Working With Shipt: All You Need to Know to Get Started

We’ve covered various delivery gigs at Rideshare Central recently, including Deliv and Amazon Flex. But you may also be curious about a grocery delivery service like Shipt.

Shipt is an app that pays you to shop and deliver fresh goods to nearby customers, similar to Instacart.

Shipt was founded in 2014 and raised $65 million before Target acquired them at the end of 2017 for $550 million. Target now uses Shipt to offer same day delivery to customers from about half of its stores.

Working as a Shipt shopper can be a great way to make some extra cash in your spare time while doing something you enjoy.

But Shipt shopping isn’t for everyone. If you want to make money with this app, you’ll need to work quickly and efficiently.

With so many side gig options at your disposal, it’s important that you understand the basics of working with Shipt before you decide whether it’s right for you.

Below, we’ve put together a quick guide containing everything you need to know about working with Shipt.

 

From how much you can make to what the application process looks like, we’ll guide you through the world of Shipt to help you make a more informed decision about becoming a Shipt shopper.

How Shipt Works

Shipt is an app-based grocery delivery service that allows members to save their grocery lists to the app and submit orders when they are ready.

For just $99 per month, Shipt customers can get unlimited grocery delivery services from major grocery stores in their area. Once they submit an order, a Shipt shopper claims it, completes the order, and delivers the items to the member’s home.

As a Shipt shopper, you can create your own schedule.

You set your availability by the hour and can make your shopping schedule up to five days in advance. That means if you only want to work between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., you can just pick up orders during this time.

The flexibility of scheduling is great for individuals with full-time jobs who want to pick up a side gig after work or for students who want to earn money in between classes.

Shipt has actually put together a great video about how to schedule yourself and claim Shipt orders.

 

Shipt shoppers can also decide where they want to pick up orders.

They can limit their shopping to a single zone, which encompasses a radius of a few miles around a major grocery store. They can also choose to shop in multiple zones, allowing them access to even more orders.

Shipt shoppers use the shopper app to see order requests.

Within the app, the shopper can see the store, the size of the order, and the delivery destination.

Though you do not have to accept or claim every order that comes through in your zone, Shipt does measure acceptance rates. That means if you reject too many of the orders that come through in your zone, you may lose your ability to work with Shipt.

Once you accept an order on the shopping app, you drive to the designated grocery store, select the items on the shopping list, and pay at the register using the provided Shipt company card.

Thankfully, Shipt has also put together a helpful video on how to shop for Shipt orders.

 

Then, you take a photo of the receipt and upload it to the app before completing the order by making a final delivery to the member’s home.

Those working with Shipt can shop multiple orders at one time. In fact, many successful Shipt shoppers will fulfill multiple orders while at the same store. Every order you deliver pays you a commission, so working on multiple orders at one time allows you to earn more money over time.

How Much Do Shipt Shoppers Make?

One of the most important things to consider before becoming a Shipt shopper is how much you can make through your side gig.

Average earnings depend on a number of different factors, including your location, what types of orders you are picking up, and how efficiently you complete these orders. Below is a breakdown of how you earn money shopping for Shipt and how much you can potentially earn over time.

Earning Commission

The most important way that Shipt shoppers get paid is through the commission they earn on each delivery. The current commission rate is $5 plus 7.5% of the total order amount.

That means that for a $150 order, you will earn a commission of $16.25. An order that large should take about one hour to complete.

Smaller orders will pay less, but they take less time to complete. And the tips on those small orders can add up fast.

Earning Tips

Another way Shipt shoppers earn money is through member tips. Getting more and better customer tips is the best way to maximize your earning potential on Shipt. Many Shipt customers are either too busy or may not have the ability to shop for themselves. These customers are willing to pay more for the convenience of grocery services like Shipt and often tip well when they are satisfied with their experience.

The better customer service you provide, the more you can earn through customer tips. Paying attention to details such as the quality of produce you select for a customer and the accuracy of your order is an effective way to build relationships that lead to higher tips. Similarly, little extras like walking the groceries into the house can also help you earn more and better tips.

Average Shipt Earnings

As we mentioned above, average Shipt earnings depend on a number of different elements. According to Shipt, experienced shoppers can make anywhere between $16 to $22 an hour. Though it is possible to make some serious cash with Shipt, it can also be possible to earn below minimum wage if you aren’t smart about how you work.

The more efficient you become as a Shipt shopper and the stronger relationships you build with members, the more you stand to gain financially. One high school teacher living in Orlando, Florida, actually quit his high school teaching job to become a Shipt shopper full-time as he was earning around $100,000 per year. To earn this much, he was working around 60 hours a week with an average of 22 shopping trips per working day. The relationships he built with members allowed him to earn more tips per trip, contributing to his high earnings.

 

Another Shipt shopper in the Nashville area earns a steady $17.50 per hour. Working 35 hours a week with 4-day work weeks, this Shipt shopper takes home about $600 per week. For her, the flexible scheduling and ability to make more per hour than a standard 9-to-5 job makes Shipt shopping worth her time. Though earning potential does depend on tips, this shopper finds that the generous tippers make up for those who tip less.

Where Is Shipt Available?

Shipt is available in most major U.S. Cities. To see if you can apply in your area, enter your zip code on the Shipt coverage area page.

How to Become a Shipt Shopper

Becoming a Shipt shopper is rather easy. There are some basic requirements that you need to be able to meet before you apply to work for Shipt:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Have a valid U.S. driver’s license and auto insurance
• Have access to a reliable vehicle, 1997 model or newer
• Have basic knowledge of produce selection
• Use insulated cooler bags for groceries
• Be able to lift at least 40 pounds
• Own an iPhone (iOS 10 or newer) or Android smartphone (5.1 or newer)

If you meet these basic requirements, you can apply to become a Shipt shopper. The application requires you to fill out some basic information about who you are and why you want to work for Shipt. After filling out the application, you’ll complete a video interview through a third-party site, answering questions that help the Shipt team determine if you’re a good fit.

Once you are accepted and have downloaded the shopper app, you can start shopping!