Source
r/InstacartShoppers•
Petrichourage

Question on how customers are charged

I did some reading on other threads, and I’m looking for clarification. From what I now understand, the customer pays what’s put into the app, and IC pays what’s charged to the card? So if I put quantity 2 in the app, but only charge 1, the customer eats the cost of the 2nd item and IC gets free money?

I previously thought the customer was charged what’s on the receipt, but now that I think about it that would be too much for IC to track. As an independent contractor, IC issues me the card in trust that I use it correctly and just charges the customer what I put in the app? So if I put something in the app wrong, the customer could end up getting ripped off and IC gets more money for my mistake? It doesn’t affect me much, but I feel like I need to be much more careful with what gets put in the app.

What brought this about: lady wanted two packs of TP, they didn’t have the brand she wanted. I got a diff brand, she said she only wanted 1 now, but I forgot to change it in the app. I only bought one, but the app said I got 2. I called IC after to fix it, but I am just thinking now that she would have been charged for two but only get 1 if I hadn’t called in the refund? Could also work in reverse and I could rip off IC by putting cheaper stuff in the app but getting more expensive stuff?

Anyone know for certain? Thanks.

Posted Jan 28, 2020, 4:49 AM UTC

27
snakewitch1031•

So, when you order as a customer, your card is temporarily charged for what you “bought” plus the fees + a little extra to account for any additions or adjustments, for example if you get $35 worth of groceries, plus fees and stuff, your card is temporarily charged for $50 (this is a random number not an actual amount lol) AFTER the actual shop is complete, that charge will come off and a new charge reflecting the actual amount will show up. Hope that helps and makes sense :)

4
PetrichourageOP•

Is the actual final amount based on the receipt or on the app though?

2
Pencilbump•

Customer charge is based on app, since in store prices and receipt totals are upcharged and not what the customer pays.

2
FluffyPenguin2124•

To make it simple, the customer is charged for what you put in the app. If you put 2 things of tp, the customer gets charged for 2. If you put 1 they get charged for 1.

Also, you can only spend so much. So even if you put cheaper items in the app, your card is only authorized for a certain amount and you can't go over it.

1
jbishop2110•

IC does however overcharge in many situations. I’m only saying that from experience because I shop at Costco and have ordered items from IC that were on average ~$3 more than what was charged in store. Shady!

-1
LogicCure•

It's not 'shady', it's how they make money. How'd you think this worked? Don't want to pay a convenience upcharge? Go get your own groceries.

4
jbishop2110•

Hmm... first off, chill. Second off, you need to pay a subscription to instacart to be a member. I’m so extremely sorry that I thought that was profitable.

-1