Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 150 posts

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#31

Post by askafriend »

clay_the_ripper wrote: post #14

I have never had a good experience with instacart. I’ve ordered from them probably 10-15 times and every single time, without fail, they either forget an item or replace an item with another item that I don’t want. This makes the service unusable, because if I’m cooking dinner that night and want to order instacart, there’s a high likelyhood I’ll be missing something crucial for my recepie, meaning I’ll have to go to…

For me, the worst grocery delivery service is still miles better than going to a store and shopping for groceries.

I'm OK with missing items, I'll just get a refund and deal with it. It's still far far better than dealing with a physical grocery store.

I'm sure there are millions of others like me.

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#32

Post by ericlewis »

clay_the_ripper wrote: post #14

I have never had a good experience with instacart. I’ve ordered from them probably 10-15 times and every single time, without fail, they either forget an item or replace an item with another item that I don’t want. This makes the service unusable, because if I’m cooking dinner that night and want to order instacart, there’s a high likelyhood I’ll be missing something crucial for my recepie, meaning I’ll have to go to…

This has been exactly my experience too, and I've been using Instacart since day one. "Apologizing" for them often. A combination of Amazon prime now and Amazon fresh has seemed to work out.

I occasionally use Instacart just to see if its improved. But I hardly trust them to get everything I want, and I'm surprised when an order goes without a hitch. Probably not the surprise they are looking for when trying to "surprise and delight".

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#33

Post by jotm »

cryptoz wrote: post #27
jotm wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Might be time you move elsewhere, I think...

If you mean the crime, that was Oakland, and I have recently left. But I still don't currently live near a grocery store. Maybe next move.

Yeah, no way I'm sticking around an area after having my stuff stolen and being mugged at gunpoint. Unless you own property (and even then), I'd find somewhere else...

I'm currently 25 minutes walking distance from a grocery store (not counting the small convenience stores), I got used to just walking to it and buying a limited amount, enough for about a week. Driving is faster, but then I buy more, eat more and the rest goes bad...

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#34

Post by jimmy1 »

jotm wrote: post #21
jimmy1 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a former restaurateur, I would like to tell you, contrary to popular opinion, during the last major economic downturn in 2008 (2009 for me since I was in a southern state, and the downturn hit us a bit later than most), spending money out to eat actually went up . The theory goes a little something like this -- people actually spend more money on themselves to cheer themselves up when life gets shittier. So folks,…

Surprisingly, most poor people order takeaways the most around here, as well.

It's not surprising to me, it all ties back to the reality that it is more expensive to be poor than not. If you are poor, you most likely don't have the ability to keep a kitchen stocked with cooking essentials (spices are expensive), pots, pans, the increased water and heating cost to run a dishwasher and oven. Never mind the fact that most people living paycheck to paycheck are going from job to job and are physically exhausted at the end of the day. And that's for the people who were able to afford housing, then you have poor people stuck in shitty motels because they can't afford first month's rent and a security deposit. Those usually only have microwaves and a mini fridge.

Often times, going to McDonalds is your best option. The Government also subsidizes Big Food, so that factors. Getting 4 McDoubles for 4 dollars in 5 minutes driving through the drive thru next to your house so you can get back home to your kids and see them for the couple hours you have in between jobs versus spending 30 min to an hour buying a pound of ground beef, buns, cheese, lettuce, tomatos, the energy and utilities cost and the lost opportunity cost of the time spent cooking and cleaning when you could be working, it isn't hard to see why poor people choose the fast food.

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#35

Post by pnathan »

clay_the_ripper wrote: post #14

I have never had a good experience with instacart. I’ve ordered from them probably 10-15 times and every single time, without fail, they either forget an item or replace an item with another item that I don’t want. This makes the service unusable, because if I’m cooking dinner that night and want to order instacart, there’s a high likelyhood I’ll be missing something crucial for my recepie, meaning I’ll have to go to…

I've never had an issue with Instacart. I order from them.... occasionally. Great service.

The fee structure is weird, agreed.

