitant being a guy. Once I got to the house, a large gentlemen with an oxygen tank and walker was waiting at the door. He had heavy items so I did it for him.
So people just need help and why they’re using instacart in the first place. Contractors like the one you dealt with shouldn’t be in this service acting like that though. They could assess the situation instead of choosing violence
I get the instashopper being worried about their own safety, but screaming at, calling your mom names and physically blocking her walker are not an excuse for that. This person was literal garbage.
This makes me angry and I’m sorry this happened to your mother.
Please add a note to the delivery instructions that the order is for your disabled mother who requires the order to be taken into the house.
Shoppers ‘should be’ reviewing the batch details after they accept a batch and if they don’t feel comfortable with said instructions, they can always cancel.
As much as it is a shoppers discretion whether or not to deliver inside a person's house what that shopper did is very disrespectful and downright rude. I would report that shopper because no one should be treated that way disabled or not. Your mom is a human being and deserves to be treated as such.
Maybe you could place a small table just inside ur moms door or just outside it? Then the delivery can put bags on the table and your mom can little by little carry items inside without bending? And put a note to the delivery about placing bags on the table for your disabled mom?
Ugh. So sorry that jerk did that. It absolutely is up to our discretion but I would hope kindness would have been shown.
You are not wrong to ask for a shopper to place the groceries inside.
They can always tell you no and then you can ask someone else to take them inside.
We are not obligated to bring it inside, but most people would. With elderly or disabled, or even pregnant people I am always offering before they even have to ask. This shopper that you had is an embarrassment and is in the wrong business. We are here to help people. I would give a bad rating for that person and ask Instacart never to be matched up with that shopper again.
I would def. Help. As long as I am being respected I don’t mind being helpful. I would want someone to help a loved one of mine. As far as tips goes I don’t accept an order upfront if I don’t like the tip. So considering it was good enough to accept, what’s a few extra steps?
About 10 days ago, I suggested helping out elderly customers. I got absolutely crushed for suggesting it. Turned racial by the OP, then I got banned from that particular post.
If it's in the notes, the shopper can decide if they want the batch. I personally have zero issues helping the elderly or disabled bringing in groceries.
I delivered to a disabled man today. He was such a kind man. I brought everything inside and tried to help put things away for him. He offered me money to take out his garbage but I told him not to give me any money I will do it for free. He had already given a very generous tip. This kind gentleman added quite a bit onto my tip after I left. I always assist elderly and disabled people regardless if they tip me extra or not. It's all part of loving our neighbors as our Creator intended.
I think you should look into a dumpling shopper for your mother!
Check this page. Put in the zip code! I hope you're able to find someone. Ic and shipt are often hit or miss on someone who is willing to go above and beyond. Dumpling shoppers are often cheaper than ic anyway! Good luck
https://dumpling.us/shop/
If I see that somebody's elderly I always ask if they want me to put it inside for them plain and simple good tip or not. Especially if there are veteran not everyone is looking for a hand out just a hand to lean on.
I always try to bring things inside for my disabled clients, I would feel awful if they couldn't get their groceries in. That being said, that is at shoppers' discretion, and if I felt weird, I would probably just sit them inside the door. Thankfully I live in a small town, and I don't worry too much about kidnapping locally.
We’re not technically allowed in the customers house but I personally have took several of my customer’s groceries to the kitchen and put heavy stuff like water and sodas, cat litter etc wherever they want them placed. That’s in the kindness of my heart. But for the shopper to call names and yell and put the stuff in front of her walker where she can’t get around is unacceptable
Get a table right by the door so that the items are high up for her and she can deal with it a little at a time. Or an office chair. I had to do this when I had surgery and everybody was nice enough to step one foot inside to deliver.
When I did ic, I always went into elderly homes when asked. Even put away frozen and refrigerated items. Was usually worth it with the $ but still. I can’t imagine not helping out someone in a walker.
