Instacart Reviews 210

Check your receipts everyone because they overcharge and hope you don’t notice I ordered a turkey on Instacart. The cost on the turkey was $42.90 and I was charged $64.45 not including taxes/fees and they will not give me a refund. They said there’s nothing they can do even though I was overcharged.

Ordered over $300 worth of groceries for Easter Friday dinner. Received 2 bags of junk that wasn't mine.
Got ahold of a rwp who said they would send another shopper and I'd have my own order within 2 hours. 4 hors later and nothing. Went back on help and had to go through the whole process 3 times. They said they'd sent me an email in 24 hours. How the hell does that help the 12 people coming for dinner tonight. And does the driver get reprimanded for not bringing my groceries. Last order ever for me. And ive ordered for 6 years only to get we are sorry for the inconvenience and broken promise of another shopper will shop and deliver.

Update...Just got bsck from shopping myself still no.money back from Instacart

First and last time using Instacart. I ordered 7 yogurt. I only received 6 but was charged for 7. Some meat I ordered was past the best before date so I never ate it. The driver told me to go to customer service but I thought he meant at Safeway because that was where the food came from. By the time I found out I was supposed to call Instacart, it was too late. You only have 3 days to call them. The driver didn't tell me to call Instacart and I had only 3 days. He didn't check the best before date on the meat. I won't use Instacart again.

Title: Deceptive Pricing & Predatory 3-Day Refund Window

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Review:
Consumers beware: Instacart is utilizing deceptive pricing algorithms and hiding behind predatory customer service policies to avoid financial accountability.

I recently placed a Costco order through their platform. Their website explicitly advertised a 3% service fee for this transaction. However, upon auditing my final invoice, I discovered the system had quietly charged me a 4% service fee.

When I caught the unapproved overcharge and contacted customer support to request a refund for the difference, I was completely stonewalled. The agent refused to correct their own billing discrepancy, stating that their policy only allows refunds within a strict 3-day window. Because I audited my receipt and caught their error on day 8, they refused to return the overcharged funds and closed the ticket.

A legitimate company does not put a 72-hour statute of limitations on refunding money they took through false advertising. They strictly enforce this 3-day rule because they know most people don't reconcile their bank statements within 72 hours of a grocery delivery.

Do not trust the advertised percentages on their checkout screen. Audit your math immediately upon delivery, because Instacart's customer service operates on a policy of keeping your money, even when their platform makes the billing error.

I had been using Instacart for some time, but repeated issues such as stale produce, higher prices compared to in-store shopping, and inconsistent service had already been disappointing. Unfortunately, a recent incident raised a much more serious concern involving a product for a child.

I ordered Vitamin D drops for my toddler from Walmart through Instacart. The expiration date on the outer box appeared normal, but the expiration date on the actual bottle had been smudged with ink and was unreadable. For a product meant for a child, this is clearly a safety concern.

I reported the issue to Instacart within three days and was assured someone would follow up within 24 hours, but no one contacted me. When I later reached out to support again, I had a chat conversation with a representative named Dhanraj. Although he acknowledged the situation, he stated that no complaint had been recorded and that since more than four days had passed, nothing could be done. The chat was then ended abruptly before the conversation was finished, which felt both rude and very unprofessional, especially considering the seriousness of the issue.

As a single parent, I rely on services like these for convenience, but product safety and responsible customer support should never be compromised.

Since the product was meant for a toddler, the unreadable expiration date raised a clear safety concern, and I expected the matter to be treated with appropriate seriousness.

Because of this experience, I will no longer be using Instacart. For those looking for alternatives in Canada, options like PC Express, Voila by Sobeys, or ordering directly through the Walmart Canada grocery app may offer better reliability and pricing.
Convenience services should never come at the expense of product safety and respectful customer support. I hope Instacart takes this feedback seriously and improves its response to legitimate customer concerns.

Instacart charged me for a yearly membership without my permission or any clear notice. I did not approve this renewal. When I contacted customer service, they simply refused to refund it.

Charging customers automatically and then refusing to take responsibility is extremely disappointing. This feels unfair and disrespectful to loyal users.

I will not be using Instacart again after this experience. Customers deserve transparency and proper consent before being charged.

