Instacart’s rewards program for shoppers includes priority selection of orders before stores open
Delivery service Instacart is rolling out a new Uber Pro-like incentive program for its customers called Cart Star. Cart Star’s tiered incentives are available in three categories: Gold (for 200 points); platinum (for 1,000 points); and diamond (for 2,000 points). Shoppers earn points based on the number of orders they complete in the previous three-month period. To maintain their place in the program, shoppers must maintain an average customer rating of 4.7.
The company’s highest diamond layer offers more exclusive benefits. Diamond buyers have the first access to delivery batches before the shops open. They also have access to two days of care for a child, senior or pet per quarter for the cost of $1 per hour or $10 per day through Instacart’s partnership with Care.com.
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Image: Instacart
Instacart says that platinum and diamond cart buyers will receive recognition by notifying customers of the shopper’s status, the number of orders they have shopped for, and how long the shopper has been on the platform. Buyers at all levels can access cash back on gas and discounts on car maintenance through its partnerships with third-party companies Upside and CarAdvise, with better rewards for the higher levels.
Instacart recently made changes for shoppers who work for the service as it seeks to sustain its growth while increasing competition for gig workers. In April, the company took steps to protect shoppers from “tip-baiting” practices by customers who put in a large tip amount while placing an order and later eliminate it without citing a real problem. More recently, in May, the company announced it would filter out negative reviews from “hard-to-please” customers who often give low ratings. On the customer side, it recently debuted Instacart Plus, a revamped version of its Instacart Express subscription.
