Shipt is a shopping and delivery service that operates in 260 cities across the U.S. Although it’s not as large as its major competitor, Instacart, Shipt offers a great opportunity for gig drivers. With Shipt, you receive orders, shop for the items, and deliver the orders with your vehicle. Shipt handles orders from many different grocery stores and retailers who see the obvious advantages of having the means to get their goods to customers quickly and efficiently.
Many drivers, burned out on rideshare and food delivery, wonder about the high earnings claims made by grocery delivery companies like Shipt – and so do we. So, we put together this blog post to examine how well Shipt shopper pay fits the company’s claims, as well as what it’s like and what it takes to be a Shipt shopper. Here’s what we’ve got:
- The Shipt shopper gig: What it’s like
- Shipt shopper pay: How it breaks down
- How much do Shipt shoppers make?
- The future of grocery delivery
- Why you might (or might not) want to be a Shipt shopper
The Shipt shopper gig: What it’s like
Being a shopper for Shipt is pretty straightforward, but it takes a certain set of skills and personality traits. For one, you’ll want to like shopping. You’ll be asked not only to pick up a bunch of bananas, but to find the right bunch, the one that’s reached the exact stage of ripeness the customer wants.
Shipt prides itself on customer service, so the shopping end of this is somewhat more involved than picking up a bag of prepared food and running off to deliver it. Also, you’ll need to be good at the art of delivery. This means paying attention to the details of the order, dropping it off safely, and treating customers with the kind of respect that will earn you big tips.
To shop for Shipt, you’ll need to meet a few requirements, including:
- Proof of being 18 years of age or older;
- A valid U.S. driver’s license;
- A vehicle (1997 model or newer) that’s registered and insured in your state of residence;
- A smartphone equipped with iOS 10 or higher, or Android 5.1 or higher;
- Knowledge of how to select produce;
- The ability to lift up to 40 pounds;
- A complete application, including a clean background check;
- A positive interview, conducted online and on video.
As mentioned, Shipt puts a strong emphasis on customer service, but don’t worry about knowing every last detail right away. Assuming you clear the hurdles of the application, you can get additional video training from the company before you start. You’ll get a Shipt shirt and a card to use when you pay for orders.
Shipt is a totally flexible gig, in that there aren’t blocks or set shifts to worry about. You can choose zones where you’d prefer to work, but you don’t have to. There is no minimum number of orders, so you can work when it’s convenient for you, without penalty if you don’t work at all.
To get started with Shipt, download the app, open it up to receive your orders, and you’ll be sent on your way. Once you arrive at the store, you’ll shop for the items, communicate with the customer via cell phone (if necessary) while you shop, check out with your Shipt card (prepaid by the customer), and deliver the order.
Tips are added to the order after you deliver it. Shipt strongly recommends that customers tip shoppers – but as you probably know, when you get tipped after doing the shopping and making the delivery, customer service skills become even more important.
Keep in close communication with your customer at all times, and make sure to be honest if you’re running late. One of Shipt’s major selling points is prompt delivery, and you won’t have the kinds of delivery windows that leave you much leeway. You’ll need to work quickly and efficiently, and have a big smile on your face when you greet your customers, too.
Shipt shopper pay: How it breaks down
Tips are nice, but it’s also good to know how your base pay is going to be calculated with this particular shopping gig. You are paid by the order, and will not be paid extra for waiting time or for your fuel costs.
Shipt’s payment system is based on $5 per order, plus 7.5 percent of the order total. The amount is based on what you actually paid for the items at the store and does not include any applicable delivery fees or service charges.
This way of calculating earnings, while very consistent, doesn’t take into account factors such as how difficult the order was to put together, or how heavy the bags and boxes were to manage. Shipt states they do take the level of difficulty into account, but other services (including Instacart) operate with more nuanced algorithms that definitely take these and other aspects of the delivery process into consideration.
Shoppers are paid weekly by direct deposit. The work week runs from Monday through Sunday, and you’ll be paid the following Fridayt You have a little bit of a wait for your money, but Shipt does give shoppers 100 percent of their tips. All tips will be included with your payment.
You can arrange for an instant payout with Shipt, but first you’ll need to have one successful payout. Then, you can agree to the terms with Stripe within the app, and arrange to have instant payout after that. You can get further details here.
