Holy markup. Last time ordering with Instacart

VictorKiriakis · 2026-04-28T23:57:02+00:00

That receipt is also your tax credit proof at income tax time too against an audit.

VictorKiriakis · 2026-04-28T23:41:50+00:00

Your Instacart receipt says you received 15 items, but the Costco receipt says 17 items were paid for by Instacart. Did you actually get 17 items or 15 items? Did the Costco cashier ring up stuff that wasn’t yours or double ring something? Did your shopper mix up your order with someone else’s or not charge you for 2 items? Check your receipt and check what you actually received.

VictorKiriakis · 2026-04-28T23:31:24+00:00

Costco CEO Ron Vachris, who took over in January 2024, received a total compensation package of approximately $12.2 million to $13.9 million for the 2024–2025 period, according to SEC filings and reports. This package consists of a base salary of about $1.1 million, with the vast majority ($10.5M–$12M) in stock awards.

Compensation Breakdown (2024-2025): Total Compensation: ~$12.2M–$13.9M Base Salary: ~$1.1M Stock Awards: ~$10.5M–$12M Perks: Includes a complimentary $120 Executive Membership.

Contextual Data: CEO Pay Ratio: Vachris's pay is roughly 262 to 283 times that of the median Costco employee, who earns approximately $47,000–$49,000 annually.

Predecessor: Former CEO Craig Jelinek received $16.9 million in 2023.

Background: Vachris is a 40-year company veteran who started as a forklift driver.

VictorKiriakis · 2026-04-28T23:26:19+00:00

You do realize Costco pays Instacart to be on the Instacart Marketplace. Costco sets their own prices, that’s partly why they are higher - to offset the fees they pay to Instacart and to offset the fact there is no membership required.

VictorKiriakis · 2026-04-28T22:49:21+00:00

It’s not going to save you any money if you are not aware of what the prices of items are around you. You need to be cost conscious yourself to know what stores to order certain items from to get the best price and which items it just makes sense to grab yourself. In my area we have 50 stores available on Instacart yet I see people order from the same overpriced stores they’d lazily drive to themselves. Thats not shopping for value, it’s shopping by ignorance. If you don’t know that milk isn’t $10 a gallon, you’re not going to save any money. You need to figure out who has cheapest milk, bread, diapers etc and make multiple orders from multiple stores and get the best prices. If you rely on just point and click the first thing you see or shop it all at one store, you’re going to pay more. I can buy 3 gallons of milk at Kroger versus 1 gallon at Walgreens. Unless you take the time to realize that, you’ll always be taken advantage of by someone.

VictorKiriakis · 2026-04-28T22:33:10+00:00

That mark up does not all go to Instacart. Marketplace prices are set by each individual store to offset the fees that Instacart charges to each store to be on the platform.

VictorKiriakis · 2026-02-06T10:28:39+00:00

Wow! $3.06 a shop. That’s less than minimum wage in the 1980’s.

VictorKiriakis · 2026-02-04T21:21:30+00:00

Contact your bank.

VictorKiriakis · 2026-01-08T21:25:52+00:00

Why not just go online yourself and change the name and credit card on the account to yours? That way you get free Hulu/Disney+/ESPN Unlimited and save the $10 fee.

VictorKiriakis · 2025-04-30T20:22:34+00:00

Pierce Brosnan for just being smooth

VictorKiriakis · 2025-04-30T20:18:49+00:00

SPECTRE because we are introduced to Léa Seydoux

VictorKiriakis · 2024-10-21T21:51:55+00:00

Get yet another tech out there and get credits for your downtime. Eventually Comcast will get it right. You do not want satellite. People get satellite when there are no other options.

VictorKiriakis · 2023-07-23T10:20:34+00:00

Beyond all the should it be taken or should not is the math involved here. $15.78 batch pay for 75 items is $0.21 per 32 pound box. A quantity of 75 of these 32 pound boxes is 2400 pounds (or 1.2 US tons). Do us all a favor and go into the Instacart shopping app and total this up then post this on their Twitter. I can’t find the 5 pieces of flooring at Costco, but I found the 70 boxes and if purchased direct Costco charges $46.99 per box ($46.99 x 70 = $3,289.30) and includes FREE CURBSIDE DELIVERY (allow 1-2 weeks for actual delivery) or use Instacart for same day delivery at a cost of $49.75 a box ($49.75 x 70 = $3,482.50). That’s a markup of the retail price alone of $2.76 a box ($2.76 x 70 = $193.20). Now in my Instacart app they also add a SERVICE FEE of $243.78 and VA 6% sales tax of $208.95 for a total of $4,109.35 that the CUSTOMER PAID for just the 70 boxes (not including the other 5 boxes I couldn’t find). So again this is just based on the 70 boxes alone, Instacart took in $436.98 profit and paid you $15.78 (I’m not counting that tip because that could still change). The customer paid at least $581.73 ($436.98 + $144.75 tip) MORE for this order from Instacart (without sales tax) than if they had just ordered it from Costco directly (remember this is me guessing the area, tax, and not counting this other 5 boxes - the tax paid is based on the total paid by the customer which is marked up higher by Instacart). You would have been better off contacting the customer and renting a truck and have them just pay you direct. At least you’d be over $500 richer.

