Shipt is a grocery delivery service that is growing in popularity.
However, does it work well for its customers?
In this article, we will explore how Shipt works, how to sign up for an account, pricing details, ease of use, and the pros and cons of the delivery app.
Table Of Contents
Is Shipt Worth It?
Yes, Shipt is worth it when you need a quality grocery delivery service.
It makes it easy and convenient when you want a simple way to get others to do your shopping for you.
Let’s show you all the reasons to support why you should seriously consider using Shipt.
How Does Shipt Work?
Overall, Shipt makes it easy to use its delivery service.
Here are all the details you need to know about using Shipt.
Sign Up for an Account
To sign up for Shipt, go to the website to sign up via email or by using the following accounts.
- Apple
When signing up via email, enter your email address on this page.
Read the Shipt Terms of Service page to ensure you agree with the company’s legal terms.
Click the “Continue” button.
On the next page, enter your full name and a password.
Your password must include the following.
- At least eight characters
- A lower case character
- An uppercase character
- One special character such as @, !, ?, or %
Click the “Sign up” button.
After you complete these steps, you will be able to browse items and choose a membership plan.
Enter Location
After you sign up for an account, you will need to enter your location so that Shipt can locate stores in your local area.
Enter your delivery address.
The app will start showing you which stores you can choose from in your town.
Providing your delivery address also helps Shipt provide pricing, availability, and delivery time estimates.
After entering your address, Shipt will ask you to describe whether the property is an apartment, house, condo, townhouse, or business.
Name the property so you can easily access it later.
If your property requires a call box code or gate code to enter, provide that information in the box provided after you select the “yes” option.
Browse Items and Fill Shopping Cart
On the next screen, Shipt will show you a complete list of nearby stores that the company services.
To place your first order, select the store you need to order from.
Once you have selected a store, you can browse items and fill your shopping cart.
You can also search for specific items.
When you find an item, select the quantity that you would like to purchase, and then add it to your cart.
Choose a Membership Plan
After you have added items to your shopping cart, you will need to choose a membership plan.
The annual Shipt membership is the best way to purchase.
You will pay $99 per year.
You can also buy the Shipt membership by paying for the $10.99 per month option.
Enter Delivery Time and Preferences
After you have chosen a membership plan, you will need to enter your delivery time and preferences.
You can choose to have your groceries delivered as soon as possible or schedule a delivery for a later time.
You will also select your preferred delivery location.
Communicate Delivery With Driver
When your driver is on their way to deliver your groceries, Shipt allows you and your driver to communicate through the app.
You can track the driver’s progress and contact them if you have any questions about your delivery.
You can also enter substitution preferences while placing your order.
You will leave instructions for the driver that tell them whether you want them to contact you or make their own replacement decisions.
Using this option helps prevent unwanted disappointments if an item you want is out of stock.
What Is the Shipt Store Selection Like?
Shipt offers groceries from a variety of stores, including Target, CVS, and Petco.
You can also order from stores like the following options.
- Costco
- Winn Dixie
- Walgreens
- Piggly Wiggly
- LIDL
- Sephora
- Office Depot
- Meijer
- Hyvee
- Publix
- ABC Fine Wine and Spirits
- HEB
- Harris Teeter
- GNC
- Lowes Foods
- BevMo
- Bed, Bath, and Beyond
How Does Shipt Pricing Work?
Shipt offers the two membership plans we mentioned above.
Another way to pay for your order is through the Shipt One-time Delivery option.
You will pay a $10 delivery fee plus service fees using this option.
Shipt calls this option its Shipt Pass.
You can also order packs of Shipt Passes.
- $27 for three Shipt Passes
- $40 for five Shipt Passes
Additionally, you will pay for the price of each item you put into your Shipt order cart.
Are Items on Shipt Marked Up?
Yes, you will notice that Shipt marks up the prices slightly.
It does this to help cover the costs of picking out your items, packing your order, and delivering your groceries to you.
The Shipt website says you shouldn’t pay more than $5 above what you would pay when visiting any store to perform shopping errands.
If this is true, then it’s a nice trade-off to pay a five-dollar premium to save the time required to shop for groceries.