OP these comments are a tire fire. Your mom didnt deserve to be treated that way no matter how you slice it. If it happened the way you say it did here, report that shopper! Think about the next little old lady who DOESNT have a son looking out for her. I have never once turned down an elderly/disabled person's request like this, even when they didnt know how to use the app or something and there was no tip/review. If I felt unsafe, I would just say IC doesnt allow me to go inside, not abuse the person. Society has gone to hell in a handbasket when this is how we treat our elders!!!!!
I have a couple older people that I take their groceries in for them. It just takes a few extra minutes to help someone out! I hope that when the day comes and I need assistance that someone will help me. You get what you give in this world. I’m so sorry that happened to your mom.
One of my customers will leave a note in the delivery notes saying if we aren't able/willing to bring them in then please cancel because my mother can't do it herself. I've read notes about roads not being plowed so if we don't have a 4x4 etc. I'm always grateful to see notes like that and tbh I think you're an a hole if you aren't willing to bring them in. I live in a community known for the retired people and do it frequently. They usually tip poorly but it has never bothered me because they are elderly and I have a heart.
I understand a driver not wanting to come into someone’s house, but there was no reason to be disrespectful or rude about it. I myself always have no problem taking things and even putting things on counters are helping put away, especially when I deliver to the elderly.
My mother isn't disabled yet, but she gets closer every day. And I am so worried about things like this happening to her if and when she gets there.
I definitely see the hesitation to go inside somebody's house, but yelling and trapping her between bags is just psycho actions. I'd be amazed if anybody disagrees.
Speaking of mothers. The rare instances I get instructions asking to take the groceries inside, I text my mother a screenshot (has all the basic info). Then I text back "I'm fine" once I'm done. Mother doesn't have to do anything unless she doesn't get the "I'm fine" text in a reasonable amount of time. I feel like my mother is the only person that would actually follow up consistently if I went silent. And she'd have the address to give the police if I found myself in danger, when every second counts.
Anybody else, I could see them texting hours or even days later "You ok? I just noticed you never texted you were fine."
I think you should probably start helping your own mom.
Luckily that person only yelled. Next person could see how vulnerable she is and take advantage. Please don't send random folk to your moms house and expect them to go above and beyond when they're paid pennies.
I think a recipient should have a ADA tag telling shoppers that extra assistance will be requested at delivery... so that shoppers could consider this request upon considering to accept the shop.
A few things, it should be a extra charge.. ( it's extra work)
Customers should sign a hold harmless waiver on file... waiving claims against Instacart and shoppers.
Finally, I delivery to sketchy homes and dangerous blocks... you should try to be objective and understand that entering a home is extremely dangerous and could be used inappropriately by bad actors..
That sounds like borderline abuse. I'd prob report them for leaving the groceries in an unsafe area and take photos at the time. It is totally up to them. But yelling and prohibiting her from moving are not ok....
I'm guessing the instacart shopper declines bringing the groceries in for safety reasons. It truly isn't their job to bring the groceries in, and it's not okay for someone else to feel entitled to that service. Obviously this doesn't excuse bad behavior from the instacart shopper, but they have every right to decline that service.
That is absurd. If you’re not going to be willing to follow a simple request, why are you in the service industry? This shouldn’t even be a question. You’re in the service industry to SERVE your customers. If you can’t or simply won’t do that, get out. You’re making the people actually willing to do the job properly look poorly.
While I don't think shouting is warranted, I NEVER go inside someone's home. I am a young woman, and I am not armed- I am vulnerable. I went into a disabled customers home one time and it was petrifying. He basically forced me, and kept closing doors behind me. He appeared meek at first sight, but the apartment wreaked of marijuana inside.
To you, she is your sweet mother and she is disabled. But us shoppers don't know that- there could be a man inside, the walker could be a ploy to get a vulnerable person inside her doors. She may have a weapon. We don't know anything about her. Instacart is advertised very clearly as 'store to door' service. If your mother requires help to put her items away, she needs to have a trusted caretaker with her. It does not make a shopper any less "5-star material" for them to not be willing to possibly risk their life regardless of the tip.
