"Instacart says most of its retailers charge more through its app than in stores..." Business Insider 11/8/23

[progree]

Various excerpts. No paywall.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/instacart-says-most-of-its-retailers-charge-more-through-its-app-than-in-stores-confirming-what-gig-workers-and-shoppers-have-suspected-for-years/ar-AA1jCysr

Instacart says most of its retailers charge more through its app than in stores, confirming what gig workers and shoppers have suspected for years, Business Insider, 11/8/23
,,, just under one-third of the retailers you can order from through Instacart charge the same for their products through the delivery service as they do in their stores, Instacart's CEO said Wednesday. Instacart CEO Fidji Simo said Wednesday that the company encourages retailers to stick to in-store prices.

Gig workers have long noticed the difference in pricing. When a shopper checks out with an order, they usually receive a paper receipt with the in-store prices. The customer, meanwhile, receives an emailed receipt where the prices of items might be higher than on the paper receipt.

An Instacart policy prevents shoppers from giving customers the paper receipt. Still, some customers get ahold of it anyway and realize how much some items are marked up. One customer in Southern California complained on TikTok in July when she realized that Instacart charged her over $500 for items that cost $435 at a Ralph's grocery store ((that's a 15% markup -- Progree)). The difference did not include fees that Instacart charges or a tip for the shopper.

Customers are often taken aback when they see the markups, shoppers have told Insider.

"If I gave all my customers receipts, they would stop using Instacart," one shopper in Oregon previously told Insider.

Having been ill for the last nearly 4 months, I've been using a similar grocery shop and deliver service called ShipT. No doubt its the same there. I can't wait until I'm able to go to the grocery store again. As for these shopping services saving time, that's B.S. at least for me who checks what I ordered vs. what I was charged for and what I got.

Also, on selecting items, they show a picture of the front of the can or package, and I often have to Google to find a picture of the back side or for other information on the product. In the store all I have to do is look at it.