We did a Target comparison to verify how much Shipt marks up its prices.
Here are our findings with seven different product price comparisons in the Los Angeles area.
- Doritos Nacho Cheese Chips: $3.50 on Shipt, $3.99 on Target.com
- 20ct Incandescent Outdoor String Lights: $9.10 on Shipt, $9.10 on Target.com
- Tomato, Basil & Garlic Pasta Sauce – 24oz – Good & Gather: $1.89 on Shipt, $1.49 on Target.com
- French’s Yellow Mustard Classic – 20oz: $3.29 on Shipt, $2.69 on Target.com
- Coca-Cola – 12pk/12 fl oz Cans: $5.89 on Shipt, $5.89 on Target.com
- Q-Tips Cotton Swabs – 750ct: $5.39 on Shipt, $5.29 on Target.com
- Froot Loops Breakfast Cereal – 19.4oz – Kellogg’s: $4.29 on Shipt, $4.29 on Target.com
In this case, you can see that the difference is far less than five dollars.
- $33.35 to shop at Shipt
- $33.14 to shop for the same items at Target
Shipt Fees
You should know that some retailers will charge an additional service fee on some of the items you put into your Shipt cart.
You’ll only know this at the time of checkout.
The above order could potentially end up costing more than the $0.21 difference from our test.
However, you should find that you won’t pay much more than doing your own shopping when using Shipt.
Overall, your Shipt fees could include the following items.
- Delivery fee
- Service fee
- Shopper benefits
In California, for example, Shipt tacks on what’s called a “shopper benefit” fee.
It helps the company with guaranteeing income for its drivers.
The fee factors in mileage, shopping time, and driving time.
It also helps support health care subsidies for eligible Shipt shoppers.
You will also see the tax charged on any taxable items in your state.
Tipping on Shipt Orders
Your shopper will appreciate any tips, however.
You can add a tip at the time of checkout or after your order is complete.
Shipt shoppers make an average of $10 to $20 per hour.
They depend on tips to add to their base pay.
You can add a tip of any amount you want.
You’re not required to give 15%, 20%, or anything like that.
Use your best judgment.
Factor in how well your shopper did with putting together your order.
Shipt Membership
You can save money by selecting the annual option.
You’ll pay an average of $8.25 per month instead of paying $10.99 per month on the monthly plan.
These memberships benefit you by letting you make an unlimited number of delivery orders without paying any delivery fees on orders over $35.
If you place an order for under $35, then you will pay a $7 fee plus a service fee.
You’ll pay a lower service fee per order using a Shipt membership compared to using the single delivery option.
How Easy Is Shipt To Use?
If you’ve ever ordered anything online, then you shouldn’t have any trouble using Shipt.
The process is pretty straightforward to follow.
Here are the steps you’ll need to take to start using Shipt.
First, create an account by going to the Shipt website or downloading the mobile app.
The app is available on iOS and Android devices.
You can then start shopping for items.
Once you’ve found everything you need, it’s time to check out.
You’ll pay for your order with a credit or debit card.
After that, you’ll choose a delivery window that works for you.
After finalizing your order, a Shipt shopper will be on their way to do your shopping for you.
They will deliver the items to you within the one-hour delivery window that you selected.
You can track the progress of your order through the app.
When your shopper completes the shopping session, you’ll receive a notification that your order is on its way.
Once you have your items, be sure to check them against the receipt.
What We Like About Shipt
Many advantages exist when using the Shipt platform.
Convenience
Convenience is one pro to using Shipt.
Shipt does all of the work for you so that you don’t have to go to the store.
This option is especially beneficial if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands.
Or, if you live in a rural area where you experience limited shopping options.
Same-day Delivery
You can also get your items delivered on the same day that you order them.
Same-day delivery is a huge plus, especially if you need items right away and can’t wait a few days for shipping.
Flat Pricing for Members
If you sign up for a Shipt membership, you’ll pay one flat price per year or month.
It’s a nice benefit because it allows you to budget your shopping expenses ahead of time.
Easy To Use
Shipt is also easy to use.
