Side gigs are vital if you’re looking to earn some extra income that also gives you the flexibility of making your own schedule. They’re also extremely helpful if you just need a part-time job or you just want to be more financially productive on the weekends. Who wouldn’t want to earn an extra couple hundred bucks here and there?
The most popular side gigs are ride-sharing jobs but if driving around strangers isn’t your cup of tea, consider Shipt instead, whose tagline is “we bring the store to your door” since their whole business revolves around same-day deliveries.
What is Shipt?
Shipt is an app that customers can download to request same-day deliveries on grocery, household, beauty supplies, and more. They’ll be able to browse through millions of products from stores like CVS, Target, Meijer, Petco, Costco, and a lot more popular retailers.
Once the customer finishes creating his/her order list, it’s sent to a professional shopper, who will go to the store and grab the items. The customer is also given a delivery window of time where the professional shopper will deliver the entire order to their doorstep.
It’s extremely convenient for anyone that can’t go to the store themselves!
On the other side of the Shipt business, are the independent contractors called Shipt Shoppers. These are everyday people that can apply to be a Shipt Shopper and who get paid for accepting customer orders and delivering them.
How to Apply to be a Shipt Shopper
If you’re interested in a side gig that helps out the community, then being a Shipt Shopper can give you that satisfaction. Essentially you’re going to the store, getting all the items from their order list, checking out with a pre-paid card they provide, and delivering the order.
Here are other requirements for becoming a Shipt Shopper:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a valid U.S. driver’s license and auto insurance
- Have a reliable car, 1997 or newer
- Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
- Knowledge of the produce section (know the difference between Romaine or Iceberg lettuce etc)
- Have an iPhone or Android
If all that is easy and common sense for you, then you just have to fill out an application here.
You’ll then eventually be asked to do a virtual interview, which is a mix of multiple-choice questions (e.g. grocery related), short essay questions, and some video questions, which means you’ll need a camera and a mic on your laptop or computer to record yourself answering questions like “explain why your background and experience would be a good fit for this job.”
After the process, they’ll contact you within 48 hours.
How Much Money Does a Shipt Shopper Make?
Shipt Shoppers are independent contractors that get paid for each order completed. Usually, it’ll take up to 1 hour to complete an order when you factor in the store and delivery time.
The pay can range from $16 up to $22 per order. And on top of that, shoppers keep 100% of the tips!
Some shoppers have compared it to a waitressing job since the pay depends on the order size and tips. But the flexibility of the schedule and not being on your feet for hours at a time makes Shipt Shopping a more convenient way to make money.
Payments are made every Friday via direct deposit, for orders completed the previous Monday through Sunday.
It doesn’t cost you anything to be a Shipt Shopper but you will be responsible for your own data usage and cost of gas, etc. But since you’re considered an independent contractor, when it comes to tax time, you can write off most of these expenses that occur.
Shipt Shoppers also get free membership so whenever you need your groceries delivered, you can have someone else bring it to your door! This is a $99 value given to Shoppers for free.
What Does a Shipt Order Trip Look Like?
Since Shipt Shopping is based purely on your own schedule, you set the times that you’re available to work whether it be 1 hour or a few on days of your choosing. You can change this whenever you want as well!
Shipt will then send you orders that you can accept or not accept. Although if the system recognizes that you don’t accept orders often during your “working hours,” they won’t send you as much so be careful!
A preview of the order shows the total amount of the order, the closest store, and the general delivery area. Once accepted, you’ll then see the detailed list of the order to go to the store and shop.
Sometimes if an order item is out of stock, the customer will let you use “best judgment” so you can choose the next best item to substitute or they’ll have you text them to let them know. All messaging is done via the app, so no real phone numbers are revealed.
Thanks to The Soltrop Six, here’s what a typical trip looks like!
The Bottom Line
Being a Shipt Shopper is great for those looking to earn extra income while still giving back to the community by helping people who can’t get to the store on their own. With the extremely flexible work hours, the weekly direct deposits, you’ll be part of a fun workforce of independent contractors who get paid whenever they want to work!