I thought instacart was okay and convenient. Until I heard about other delivery companies whom drivers if they see $0 delivery tip or $0.50 tip those who can afford to pay a nice tip get the best service. I put in an order at 2pm only option was from 6-8pm. Once was 7:45pm the delivery window kept getting later and later and later. Was 10pm I was sitting outside and the driver never came to the door till 10:30pm. I was not happy as that wasnt the first time. I understand they make a living with it but they went into it eyes wide open. Also like myself I dont give a tip online I give it once is delivered so I know was delivered well and it was on time. They dont see that Instacart gives them the information about how much the tip is and order ect... so if they see $0 tip they reject it which leaves it for others who reject it. This policy not only alienates those on low income like ODSP Seniors and more who just can't afford it who have the tip at home and dont give a tip online. My order never reached me till 10:30pm my delivery window was 6-8pm. I noticed this with Door Dash as well when ordering online from pet smart. I made an order with a $1.50 tip half hour later I made an order with $0 tip. After the one with the tip. When my order came the only order was the one with the $1.50 tip and when I called Petsmart they said it is still here it was with your other order to go out together. That is all the evidence anyone needs. the one with the tip was delivered the other without not and petsmart said they were together to be delivered. Proof is in the pudding. Instacart is an extremely horrible service the drivers blaintently show that is those who have the money for a nice tip or want to give the tip online. Like myself I give it when it is delivered so they have to do their job their delivery is good and are respectful like others who wont give a tip online but will when it is delivered. This type of practice has to end. If this is the kind of job you want want to make amount as if is full time then I think they should start looking for a real job. I believe in the beginning driving for comanies or delivering was meant to pump up the pay you got at your job. With those who are in legislative poverty because are physically disabled by the government and those who are seniors on a low income or prefer to give the tip once is delivered it discriminates against those with the drivers cherry picking those who can pay a tip and those who financially arent able to or prefer to tip the driver if they deserve it when they get home. Instacart delivery is a horrible and with drivers who are in my eyes entitiled and even when they deliver are rude arrogant and very much disrespectful. After receiving my order at 10:30pm and my experiment with petsmart online order I came upstairs and requested deletion of my account on February 20 2026.

Some dishonest shoppers on Instacart are running scams, and it seems like Instacart isn’t doing much to stop it. You can report the issue, but the company doesn’t take real action against the crooked shoppers who deliver your orders

All you need to know is that when you have a problem with the Instacart service and report it, they will promise that a representative of their company will email you within 24 hours, and then you never hear from them. And, if you go back a second time and inquire why they didn't contact you as promised when you first brought the issue to their attention, they will ignore that as well...
This company cares nothing about keeping their word, cares nothing for holding their employees to any acceptable standards. All that being said, the service is a convenient one if you need to use it...so roll the dice and see what happens...

Twice now I have made a priority order adding extra two dollars for each both times orders have been pushed back and no refund for not receiving service i paid for. Trying to get to an actual representative is next to impossible and frustrating I requested customer service 18 times and the A.I. kept going back to same monolog. Instacart is all about taking your money and not allowing for easy accessibility to a representative

Coule not provide me with the coffee brand as shown

DO NOT!! trust this company, I ordered once and was signed up for yearly subscription ($103.95), that I did not agree to and stated that payment would not start until next year 2027, regardless, do not trust or simply order anything from them, as you may get signed up for something you did not agree to.

My groceries were delivered to a random house. Instacart customer service said don’t worry, we will refund you. The refund never came through so I contacted them a day later and the customer service agent could see that but said they actually decided not to refund. Just awful customer service and I would never shop with them again.

I have used THIS service 15 times THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE COMPANY!! BUT WHEN you are told you can't find chicken and grounded Turkey in a Fiesta grocery store and even if that was true 14 other ITEMS were founded and not Delivered!! PLEASE not ONLY that NOW you have to WAIT 10 to 15 days for your REFUND!! THIS IS BS. I'm a retired Hospital Rep. (Customer Service) And understand what keeps patients sending their Love One's to the facility that HELPED THEM. I want to Thank your company for delays and BS customer service. This is the LAST TIME I USE the App.

