Skip to Content

Does Instacart Pay for Canceled Orders?

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Grocery Delivery & Pickup

In an ideal world, customers would never cancel orders. But for Instacart Shoppers who get paid to shop and deliver grocery orders, does Instacart pay for canceled orders?

Instacart does pay for canceled orders. But because the fulfillment cycle is not complete, Instacart typically only pays a portion of the fee, as in most cases, only part of the work has been done.

But there’s a lot more to learn.

In this article, we’ll check out what happens if a customer cancels an Instacart order, whether you would get paid if an order is canceled before you started shopping, and whether there is a cancellation window.

But we will also explore whether customers can cancel orders after checkout. And, we will wrap things up by looking at who pays better: DoorDash or Instacart?

Let’s dive right in.

Ready to make more money than with Instacart? Consider DoorDash!

DoorDash is a great alternative to working for Instacart and generally pays better.

See how much you could be earning. Available in over 4,000 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. All you need is a mode of transportation and a smartphone to start making money.

CLICK HERE to learn more about working for DoorDash!

Instacart pay canceled orders lg

What happens if a customer cancels an Instacart order?

If an Instacart order was partially or fully shopped but not delivered before it was canceled, Shoppers still get paid a portion of their fee by contacting Shopper Support. Customers are charged a $15 cancellation fee if they wait to cancel until the shopping process has begun.

Because you’ve invested some time in fulfilling the order, you would get paid. It’s only fair.

It’s not your fault that the customer changed their mind. But as of the time of writing, the process of getting paid for canceled orders is not yet automated.

So, you would need to let customer support know what happened and request your earnings. Make sure you took a screenshot of the order — so you could use it as a reference to back up your claim. 

As I hinted at earlier, it’s not the full fee that would be paid.

After all, you’ve only done a part of the work. And, in a lot of cases, the customer may place the order again. It would be picked up by another shopper.

But they would have to pay an extra $15 for canceling the order if they wait too long to cancel.

If I haven’t shopped an Instacart order and it gets canceled, do I still get paid?

Instacart full-service Shoppers are not paid if a customer cancels an order after it has been accepted but before any work has been performed by the Shopper. In-store Shoppers are paid an hourly wage without regard to canceled orders.

And customers can cancel with no fees or penalties if they cancel before a Shopper starts shopping.

But as you know, Instacart has two kinds of shoppers: 

  • In-store shoppers (part-time employees who just shop and don’t deliver)  
  • Full-service shoppers (independent contractors)

In-store shoppers are effectively part-time employees of Instacart. So, they get paid as long as they meet a minimum number of hours and do the work assigned. 

They get paid a fixed hourly wage that varies from location to location. They get paid even if an order is canceled during their shift.

Seeing as you are a full-service shopper, on the other hand, you only get paid when you shop and deliver orders. 

After all, you are an independent contractor — your earning is strictly a function of your performance. There’s no minimum earning to look forward to.

Is there a cancellation window on Instacart orders?

Instacart’s cancellation window is 1- 2 hours before the scheduled delivery time. As long as an order is canceled before shopping starts, there’s no charge to the customer. For cancellations, after shopping has started, they may be charged a $15 cancellation fee.

So, customers can initiate the cancellation process on their own if shopping has not begun. They can use the app or the website. It’s a simple process consisting of about 5 simple steps.

But to cancel an order when shopping or delivery is ongoing, they have to reach out to Instacart Care — they can access them via the Contact Us link at the bottom of articles in the Help Center. 

Having looked at the cancellation window, perhaps we should check out the elephant in the room: 

Is Instacart a good full-time job? 

That’s the theme of a recent article of mine where I shared the average income of Instacart Shoppers when they get paid, whether you can make good money with it, and even how to make the most money with it.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Can customers cancel an Instacart order after checkout?

Instacart customers can cancel an order anytime, including after checkout. If they cancel before the shopping starts, there is no fee to cancel. Once shopping has started but before delivery, there is a $15 cancellation fee. They can cancel by selecting Manage Order on the app.

And of course, if the order has already been delivered, they cannot cancel.

Now, let’s check out an interesting issue all Instacart Shoppers face:

Can you get paid instantly, or would you have to wait for days before you can have access to your money? 

You’re in luck because that’s what I explored in a recent article. 

In it, I shared how long it would take before your earnings show up, how quickly tips get paid, and how you can cash out instantly — I offered a simple step-by-step guide.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Who pays better, DoorDash or Instacart?

DoorDash pays better than Instacart. The earnings per delivery are not substantially different. But DoorDash has a higher base rate for tips. In fact, it’s 10% higher than Instacart’s. 

CLICK HERE to take a look at everything DoorDash has to offer right on their website.

Both companies have some requirements you’ll have to meet before you can work for them. One of these is the mode of transportation you’ll use to make deliveries. 

If you’re thinking of shopping and delivering for Instacart, you need to have access to a car. You can’t use any other vehicle. This could be a challenge for some folks.

DoorDash, on the other hand, allows you to use a car, bike, scooter, or even walk, depending on your local market. 

So, if you can’t have access to a car and you’re keen to get started, you know you’ve got an option.

Another key issue is the pay. DoorDash pays better, and the base rate for tips is a lot higher. Instacart’s base rate is 5%, while DoorDash’s is 15%. 

So, I’d suggest you get started with DoorDash (later, you could add Instacart, too). DoorDash doesn’t mind shoppers who shop and deliver for more than one food delivery company.

Interesting. But aren’t they the same company? 

It’s funny you should say that because that’s what I explored in a recent article of mine. Are they the same company, or are they owned by the same company? To find out…

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Conclusion 

In the article, we checked out what happens if a customer cancels an Instacart order and whether you would get paid if an order is canceled before you started shopping. 

But we also looked at whether there is a cancellation window. And we explored whether customers can cancel orders after checkout. 

We wrapped things up by looking at who pays better: DoorDash or Instacart?

Ready to make more money than with Instacart? Consider DoorDash!

DoorDash is a great alternative to working for Instacart and generally pays better.

See how much you could be earning. Available in over 4,000 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. All you need is a mode of transportation and a smartphone to start making money.

CLICK HERE to learn more about working for DoorDash!

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay and Image by Mediamodifier from Pixabay

The Grocery Store Guy, part of the Middle Class Dad family of websites, is reader-supported and when you make a purchase through some of my links, I  may earn a small commission from the sale, which in no way increases the cost to you. Learn more HERE.

Jeff Campbell
Latest posts by Jeff Campbell (see all)