Instacart is just one of many gig economy jobs, including adjacent companies like DoorDash, Uber and Shipt. So, some people find that Instacart isn’t for them, and they’d like to try something new.
But the question is: How do you quit Instacart? What’s that process like? I have the answer you need before you cut ties!
How Can I Quit Instacart In 2024?
Instacart’s full-service shoppers are considered contract workers, not employees of the company, and as such, they can quit at any time in 2024. No formal notice is needed, and shoppers can simply delete the app and destroy the shopper card. However, shoppers can also permanently delete their account if they are sure they won’t be returning.
To find out more about quitting Instacart, canceling/permanently deleting your shopper account, and even whether Instacart can fire its shoppers, keep reading!
Can You Quit Instacart at Any Time?
You can quit Instacart at any time as a full-service shopper.
One of the perks of working a gig like Instacart, if you’re a full-service shopper (meaning that you shop and deliver), is that you aren’t an employee of the company.
While that normally isn’t to anyone’s advantage, it does mean that you don’t have to give any notice before pulling the plug.
As a full-service shopper, you have been making your own hours to begin with; now, you can simply choose not to work any hours ever again.
If you are an in-store shopper, however, you are an employee – after all, you’re paid an hourly wage, and don’t rely on tips to make up the majority of your earnings.
Depending on what state you’re in, you are either employed “at-will” – meaning you can quit or be fired at any time – or not, meaning notice should be given.
Either way, if you’re quitting but not on bad terms with your store’s team, giving some notice is the gracious thing to do.
How Do You Cancel Your Instacart Shopper Account?
If you know for sure that you’re done shopping for Instacart, you can actually request them to permanently cancel your account.
It’s very easy to do, and it can be done from your phone.
First, you can call Instacart shopper customer support at: (888)-246-7822.
You’ll speak to a customer service representative, who can walk you through canceling your account.
You can do something similar with the Instacart Shopper live chat function in the app.
This text-based function also allows you to chat with a customer support rep via video conference, if needed.
The nice thing about Instacart Shopper’s customer support is that it’s available 24/7, so no matter what time you’re ready to delete, Instacart is there for you.
If You Quit Instacart, Do You Return Your Shopper Card?
My research has shown that most people, when they quit Instacart for good, destroy the Shopper card.
Some cut it up, others just throw it out.
Instacart itself hasn’t made any publicly available instructions on what to do with it after quitting, so it’s really up to the shopper’s discretion.
That said, we all sometimes do things in haste that we regret later, so it might not be the worst thing to hold onto it.
If you decide to come back to Instacart, you will have to wait for them to send you a new Shopper card if you destroyed the old one.
Finally, if you call Instacart Shopper customer support to delete your account, you can also ask them what the best thing to do with the card is.
Can Instacart Fire You?
The good news is that Instacart cannot technically fire you if you’re a full-service shopper, because you’re a contract worker, not an employee.
The bad news is that Instacart can deactivate your account so that you can’t pick up batches, thus effectively firing you.
In-store shoppers are a different story, however, as they are Instacart employees, with hourly wages and the ability to get benefits.
In that instance, yes, Instacart can fire its shoppers.
If you think your Instacart Shopper account has been unfairly deactivated, you can appeal the decision and apply for reactivation.
Why Has Your Instacart Account Been Deactivated?
There are a myriad of reasons why Instacart deactivates accounts.
Some reasons include shoppers not following rules, shoppers scamming the company, or customers or shoppers acting rude and unprofessional.
Giving customers the actual receipt from check-out is a big no-no, as well as over-cancelling orders.
If you’re caught in the store or in your car with someone else shopping alongside you, that’s also a huge (and common) cause for deactivation.
You’ll know your account has been deactivated, either by a notification email, or the fact that you can no longer sign into your account (or both).
To try and get your account reactivated, the first step is to contact Instacart Shopper support.
Open a dialogue with the company; if you can explain why your deactivation was a legitimate mistake, or why you deserve a second chance, the company will take it under consideration.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why is Instacart so slow, is Instacart legit, and what is Instacart & how does it work.
Conclusion
If you’re a full-service shopper for Instacart, you’re a contract worker, not an employee, and you can quit shopping for the company at any time.
However, you might want to hold onto your Shopper card, because Instacart will always be there to come back to if you happen to change your mind.