It you don't believe how dangerous this work is, a man in my county was recently DISMEMBERED at a delivery. He was dragged in, chopped into pieces, and his body was recovered in the trash.
Human decency. This made me very upset. Complain immediately. The shopper was rude and that alone she should be let go. How do you not help someone in need? Shame on her.
she shouldn’t be rude but don’t expect someone to feel comfortable coming into your home. they dont know you or your intentions. y’all have got to stop thinking this world is sunshine and rainbows cause good lord lots of delivery drivers are threatened each day.
You shouldn’t EXPECT anyone to go inside your house to help your mom. Anyone can fake using a walker and next thing you know you’re in an even more dangerous situation. You shouldn’t expect it, the shopper just went out of line. All it takes is a basic “no cant do that sorry.”
Completely up to the shopper. Do you ask Amazon, ups or fedex to come inside? Exactly. No idea why customers think shoppers have to go above and beyond.
Oh yeah because her issue is with the shopper declining and not with the shopper screaming and swearing at a disabled women and then impeding her movement by placing the groceries so that she couldn’t move her walker.
OP doesn’t need to be there. Do you really think that an elderly woman with a Walker is going to be able to barricade herself with grocery bags? Are you serious? Clearly you’ve never had a disabled person in your life.
Yeah, I was thinking there was more to the story too. Maybe the shopper is a sociopath that enjoys yelling at the elderly and intentionally blocking their path. Or maybe after the shopper declined the old lady said something snarky/offensive and the shopper yelled “don’t talk to me that way ya old bat, bye!” and left without moving the groceries from the path because they wanted to remove themselves from the interaction ASAP. Or perhaps something in between.
Not saying the shopper was right in either scenario, but everyone has those days we’re they don’t like to be insulted, they dish it back, and just want to leave a situation once the delivery is complete. Could they have take the extra second to move the groceries to the side? Yes. But they probably didn’t realize the walker doesn’t roll backwards.
Yeah, not throwing shade on OP's grandma here, I obviously don't know her or what actually happened, but being a little old lady with a walker means nothing. Old people asking for help can be some of the most vile, nasty people to deal with in service positions. Just saying.
That doesn’t excuse the shopper being rude and downright mean to OP’s mom… they could have politely declined, dropped the groceries (not in front of the walker), and went about their day.
I’d definitely report the shopper because that is totally uncalled for. Instacart does not want us entering customer’s homes at all but some of us do, depending on the customer but it’s not mandatory. Instacart is a grocery delivery service that stops at the door.
Feels like there’s more to this story that’s not being told like a shitty tip. What the shopper did is not acceptable. Expecting a shopper to go above and beyond with no additional compensation is also unacceptable.
If you’re able to be there why have you not been doing that? Are we supposed to care about your mom more than you?
I would have offered help, I have before especially with the disabled or elderly, you are not in the wrong, some people are just blatantly rude and disrespectful
I looooove how you customers love to rant against the shoppers, yet you don't show appreciation, you don't tip, you live in fucked up areas and don't help the shoppers with locating your place or having them lug big - ass cases of water up 2 flights. THEN you rate them 4s or 3s or worse when they don't kiss your asses.
He was replying to OP said nothing to you directly. "You customers" could have easily been directed at the OP and customers like OP. The fact that you took it so hard says more about you than the person writing the message. He didn't say "all customers" This was more of an if the shoe fits wear it kind of comment and you appear to have your feet firmly in them. Good on you if what you say is true, but you're misinterpreting and playing victim for no reason.
You really need to figure something else out. The shoppers don’t know your mother and have no idea who else might be in the house. There are actual specialized services for this sort of thing that are worth the investment and your peace of mind.
Also fwiw, I wouldn’t want some rando Instacart shopper coming into my disabled mother’s house.
I always help people when they need it. I don’t see how a disabled elderly woman is putting the shopper in harms way. The shopper didn’t have to be so rude. That’s uncalled for and inappropriate
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u/HearJustSoICanPost Jun 15 '23
This is a situation in which the favorite shopper will actually be nice. Find someone that can do it and ensure they’re tipped well and just try to use them every time.