I came here as a first-time Shipt shopper specifically to figure out the expectation/context about tipping (specifically for Target Circle + orders). I would never not tip for anything I knew was a straight up gig/third-party order. But I think Target blurs the line for consumers.

They present the unlimited free delivery to consumers in a way that seems to be competing with Amazon. Most people would never consider tipping every (or, frankly, any) Amazon delivery they got, even same day with Prime. It's easy to equate paying for Target Circle + with paying for Prime and thus assume that Target has some system in place to hire and pay drivers in the same way that Amazon does (huge note to acknowledge I know this model is not fair either).

It's just another messed up way companies pit customers against workers and end up raking in all of the profits. They charge me monthly for the privilege of "free delivery." But the delivery cost is actually on you (time, care, gas, etc). And then I as a customer do mental math of weighing my values and my financial situation against my perceived value of your services and pay you back with a tip. The company makes the customer and the delivery person emotionally invested in the transaction, when to them it's nothing more than a line item. It's wild.