I am rating one star for the entire sordid bad experience.

I give agent 3- three stars and agents 4 and 5 that I spoke to 4 stars each.

I would give the first agent and second agent, 2 stars.

The manager would get a minus zero if I could give it.

I have been a Instacart customer for some time. There have been small issues from time to time, but nothing like what i just experienced in the last couple of days.

I placed an order that came to $61.55 including all fees and taxes.

I decided to take away one item for $2.20 and add an item for $1.40, which then made my bill reduced by 0.80 cents and the bill should have been $60.75 all inclusive.

When I did that Instant cart increased my temporary hold to 85.77 from $61.55 a difference of $24.22 over a change from 2.20 to 1.40.

I called them, the first agent disconnected, I don't know if it was deliberate or not.

The second agent said repeatedly that because I made the change the service charge increased, but the temporary hold would drop off as soon as the order was delivered.

Assured me that it would be dealt with that they would be able to tell if the first agent hung up or not and that they have had several complaints from other customers on the same issue and were trying to get it rectified.

Since the agent couldn't help me any further I asked for a manger and got a very rude one.

He also repeated over and over again the same thing agent 2 said, when I asked what would would justify a $24.22 increase on the temp hold.

He also talked over me, wouldn't listen. When I said to him I would like to finish, he just keep on talking. Then he hung up on me. I wasn't being rude, aggressive, wasn't using profanity nor was I being abusive.

I got the order after hours and looked at my final bill. I was charged $36.90 for one green pepper and 4.52 for one onion.

I messaged the shopper on the app that I was overcharged, who replied that the cashier scanned it that way. Somebody should have caught it, but the shopper did acknowledge I only got one green pepper.

I called a fourth time and spoke to another agent who did adjust the bill for both the green pepper and onion and and took my complaint about the rude manger.

I check my account with my financial institution, and see I was still overcharged by $6.15

I called again, and finally got it settled with agent 5.

Fortunately I had taken print screens of what I was suppose to pay. Agent 5 t at first didn't see where I was overcharged.

I calculated it all and then said I could send her the print screen I had. She also insisted on putting me on hold when I asked her not to, which annoyed me, but she was customer friendly and did resolve and issue my refund.

The app also increased my service charge for 3 dollars more then what the print screen said.

I was overcharged almost $40 dollars Instacart had to adjust and refund.

Check your bill after you place your order if you make changes and your final bill on the app and with your financial institution.

After this I may not be a customer of Instant cart, It was awful to have to call that many times. The third agent did acknowledge that I wasn't the first customer to call about the same issue of increased charges for making a simple change.

Its been taken care of after many phone calls, check your receipts at all times. Take print screens.

I paid for a premium rush order. Needed by 5pm. It was to be here 4:25-5:00. The delivery time changed repeatedly, finally arriving at 5:35 pm. Delivery guy left them at door and messaged me in the apt. Doesn't even bother to knock. Never again.

This is the third time that I haven’t received a few items on my order. I’ve had refunds but this third time I emailed them and it said I will receive my refund 5-7 days. I never received the refund and I’ve sent several. No response to any of them. I googled my issue and I found answers that if you keep trying to get another refund, they think that your scamming then for money. Are they kidding me??? I am an honest person and I’m getting screwed because of their horrible workers, workers who don’t get orders right, missing items, wrong items, never on time, leaving orders at other people’s doorsteps…. Not to mention how instacart had added a fee for the time of delivery and 98% of the time your time changes and you don’t get refunded for that or even a discount. Why pay for specific times of delivery?? JUST THEM ADDING ON ANOTHER FEE AND STILL GETTING AWAY WITH IT. It makes me angry that they ignore and won’t refund my they owe me. Something needs to be done with this garbage of a company.

This is worse than getting your groceries delivered by monkeys. I'm confident that monkeys could do a better job than Instacart.

Absolute garbage. Just came from talking to them and they just ended the chat on me while I am still asking them questions. They charged me membership fees that I never authorized. Scammers!

Instacart is really starting to decline in service while the costs constantly rising.
The delivery time frames are ignored with deliveries an hour or more late.
They have become totally unreliable.