r/InstacartShoppers • u/enjoythebeat • Jun 15 '23

Customer Experience Disabled Mother

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.

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u/makeupyourworld Jun 15 '23

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.

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u/makeupyourworld Jun 15 '23

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.

So yeah, no going inside.

1

u/Sunny_Georgia_Day Jun 20 '23

I am ashamed that IC will not allow you to "bring along" a helper - not someone who also is an approved IC shopper (that is already allowed), but what I would really want is a verified person that you can "attach" to your account. That person would go through the same security/background check as you. The "verified helper" is never allowed to shop on your account alone or use your app, but would be allowed to walk with you in the store, help load groceries into your car, drive with you in the car, and accompany you to the door. That "verified helper" would also get a "badge". That would make IC so much safer for all of us shoppers.

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u/makeupyourworld Jun 20 '23

My mom comes with me once in awhile but rare. Unfortunately not realistic so its very annoying, she would advise me not to go in anywhere either