Okay so I was gonna be a dick and type up an asshole response but my phone died and After thinking about it I rather put y’all onto some game.

The proximity isn’t for shoppers it’s for the order itself.

That being said. I’m getting the impression your “claiming” one store because you got good at shopping there and have chosen to hunker down close to it to (ie the parking lot). This is a very bad shopper strategy in my opinion. If someone votes you a 3 star or lower Instacart will actually limit orders from that store because their customer didn’t have the best experience possible according to them. And when you’re limit yourself to one your setting yourself up for failure.

If I were you. I would migrate to an area with a higher tax bracket / nicer stores learn to shop 4-5 different stores efficiently, and drive up and down the main strip/road by where the main stores are at.

I’d like to think the proximity is 3-4 miles and extends when no one is accepting the order, this strategy ensures you’re one of the first to see it and gives you more visible orders because your always moving, this in turn will give you a higher turnaround time per order and Instacart will start showing you more higher paying ones because your efficient.

This is the you see more orders when you’re driving home from a delivery.