Normally when you’re out shopping a batch for Instacart, you deliver an order to the customer then wait for new batch offers to come in.
There’s nearly always downtime while you hunt for the next batch.
But now there’s an app update that lets you accept a new batch while you’re still working on your current one.
Accept a new batch while you’re currently shopping one. But are they any good?
Queuing up a chain of orders is an exciting possibility—it could mean busier days with back-to-back batches.
But how does the queuing system actually work, and are the orders any good?
So far, shoppers say Instacart sends you individual batches to add to your queue, similar to add-on orders.
The queuing system doesn’t let you pick from the list of all available bathes. And the batches they are sending may not be the best.
Queued orders may not be a game changer, but it’s worth learning how they work and experimenting with queued orders for yourself.
How queued batches work on Instacart
In markets where available, new batch offers will pop up while you’re working on a batch and if you accept the offer, it will be added to your queue.
After you finish your current batch, you can head to the queued order to shop & deliver.
Queued offers show the same info as a normal batch: Estimated payout and tip, the store, the number of items, and the estimated distance.
The app will combine both orders into one payout screen, similar to the final order screen for add-ons and double/triple batches.
Currently, you can only add one order to your queue, so you won’t be able to queue up a long string of back-to-back orders.
One queued offer at a time
Some shoppers hoped this feature would let you browse the complete list of batches and add one to your queue.
Instead, you’ll only receive order offers one by one. There’s no list to browse—it’s a yes or no decision for one batch.
It’s similar to add-on orders, which also only send you one offer at a time.
So far, it doesn’t look like the app sends you a never-ending barrage of offers, but popups while shopping may be a distraction.
Queued orders vs add-on orders
Instacart already has an add-on feature that offers additional orders while you’re actively on a batch, so how are the new queued orders any different than add-ons?
Here’s the main difference: Add-on orders are always at the same store as your current batch. Queued orders are from different stores.
For example, you could be shopping at Kroger and get an offer to add a Costco order to your queue.
With add-ons, you only get additional Kroger offers while shopping at Kroger.
How is the pay for queued offers?
Should you expect the new queued offers to send you juicy high-paying & low-item offers, or are these the leftovers that nobody else wants?
So far, shoppers report that most batches offered under the new queue system aren’t the best.
They are generally lower-paying orders that other shoppers have likely passed over.
But that’s not always the case. Just like add-ons, most of them may not be the best, but sometimes you’ll get lucky and find one that pays well or takes you in the direction you’re trying to head.
Shoppers react to queued orders
Some shoppers are excited about queued orders, but many aren’t finding it to be a good way to get better batches.
“It’s basically the same add-on order system we have now, just it could be two different store locations.”
“What IC sends to your queue is generally trash. It is a way to clear out their junk.”
“The worst batches were coming up. $7 and $13 and change was the highest. I declined them all. They send them when your driving to deliver, that’s when I got them”
“I can’t help but think it’s gonna be distracting and end up screwing us over!”
Source: Reddit
Conclusion: Keep an eye out for queued, but don’t get too excited
The queued batches system is still rolling out—further tweaks are likely to happen—but it looks like a mild update that isn’t a game changer for your shopping routine.
Adding a good batch to your queue and avoiding downtime is definitely a benefit, but so far most of the orders offered from this system aren’t the best.
And for some, the distraction of extra popups is annoying or even potentially unsafe if you have to deal with a popup while driving.
But keep an eye out for good batches—they can’t all be bad, right?
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