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#36

Post by tvanantwerp »

clay_the_ripper wrote: post #14

I have never had a good experience with instacart. I’ve ordered from them probably 10-15 times and every single time, without fail, they either forget an item or replace an item with another item that I don’t want. This makes the service unusable, because if I’m cooking dinner that night and want to order instacart, there’s a high likelyhood I’ll be missing something crucial for my recepie, meaning I’ll have to go to…

Similar experience. The app is fine, but the quality of shoppers usually isn't. Lots of forgotten items, unacceptable replacements, or just getting the wrong thing entirely. Once had a shopper who didn't know cucumbers from zucchini. Another time, we ordered 2 pounds of shrimp and got...2 shrimp. Just two little shrimp! Honestly, who would even think it makes sense that we would've ordered two individual shrimp? I've had so many bad experiences that I don't ever plan to use Instacart again.

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#37

Post by pnathan »

askafriend wrote: post #31
clay_the_ripper wrote: post #14

I have never had a good experience with instacart. I’ve ordered from them probably 10-15 times and every single time, without fail, they either forget an item or replace an item with another item that I don’t want. This makes the service unusable, because if I’m cooking dinner that night and want to order instacart, there’s a high likelyhood I’ll be missing something crucial for my recepie, meaning I’ll have to go to…

For me, the worst grocery delivery service is still miles better than going to a store and shopping for groceries. I'm OK with missing items, I'll just get a refund and deal with it. It's still far far better than dealing with a physical grocery store. I'm sure there are millions of others like me.

> I'm OK with missing items, I'll just get a refund and deal with it. It's still far far better than dealing with a physical grocery store.

Curious. Why do you say that? I use Instacart as a timesaver, or as a way to accomplish what I can't due to other obligations.

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#38

Post by fizwhiz »

askafriend wrote: post #31
clay_the_ripper wrote: post #14

I have never had a good experience with instacart. I’ve ordered from them probably 10-15 times and every single time, without fail, they either forget an item or replace an item with another item that I don’t want. This makes the service unusable, because if I’m cooking dinner that night and want to order instacart, there’s a high likelyhood I’ll be missing something crucial for my recepie, meaning I’ll have to go to…

For me, the worst grocery delivery service is still miles better than going to a store and shopping for groceries. I'm OK with missing items, I'll just get a refund and deal with it. It's still far far better than dealing with a physical grocery store. I'm sure there are millions of others like me.

Really don't know why you're being downvoted, but I agree.

I prefer protecting my time whenever I can (read: I'm lazy) and I've personally found instacart to be an invaluable service. Whether it's a late night wine delivery from BevMo, bulk shopping from Costco (I don't have a membership and almost never remember to bring bags with me to their store), or just the weekly stuff from Safeway/Wholefoods, it's really been a godsend from the POV of saving time that I can repurpose for anything else.

I don't know about the millions comment, but if you're willing to pay a premium for the convenience then it's certainly worth it. I certainly feel that way.

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#39

Post by paulcole »

clay_the_ripper wrote: post #14

I have never had a good experience with instacart. I’ve ordered from them probably 10-15 times and every single time, without fail, they either forget an item or replace an item with another item that I don’t want. This makes the service unusable, because if I’m cooking dinner that night and want to order instacart, there’s a high likelyhood I’ll be missing something crucial for my recepie, meaning I’ll have to go to…

> Plus they mark up everything you buy, and obfuscate this so it’s impossible to really know how much extra instacart is skimming off the top.

Do you ask Whole Foods what they pay for bananas? Do you care what the markup is at Walmart? Who cares how much InstaCart is charging.

If you're pinching pennies, InstaCart isn't a service for you.

Re: Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation

#40

Post by Gargoyle »

clay_the_ripper wrote: post #14

I have never had a good experience with instacart. I’ve ordered from them probably 10-15 times and every single time, without fail, they either forget an item or replace an item with another item that I don’t want. This makes the service unusable, because if I’m cooking dinner that night and want to order instacart, there’s a high likelyhood I’ll be missing something crucial for my recepie, meaning I’ll have to go to…

I used them as my sole source of groceries for about 3 years and had no problems with products or deliveries at any point.

I do agree about the fees, which I always unchecked and I always tipped the driver in cash despite Instacart urging me not to. In my case the driver was also the shopper on every delivery, but I understand that's not how it always works and tipping cash is a bad idea when they're different people.

Post reply on HN