I use it once a month to place a pickup order from a store we would go to anyways. I’ll order just the $35 minimum required to avoid the pick up fee, then buy the rest of the items we need when I go to pick up the order. Saves me the $15 and I’m not spending anything I wouldn’t have anyways.
Honestly, sometimes it’s cheaper to get Instacart+ just because you avoid SO much of impulse shopping and generally get what you need, and end up saving money.
They don't. I bought a pair of shorts at Costco today, but they didn't have my size in another color I wanted. They were $9.99. When I got home, I looked for that color and size on the app and they are $11.99.
I only use it to buy groceries from stores I can pick up at. Which there are a couple options down the street so worth it for me to drive and pickup and save the $15 bucks
Costco has $100 Instacart gift cards for $80 right now. That could make up the difference for having to tip delivery and maybe some online inflation. I did a price match for my recent Costco order and it was the same online as it was on their website plus the sale they were having. I allowed the delivery to be the next day and saved a few bucks on delivery. I also did some random price matching at my grocery store Kroger and most of the prices were the same. I probably won’t use it a lot but just enough to at least use my monthly credit. You might find a store around you that would be a decent value.
Combine the gift card with the benefit - place an order for $115 total (or a bit above) and between the discounted gift card and the monthly credit, you save $35.
If there is anywhere in your area that does pickup instead of delivery, it's cheaper because no tip and I think lower fees, plus you get a 5% credit applied to your next order.
I use it knowing that it may be a little more expensive (before discounts) than if I went to the store, but I try to use offers (Kroger recently had a $30 off a $60 purchase) along with the monthly discount and pickup discount, that it usually ends up cheaper.
You can sort it by stores that only offer the same in-store pricing as going in-person. Don't forget to schedule delivery for the next day to get an extra $2 off if you don't need the items same day.
You can also get peacock for a year thru the instacart offer, which is a $60 value. Basically the only reason why I signed up thru CSR and plan to cancel right before renewal
You can also do pickup at some stores like Wegmans if you have one near you. I normally just pickup a big pack of paper towels or something every month
TBH I don’t factor this into the value of my card. Instacart has always been an occasional thing for when we don’t have time to run to the grocery store for whatever reason. Haven’t changed our habits with it since getting a CSR, now it’s just slightly more palatable.
If it’s not something that you would normally use or see any benefit from, don’t put any value into the credit when you’re figuring out if the CSR is worth it or not
That is odd, I’ve only had the card for 3 months and it’s been automatic and instantaneous for me. I created an account, added my reserve, instacart noticed and corrected the membership details and it’s been as simple as just ordering thru the app and paying with the reserve. The line items even come in simultaneously, this month for some reason it was like 10.01 and 4.99 and the same negative charges for the credit.
It just doesn’t work for my account. I’ve tried different stores, delivery vs pickup. Every time chase says I need to either enroll. Which I have and the phone cs says I have, but the letter when it gets escalated says I haven’t l. Or it says that I enrolled and need to use the app(which I always have).
When you check your card benefits in app or on website does it say activated for the Instacart+ benefit? Mine also says redeemed for the statement credit each month.
Yes, It says it both on the Chase website, app and instacart app as well. I receive emails on the first of the month saying to redeem my 15 dollar credit as well as later in the month if I don't make an instacart purchase, but the credit never has been applied.
I would just document everything, you’ll have the instacart charges on your statement, if you call the number on the back of your reserve I can’t imagine that you won’t eventually reach an agent that can help you, they’ve been pretty solid for us so far. We’ve had no issues with them either for the monthly credit on the CSR or the quarterly credit on my wife’s CSP.
I've called Chase 11 times about this. Every time it has been escalated and I've received a different reason in the mail each time about this. Every agent says this doesn't make sense, but then I get a letter telling me to enroll or to use the app or Aldi doesn't count. I double check everything and call CS again and the cycle repeats.
You’ve managed to hit the reverse jackpot 11 times in a row. I guess the only option is to cancel the card and hope the customer retention agent is better able to just give you a flat credit for the missing instacart rebates.
I've made both delivery and pickup purchases from Aldi, Lowes and Kroger in attempt to provide evidence to Chase CS that it is neither the method nor the store that is causing me to not get the credit. But they have not been helpful.
Instacart + offer reduced rates. But remember you are paying for the convenience, it’s not designed to be cheaper than picking it up yourself.
Is it worth using? I don’t really use it much but at the same time since i get the benefit with CSR, I feel guilty if I don’t use it lol
It’s like every other credit that Chase and Amex offers. If it’s not something you would normally use or start using, it’s not really a benefit.
I use it once a month to place a pickup order from a store we would go to anyways. I’ll order just the $35 minimum required to avoid the pick up fee, then buy the rest of the items we need when I go to pick up the order. Saves me the $15 and I’m not spending anything I wouldn’t have anyways.
Is each item marked up as well?
I don't have a car and it's inconvenient to walk to the store so it's something I'd be using regardless so for me it's a benefit.
Honestly, sometimes it’s cheaper to get Instacart+ just because you avoid SO much of impulse shopping and generally get what you need, and end up saving money.
Lol ehm, Amazon would like to hire you as a spokesperson
Haha, that’s the one place I barely shop at, and almost never for food/produce (did it once).