The app is user-friendly and straightforward.
You can find what you’re looking for quickly and easily without any trouble.
Owned by Target
Finally, Target owns Shipt.
Target is a well-known, reputable brand.
You can rest assured that you’ll get any favorite Target items delivered quickly to your home or business.
Of course, Shipt will do the same for any other store you shop with.
Target provides excellent customer support.
You can get help quickly through their care team.
What We Don’t Like About Shipt
As with most delivery services, there are a few disadvantages to consider.
Cost
The cost is one downside to using Shipt.
There is a delivery fee plus a service fee.
The good news is that you can avoid paying these fees by signing up for the Shipt membership we mentioned earlier.
You will also pay more because you’ll likely be kind enough to leave a tip for your driver.
Prices Are Marked Up
The groceries you order will typically cost more than if you went to the store and bought them yourself.
This fact is true of most delivery services, not just Shipt.
The markup is how the company makes money by providing you the delivery service.
Membership Costs
Of course, there is also a cost to sign up for a Shipt membership.
If you think of it, this is only a negative if you don’t use the Shipt service often.
Using it weekly for your grocery needs means you’ll never pay delivery fees.
In this case, the membership becomes well worth the investment.
Lack of Availability
Not all stores are available on the Shipt platform.
The app is still growing and adding more stores all the time.
If there is a particular store you want to shop with that isn’t available yet, you’re out of luck for now.
As well, you may run into a lack of availability with individual items in your cart.
You’ll need to deal with the hassle of conversing with your Shipt shopper to figure out how to proceed in those cases.
It’s an easier process to navigate when you’re shopping by yourself.
When Does It Make Sense To Use Shipt?
You might wonder when it makes the most sense to use Shipt.
If you live in a rural area or a place with limited shopping options, Shipt is an excellent solution.
It allows you to get the items you need without traveling far from home.
Shipt is also an ideal solution if you have a busy lifestyle.
The platform does all of the work for you so that you can focus on other things.
It’s also a good idea to use Shipt if you’re looking to save time.
Same-day delivery is an excellent way to get the items you need without having to wait a few days for shipping.
Shipt is a good solution if you’re looking for a convenient way to shop.
The app is user-friendly and easy to use.
You can find what you’re looking for quickly and easily without any trouble.
Why Shipt Is Worth It
Shipt is worth it for its convenience, ease of use, and simplicity.
What’s more convenient than getting groceries delivered straight to your door?
You can order whatever you need and get it within an hour or so.
Shipt doesn’t force any minimum order amounts.
Feel free to order as little or as much as you need.
You can also schedule your delivery for a time that is convenient for you.
Shipt is worth it because it’s so easy to use.
The app makes it easy to search for specific items.
You can either browse by category or use the search bar.
Overall, it makes sense to use Shipt.
Ask yourself how much your time is worth.
What can you do instead of taking all the time required to fight traffic to shop for your groceries?
You might log more hours at work to earn more money.
You could invest additional time with your children.
It’s compelling to weigh the quality of life Shipt provides by eliminating walking through another grocery store every week.
Bonus: Shipt vs Others
You might wonder how Shipt stacks up against its competitors.
Is Shipt Better Than Instacart?
Both Shipt and Instacart are good choices for grocery delivery. They both have their pros and cons.
It’s typically a bit cheaper to use Instacart without using any of the membership options.
However, if you do use the service frequently, a Shipt membership is more cost-effective.
Is Shipt Better Than Doordash?
Doordash is a restaurant delivery service, so it’s not comparable to Shipt.
Shipt is the better choice if you’re looking for a grocery delivery service.
Is Shipt Better Than Amazon Fresh?
Amazon Fresh is a good choice for grocery delivery.
It is a bit more expensive than Shipt.
AmazonFresh also requires a minimum order of $35, while there is no minimum order with Shipt.
Remember that you will pay an additional fees for Shipt orders under $35.
Wrapping Up
Shipt is a good choice for grocery delivery.
It’s convenient, easy to use, and more affordable than some of its competitors.
If you’re looking for a way to save time and money, Shipt is worth it.