Shipt is very clear about shoppers being independent contractors who are responsible for paying their own taxes, paying their own expenses, and not being entitled to any benefits that would come with being an employee. Gig drivers are used to this, but it’s refreshing to see Shipt’s transparency on the subject.
How much do Shipt shoppers make?
Shipt says that shoppers can make “up to $22 per hour,” and for the most part, that’s what we found in the data we collected. According to Gridwise data, Shipt shopper hourly earnings averaged $18.33 from January to November 2021. It’s no surprise that the winter months saw the highest earnings: $19.01 in January, and $19.81 in February. The lowest earnings were recorded in June ($17.86), but rates crept back up to $18.33 in November.
How much do Shipt shoppers make per order? The January to November 2021 average comes out to $17.03. The seasonal patterns were the same, with per-trip earnings ranging from around $16 to just over $18, the highest numbers during the winter, some dips in the summer, and then back up to the $17 mark in the fall.
How would we rate Shipt vs. Instacart pay? In this Gridwise post we discussed that in 2021, earnings dropped from $18.12 in July to $14.85 in September. Even though Shipt earnings fluctuated some during the year, they never went that low. As the post states, the dip in Instacart earnings could be due to either fewer orders or more drivers competing for orders. In either event, Shipt shoppers seem to be bringing in more “bacon.”
The future for Shipt shoppers: 2022 and beyond
There’s no question that grocery delivery has caught on and is here to stay. According to this Edison Trends article, delivery in general had increased by 225 percent as of mid-July 2021. While this trend seems likely to continue in 2022, there are some things to consider.
Uber Eats, DoorDash, and other big delivery companies are starting to dabble in grocery delivery. This Gridwise article describes how DoorDash is creating innovative options for fast deliveries, and it’s likely that other companies will follow suit.
Shipt, as a subsidiary of Target, is well-positioned in terms of standing up to the competition. According to Target’s earnings reports, the corporation’s sales rose by double digits in Q3 of 2021. Target has leveraged the ability to provide online ordering and customer pickup and delivery in ways that are extremely appealing to consumers.
The combination of the general rise in demand for delivery, coupled with Target’s admirable growth, puts Shipt shoppers in a secure place when it comes to the future. But, now that you’ve heard what it takes to be a Shipt shopper, and how much you’re likely to make, do you think you want to try it out?
Why you might (or might not) want to be a Shipt shopper
Shipt is a pretty good gig. But before you get involved with it, here are some questions you might want to consider.
How do you feel about shopping?
For many people, shopping is something they enjoy – almost like a sport. For others … it’s a nuisance, one of those “I only shop when I absolutely have to” activities. Make no mistake. If you work for Shipt, you’re going to be shopping a lot, and you’re going to have to learn the finer points of choosing ripe melons and picking out the perfect parsley.
Are you satisfied with the amount of money you can earn with Shipt?
While there’s no guarantee you’ll make as much as the average Shipt shopper, the earnings are pretty fair. However, you can probably make at least as much as a rideshare driver with a lot less running around. While shopping can be fun, it also takes a lot more parking, getting in and out of your vehicle, and lifting heavy loads than rideshare does.
Do you like dealing with people?
Shipt’s intense focus on customer service means you’ll have to wear a smile even when you’re faced with surly grocery store workers and unpleasant customers. But if you’re a relatively easygoing type with a talent for schmoozing, you should fit right in.
Do you mind wearing a Shipt shirt?
Shipt likes it when shoppers don their green T-shirts with the company logo so customers can easily identify shoppers — and people roaming through the store can spot one, and think, “Gee, you mean that person will do this shopping for me and deliver it to my door? I’ll download Shipt right now!” This article features a Shipt shopper who takes his dressing up for Shipt to extremes. It seems to help his earnings to say the least!
All in all, Shipt is a pretty good deal. So, if you want to try it in your town, make sure you link your Shipt app to Gridwise so you can track your earnings and see for yourself if it’s worth it for you. You can also rely on Gridwise to let you know …
- Where to Drive so you can choose profitable driving routes
- When to Drive so you drive during peak hours
- Airport information for picking up passengers
- Event start and ending times
- Traffic and weather alerts
- Great deals and discounts for drivers to cut down on costs
Check out the best rideshare and delivery assistant and get up and running! If you haven’t already…
