Rip Off: Customer Learns She Paid a $77 Convenience Upcharge After Ordering LobLaws Groceries Using Instacart Delivery Service

An Instacart customer orders groceries from Loblaws and finds out the reality of using a delivery service versus going to the grocery store herself. She posted the cold reality in a TikTok video after discovering her delivery driver accidentally left the real grocery receipt in her bag.

credit: @sophiakokolakis on TikTok 

Sophia Kokolakis found out that she is paying way more to order her groceries through Instacart and have them delivered, thanks to the upcharge, and that doesn't even include the tip.

She posted a video to TikTok on 29 September 2023 after she received her groceries from Instacart, and the reality sets in that she just got ripped off.

TikTok Video: Instacart is Making Serious Money with Upcharge for Convenience

In the TikTok video, she says:

"This is honestly the first time that an Instacart delivery person has left the receipt in the bag and my total was $221 and I paid $298 on Instacart...from Loblaws. Damn." -Sophia Kokolakis

She paid about $77 more to Instacart for the convenience.

The video can be seen below.

TikTok video credit: @sophiakokolakis on TikTok 

Comments on the Video

Users weigh in on the video Sophia posted to TikTok. Here's what they said:

• User 'Cat Officially Cat' says, "That's the price of convenience."

• User 'TikTokMadeMeSayThat' gives a free tip, saying, "just order through Loblaws website itself. They use DoorDash to deliver and you don't pay any upcharges." (word 'upcharges' corrected in comment)
• User 'John C' says, "It clearly tells you on the app whether or not you're going to pay in-store prices or not, depending on what store you choose."
• User 'Wiara953 says, "I put stuff in my Instacart from Aldi's and went to the store myself and checked the prices. They tax the stuff like crazy."

Kate Witmer (Instacart shopper) said:

"As an Instacart shopper, I get sticker shock when I see the price the customer is paying vs. what the store is actually charging."

Jenny (Instacart shopper) said:

"We're supposed to keep the receipt for 30 days per our contract. The price mark up is insane though. Instacart makes money on every item you buy."

Mia (Instacart shopper) said:

"Do you live in the states? In Canada, we have to leave the receipt."

Boopie Jones (former Instacart shopper) said:

"During the brief moment I shopped for them is when I realized they were scamming customers & underpaying shoppers. Def left the receipt in their bag."

Readers, it's time for you to share your thoughts on the subject:

Do you think that customers would tip less or stop using the service if they found out how much Instacart is charging people for convenience?

Pennsylvania Uber Eats Driver Takes 2 McDonald's Orders. One Order is 9 To-Go Bags That Only Pays $10 ($1.10 per Bag)

A Pennsylvania Uber Eats driver picks up two orders at a Philadelphia area McDonald's. One order is just one to-go bag, but the second order is 9 Large To-go bags that line the counter and the order only pays $10. The driver says, "The money [is] already not lining up."

McDonald's sign by Mike Mozart; CC BY SA-2.0

An Uber Eats driver takes two orders and one of these fills a long table at McDonald's.

Driver Delivers 9 McDonald's Bags & No Tip Given

An Uber Eats driver that goes by the username 'Beyond Called' posted a video on 23 June 2023 showing that a business ordered 9 bags and is only paying him $10 for this batch, which comes to $1.10 per bag.

@beyondcalled on TikTok

Chances are he will have to make several trips into the building if they don't provide a cart or assistance to him.

In his TikTok video, he said:

"This is my McDonald's order...I got two orders. That's one order"... (showing one bag) and then says, "That's two orders..." (Showing 9 additional bags lining the counter) "...and the money already not lining up," he says.

He points the camera at the single bag.

"The money for this bag was okay." He then shows the 9 bags and says, "They payin' me $10 to deliver all this right here. $10 bucks, so we gonna see what the tip we get from this situation. Hold the phone." -Beyond Called on TikTok

In the next scene, the Uber Eats delivery driver is at his destination, showing a building (seen in the picture below).

Delivery destination by @beyondcalled on TikTok

"Whatever this building is right here, this is the building that ordered all that food, this is the business that ordered all that food and didn't give one tip." -Beyond Called on TikTok

It doesn't look good when a business orders 9 To-go bags from McDonald's and doesn't give a tip. Delivery drivers need to make a living, and count on tips to make ends meet.

The video can be watched here.

Thoughts

• Do you think that it is okay for businesses to not tip delivery drivers for large orders?
• Are you a delivery driver and experienced something like this?

(Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments)

Share this post on social media so everyone can better understand what delivery drivers experience as they try to earn a living wage in the U.S.

Sources

Beyond Called's account on TikTok: @beyondcalled