The field playbook for Instacart and multi-app shoppers: faster picking, better batch filters, store drop timing, and the tax miles most people never claim.
The guide walks you through each one with exact routines you can run on your next shift.
Aisle routes and scanning habits that get you under 60 seconds per item. That's the speed that unlocks priority batches.
Pack so frozen items survive the drive, and log the return trip so those miles count as business miles at tax time.
Small details, like placing bags so the door swings freely, protect your rating and lead to tip bumps after delivery.
Top earners don't work longer hours. They run a system.
All 16 chapters, message templates and the mileage tracker.
Using the batch filter on one shift can cover the cost.
Drop timing and faster picking add up week over week.
Steady filtering plus proper mileage logs protect your income.
Figures are illustrative targets, not guarantees. Earnings depend on your market, hours, vehicle costs and platform changes.
Written for shoppers who are already on the road and want the next level, not a beginner's welcome kit.
How seconds-per-item shapes the batches you're offered, and how to bring it down.
The 9:45 drop, the 10:30 pivot, and which hours are worth working.
Keeping your rating above 4.7 when substitutions and customers go sideways.
Protecting your cancellation rate and getting fair outcomes from support.
Pay guarantees and adjustment pay that many shoppers never check.
Return-trip miles, write-offs, and a ready-to-use tracker spreadsheet.
Selfie checks, SMS phishing, and avoiding deactivation.
Running Spark, Shipt, DoorDash and Uber alongside without burning out.
Pay once and keep it. Read in the browser right away, or download the PDF and EPUB for Kindle and Apple Books.
Below 75 seconds per item is good; top shoppers stay under 60. Instacart uses a rolling average of your last 30 completed orders when ranking you for higher-tier batches.
In California, Prop 22 guarantees 120% of local minimum wage for active shopping and delivery time, plus a per-mile payment for active miles. If batch pay comes in lower, the difference is topped up each pay period.
Miles between business stops (store to customer, customer to the next store) are generally deductible; your commute from home is not. Having the app on does not by itself make a drive deductible, and whether your first and last trip from home counts depends on your situation. The guide shows how to keep a mileage log. Check with a tax professional for your situation.
After checkout you get a license key and download links. The web reader unlocks on your device right away. You can download the complete PDF and EPUB in English, Spanish or Turkish, plus a summary edition (PDF) in 10 more languages.
No. This is an independent guide written for gig workers. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Maplebear Inc. (Instacart).
Open the guide on your phone before the next drop and start using it right away.