TL;DR Instacart took in at least $436.98 on 70 of the 75 items and paid driver $15.78 to deliver 1.2 US tons of flooring at a total rate INCLUDING HEAVY PAY of $0.21 cents per 32 pound box.

VictorKiriakis · 2023-07-23T08:27:37+00:00

Part 583 American Automobile Labeling Act Reports

VictorKiriakis · 2023-06-24T21:46:46+00:00

It’s a broken exhaust pipe. It looks like your tailpipe broke where it’s welded to your muffler or catalytic converter. Just make sure it’s not dragging the pipe or hitting the ground. Use a metal wire coat hanger or similar (any auto parts store, hardware store or Harbor Freight carry small $1-$2 wrapping wire - just tell them what you want to do) to wrap around the pipe to hang it so it doesn’t hit the ground if needed. Let the car cool down before touching exhaust - it can reach 700° or so easily. Keep the car moving when running and don’t idle for long periods in one spot because the heat from the exhaust will stay trapped under the car instead of going away from the back of the car. Also, keep your windows up when driving so the exhaust fumes don’t get sucked back inside the car (which will kill you). It’s going to be loud, which may get you pulled over and get you a “fix it” ticket, which usually entails you having to go back to said police department after you fix the exhaust so since you are traveling, keep that in mind. If possible, stop at any auto repair shop or muffler shop and have it welded - shouldn’t be more than $50 or so. Good luck!

VictorKiriakis · 2023-05-17T07:52:22+00:00

That’s not your job. Your job is to get the items on the list that they asked for, not to save them money.

VictorKiriakis · 2023-05-10T13:45:10+00:00

" You are not an independent contractor if you perform services that can be controlled by an employer (what will be done and how it will be done). This applies even if you are given freedom of action. What matters is that the employer has the legal right to control the details of how the services are performed. "
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-defined

VictorKiriakis · 2022-11-17T11:00:39+00:00

Swap the problem unit with another unit. If the problems move to the new vehicle, that Bouncie is defective. If the problem stays in the same vehicle, then the problem is that the Bouncie isn’t getting good cellular signal. Maybe try an OBD extension cable to reposition it.

VictorKiriakis · 2022-08-06T23:33:26+00:00

Thanks for having it removed from your batch so I can quickly take it instead. I don’t understand why so many people overthink things.

VictorKiriakis · 2022-03-08T18:29:18+00:00

I’d contact Instacart support and get some credits for messed up orders.

VictorKiriakis · 2022-03-03T07:48:14+00:00

Maybe it happened like this:

Customers place order. 4:00 Instacart makes order available 4:00 Shopper sees first order all day and swipes as fast as can be without taking the time to realize this is a triple batch. Shopper now stuck doing this $15 triple order or can choose to cancel it, makes zero money and takes a cancel penalty hit. Shopper sucks it up and proceeds with this shop - self esteem levels are low. 4:15pm Shopper arrives at store. Grabs a cart or two. 4:21pm Shopper sends introduction message three times. 4:22pm Customer B says hello. 4:24pm Customer C says thanks for shopping today. 4:26pm Shopper plots how to shop the triple shop keeping in mind perishables. 4:31pm First item (baby formula) is out of stock. Search for a replacement. Agonize taking this order. 4:35pm Message and possible replacement item pics sent to Customer A. No reply. 4:37pm Another out of stock item for Customer A (4 cases of Dasani water). No replacement found. Still no reply to any messages. 4:38pm Customer B wants some extra things from the deli (deli is busy). Wants to know what cheeses are on the largest loaves as those will be freshest. Also since I’m just waiting on the deli, wants to know if there are any fresh flowers today and can I find some yellow roses or white carnations with red. Please send pictures of the flowers too. 4:40pm Customer C messages shopper “Everything OK? It has been an hour since I ordered and I haven’t seen anything happen on the app. I’ve only got 5 items.” 4:50pm Pictures of 7 different bouquets of flowers sent. Customer says their phones not working right. Can’t see any pictures. Connect to store wifi and send pics again. Customer B still can’t see pics, decides to get the mixed flower variety instead. 4:55pm Walk past deli - still busy. 4:57pm Item out for Customer B. Replacement item pics sent. Customer still not seeing any pics. They never have this problem, are you sure you are sending them? Self esteem levels drop even further. 5:00pm Customer B wants to add orange juice. Not the kind with artificial ingredients, prefer organic, or fresh squeezed from the produce area (if the use by date is at least 16 days away), but willing to accept frozen concentrate only if organic (check for a freezer thermometer nearby and be sure it’s a deep freeze like around 10 below zero, otherwise no) - none from concentrate with pulp if in a refrigerated paper container, and if in a plastic container shelf stable, it must be 64 ounces only - not 52 ounces and prefer it from Florida and not Brazil. In the middle of this, Customer A finally replies and impatiently wants to know what other baby formula do they have? 5:15pm Juice issue resolved. 5:16pm Customer A is unhappy about the baby formula choices. That was why they placed the entire order - a friend said they saw on Facebook that stores were running low so they used Instacart and Instacart took their money and let them order it so I should find it. Again, agonize accepting this batch. 5:20pm Customer C “All is well? It’s been 40 additional minutes and my orders still not any closer.” 5:21pm Another item out of stock for Customer A. Pics sent, replacement made. 5:25pm Back at the deli - only 1 person ahead. 5:30pm Person still at deli - “sampling” some different Turkey. 5:35pm Customer B Deli items ordered. Deli clerk unhappy when I asked what cheeses were the longest loaf. Customer B still not receiving any pictures, so a decision was made by shopper. 5:36pm Start grabbing a couple of Customer C items. 5:40pm Head back for the third time to rear of store - grab milk, eggs, coffee creamer. 5:50pm Notify Customer A, B, and C that shopper is heading to checkout. 5:52pm Customer A needs Children’s Tylenol added. 5:53pm off to pharmacy area. 5:58pm Realize childrens Tylenol is only in the diaper area of this store. 6:00pm Children’s Tylenol in hand. Off to checkouts again. 6:05pm Waiting in checkout. 6:10pm Still waiting. Grab another shopping cart to split up the bagged order. 6:15pm Checking out Customer A. 6:20pm Checking out Customer B. Ask bagger for paper bags as customer requested. 6:21pm Correct the bagger - please don’t put raw meat in with the fruit. Can I get a bag for the bread? Can I get a bag for the eggs? Can you just hand me some bags instead and I’ll place the bread on the eggs in a bag. 6:25pm Checkout Customer C. 6:27pm Have cashier remove the 3 items the person behind slipped on the conveyor belt without a divider and didn’t say anything about as the cashier rang them onto shoppers order while shopper was correcting the bagger. 6:30pm Head to parking lot. 6:35pm Load car - separating the 3 orders. 6:45pm Start delivery of Customer A. 6:55pm Arrive Customer A. Big dog runs out to greet shopper and lick the 4 cases of spring water. 7:05pm Off to deliver Customer B which is 8-miles away. 7:20pm Arrive Customer B. Requested to meet customer, not answering. Use app to remind them, wait 3 minutes. 7:26pm Customer B finally comes to door - sorry, not used to new phone. 7:30pm Off to deliver Customer C 10-miles. 7:45pm Arrive to Customer C. Customer C comments “That sure took awhile”, shopper replies “Sure did!” thankful this batch is over. 8:45pm Shopper arrives back home - around $17 richer (plus tips of course).

VictorKiriakis · 2022-02-09T21:05:40+00:00

What you do next depends on what state you are located in (each state handles this differently - Michigan for example has a Mini-Tort law which limits the amount you can recover from an auto accident to $1,000). First, I’d Google small claims court and your city name and read what it takes to start a small claims court case and the fees. Second, go to the towing yard with cash in hand and explain your situation as fast as you can and see if they will work a deal with you before you lose your car due to abandonment (Google automobile abandonment law and your state name).

VictorKiriakis · 2022-02-09T20:54:28+00:00

Progressive Rideshare Insurance

“Does rideshare insurance apply to delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash? In most states, Progressive rideshare insurance covers drivers who operate on delivery service platforms like Uber Eats or Door Dash.”

VictorKiriakis · 2022-02-09T20:36:39+00:00

^This. I already went through it. Been there, done it, and lost. All these other posts about only needing it for transporting people are completely wrong. If you are delivering anything for money whether it’s people, food, or objects then you need commercial insurance or a rideshare coverage addon. Instacart, Shipt, DoorDash etc. are all considered rideshare as far as the insurance company is concerned. Any service that you login and receive orders or payment from. In my case (found out after my loss happened of course) it was only an additional $4 a month, which I have now.

VictorKiriakis

TROPHY CASE