I’m physically disabled and have issue shopping due to bone tumors all over my bones (poly ostotic fibrous dysplasia with mccune albright syndrome). It hurts to live, walk, lift, exist, etc.
I’m also on what is essentially a keto diet to help keep my diabetes in the “pre-diabetes” state.
I use Instacart to help me survive and eat. It helps me not burden others and helps my independence.
Groceries are becoming more and more expensive. This is particularly true if you’re on a special diet like me.
Delivering five or so bags of groceries or a few larger (but essential) items can be like $150-200 on Instacart per trip. Then, when I check out, Instacart recommends tipping $40+?
That seems insane to me. Like $20 for that amount seems about right? Maybe throw in an extra $10 if I have some heavy things or items that are large in volume.
Should I be tipping $40+ dollars?
Tipping 20% seems reasonable to someone who is using their own vehicle to do shopping for you. They have added expenses that, say, a server at a restaurant doesn’t have.
If it’s just one item that’s $200 just down the street, then yeah, don’t tip so much. But if it’s a regular grocery order (lots of items), then I don’t see what’s wrong with tipping 20% to cover the cost of their lower hourly rate and their increased personal expenses.
I don’t think percentage based tipping really works for situations like this where grocery bills can vary widely. Buying a bunch of 50lb bags of rice for $100 or a couple filet mignon steaks for $100 don’t have anywhere near the same amount of work involved to deliver. Percentage based tipping works in a restaurant because everyone is ordering similarly priced menu items.
I would say tipping the change is reasonable, anything more is not reasonable.
He is not doing the shopping for him, he gets paid a salary to do this job. And the salary being very low is irrelevant to this.