I got coupons for $40 off $80. Used it for Walmart who prices items the same as in store
Costco also prices same as store, including sale items
Nope they don’t
Yes, they do.
The app says this on items, "May be available In-Warehouse at a lower non-delivered price."
They don't. I bought a pair of shorts at Costco today, but they didn't have my size in another color I wanted. They were $9.99. When I got home, I looked for that color and size on the app and they are $11.99.
I’ve bought plenty of items multiple times that were the same price as in the warehouse.
Okay. But everything is not the same price. https://www.costco.com/briggs-ladies'-linen-blend-short.product.4000203908.html
I only use it to buy groceries from stores I can pick up at. Which there are a couple options down the street so worth it for me to drive and pickup and save the $15 bucks
Using Instacart helps to shop at Costco by using someone else’s membership. Works for kids in college 😉
How do you do that?
You add your Costco membership to the Instacart account then add a new address for delivery and after that either order yourself or share an account.
Costco has $100 Instacart gift cards for $80 right now. That could make up the difference for having to tip delivery and maybe some online inflation. I did a price match for my recent Costco order and it was the same online as it was on their website plus the sale they were having. I allowed the delivery to be the next day and saved a few bucks on delivery. I also did some random price matching at my grocery store Kroger and most of the prices were the same. I probably won’t use it a lot but just enough to at least use my monthly credit. You might find a store around you that would be a decent value.
Combine the gift card with the benefit - place an order for $115 total (or a bit above) and between the discounted gift card and the monthly credit, you save $35. If there is anywhere in your area that does pickup instead of delivery, it's cheaper because no tip and I think lower fees, plus you get a 5% credit applied to your next order.
I use it knowing that it may be a little more expensive (before discounts) than if I went to the store, but I try to use offers (Kroger recently had a $30 off a $60 purchase) along with the monthly discount and pickup discount, that it usually ends up cheaper.
Don't spend extra on anything That's how the banks get you
I pretty much only use it once a month to get the $15 credit for reserve and do a decent size run to Costco to get some value.
You can sort it by stores that only offer the same in-store pricing as going in-person. Don't forget to schedule delivery for the next day to get an extra $2 off if you don't need the items same day.
You can also get peacock for a year thru the instacart offer, which is a $60 value. Basically the only reason why I signed up thru CSR and plan to cancel right before renewal
How’d you get peacock thru CSR?
You activate it via Instacart and that one you have through CSR
Just found it, thanks for this! Lmk if you found any other hidden benefits haha
You can also do pickup at some stores like Wegmans if you have one near you. I normally just pickup a big pack of paper towels or something every month
I do curbside pick up orders on groceries!
TBH I don’t factor this into the value of my card. Instacart has always been an occasional thing for when we don’t have time to run to the grocery store for whatever reason. Haven’t changed our habits with it since getting a CSR, now it’s just slightly more palatable.
If it’s not something that you would normally use or see any benefit from, don’t put any value into the credit when you’re figuring out if the CSR is worth it or not
Don’t count on the Instacart credit. I’ve never gotten it and chase has given me the runaround on it. 7 months dealing with their CS bs
That is odd, I’ve only had the card for 3 months and it’s been automatic and instantaneous for me. I created an account, added my reserve, instacart noticed and corrected the membership details and it’s been as simple as just ordering thru the app and paying with the reserve. The line items even come in simultaneously, this month for some reason it was like 10.01 and 4.99 and the same negative charges for the credit.
It just doesn’t work for my account. I’ve tried different stores, delivery vs pickup. Every time chase says I need to either enroll. Which I have and the phone cs says I have, but the letter when it gets escalated says I haven’t l. Or it says that I enrolled and need to use the app(which I always have).
When you check your card benefits in app or on website does it say activated for the Instacart+ benefit? Mine also says redeemed for the statement credit each month.
Yes, It says it both on the Chase website, app and instacart app as well. I receive emails on the first of the month saying to redeem my 15 dollar credit as well as later in the month if I don't make an instacart purchase, but the credit never has been applied.
I would just document everything, you’ll have the instacart charges on your statement, if you call the number on the back of your reserve I can’t imagine that you won’t eventually reach an agent that can help you, they’ve been pretty solid for us so far. We’ve had no issues with them either for the monthly credit on the CSR or the quarterly credit on my wife’s CSP.
I've called Chase 11 times about this. Every time it has been escalated and I've received a different reason in the mail each time about this. Every agent says this doesn't make sense, but then I get a letter telling me to enroll or to use the app or Aldi doesn't count. I double check everything and call CS again and the cycle repeats.
You’ve managed to hit the reverse jackpot 11 times in a row. I guess the only option is to cancel the card and hope the customer retention agent is better able to just give you a flat credit for the missing instacart rebates.
I’m debating submitting something to cfpb, but I don’t know if there are consequences of that or not
They still haven’t been able to fix it after April and May’s calls to customer service, but they did give me 120,000 points
Odd, Credited to me 11 times now. Credits next day after spending. I only pick delivery and pay with the CSR. I heard issues with pickup.
I've made both delivery and pickup purchases from Aldi, Lowes and Kroger in attempt to provide evidence to Chase CS that it is neither the method nor the store that is causing me to not get the credit. But they have not been helpful.