What Are Instacart Demo Orders & How to Complete Them

Instacart is a go-to side hustle for many people for extra cash. Instacart shoppers, acting as independent contractors, use the Instacart app to grab, shop, and deliver orders.

But, before they dive in, how do they get the hang of the app and deal with diverse situations?

That’s where the Instacart demo order feature steps in. Demo orders on Instacart are like mock trials, allowing shoppers to run through an order without actually hitting the aisles.

These are crafted to help newbies get comfortable with the app and explore its various features.

In this article, we’ll unravel what Instacart demo orders are, how to go about them and tackle some common queries surrounding them.

If the Instacart shopper life intrigues you or you have just signed up to be a shopper, keep reading to learn more about demo orders.

What Are Demo Orders on Instacart?

Instacart demo orders are pretend orders that shoppers can access via the app, allowing them to simulate the whole shebang of fulfilling an order. Since demo orders on Instacart don’t involve any real shopping or delivery, they can be done anytime, anywhere.

The main aim of these demo orders is to help fresh shoppers get acquainted with the app and its features.

Moreover, Instacart demo orders give them a taste of different situations, like handling multiple orders, dealing with alcohol orders, or tackling heavy pay orders.

Here are some glimpses of what demo orders could look like:

• A mock order from Kroger with 15 items encompassing produce, meat, dairy, and bakery goodies.
• A dummy Walmart order with 10 items covering household necessities, pet supplies, and frozen delights.
• A simulated Costco order with 5 items including bulk purchases, alcoholic beverages, and electronics.

You are not required to complete demo orders, as this user puts it, “Demo orders are just for new shoppers to get a feel for the app. But there’s no requirement to do them at all.”

While demo orders on Instacart are optional, they come highly recommended for new shoppers aiming to build confidence and experience before diving into real orders.

When you are doing the demo orders, there will be “demo mode” written at the top center of the app.

Extra Reading: How to Bypass Instacart Waitlist?

How to Find and Do Instacart Demo Orders

Demo orders are essentially your sandbox. They allow you to fiddle with the Instacart app without the pressure of real customers awaiting their orders.

It’s akin to a rehearsal before the actual performance. It helps in aiding you to become acquainted with the app’s features and functions prior to diving into real orders. But, how to access and complete these demo orders on Instacart?

The process is straightforward:

1. Sign up to be a new member on Instacart and complete the onboarding process.
2. Start your journey by launching the Instacart Shopper app on your smartphone and logging in.
3. Hit the menu icon (those three horizontal lines) perched on the top left corner of your screen.
4. Now, tap on “Demo Orders” from the menu options. A list of demo orders Instacart has curated will unfold for you to choose from.
5. Select your demo order, tap on it and you’ll be shown order details like the store name, item count, and the estimated time it would take.
6. To plunge into the demo order, tap on “Start Shopping”.

Now, let’s segue into some reflections from the community on demo orders Instacart offers:

Reddit user shares, “I did a few demo orders before I started taking real ones. They were very helpful in getting me familiar with how everything works. I recommend doing them if you are new to Instacart.”

Conversely, another shopper from Reddit argues, “Demo orders are a waste of time in my opinion. They don’t reflect real-life situations at all. The items are always in stock, there are no substitutions or refunds, and there are no ratings or feedback from customers.”

The demo orders on Instacart serve as your training wheels. They aid you in getting a hang of the process, although the real challenge unfolds as you venture into real orders.

Extra Reading: How to Get More Batches On Instacart?

Benefits of Doing Instacart Demo Orders

Instacart demo orders serve as an excellent medium for acquiring experience and bolstering confidence as a shopper.

They acquaint you with the app’s facets and operations, like locating items, executing replacements, liaising with customers, and finalizing checkout and delivery.

Additionally, you get to learn the art of shopping proficiently and effectively, such as selecting optimal routes, sidestepping out-of-stock items, and enhancing your pace and precision.

By partaking in demo orders, you’re also able to gauge your knowledge and skills in varying scenarios, like shopping for numerous customers, managing unique requests, or tackling issues or hurdles.

Moreover, demo orders offer a safe, no-risk platform for practice since they don’t impact your ratings, earnings, or eligibility for batches.

You’re at liberty to undertake as many demo orders as you wish, at your convenience.

Extra Reading: Does Instacart Pay For Gas?

Additional Educational Resources To Get Ready For Instacart

Besides diving into demo orders, there’s a plethora of other resources and learning materials to refine your skills as a shopper. For instance, consider exploring:

Carrot Academy: An online learning hub providing optional lessons on diverse topics linked with shopping via Instacart, like picking top-notch items, executing exemplary replacements, and effective communication with customers. Carrot Academy is accessible via the Shopper app or the Shopper portal.

Articles and Videos: Numerous articles and videos are available online offering hacks and advice for shopping with Instacart, likewise batch selection, boosting earnings and ratings, and handling common challenges. These resources can be found on Instacart’s blog, YouTube channel, or social media pages, or by scouring web sources like this website you are reading or platforms such as Reddit or Quora.

FAQs

Are demo orders real, do I have to go to the store for demo orders?

Demo orders on Instacart are not real shopping orders. They are simulated shopping experiences designed to help you get the hang of the app. From scanning items, weighing them, and replacing unavailable ones, to interacting with customers and checking out, demo orders Instacart walks you through it all.

The best part is you don’t have to step into a store or deliver anything, you can explore demo orders from anywhere, anytime.

Instacart demo orders are your playground to familiarize yourself with the app and the process of shopping before you jump into handling real orders.

They give you the real feel of the app interface like how the orders show up on the app.

They also provide feedback on how swiftly and accurately you handle the shopping tasks, aiding in honing your skills to boost your earnings eventually.

Do you get paid for demo orders?

As demo orders are not real, hence they are unpaid. They are purely for practice and learning, and won’t contribute to your Instacart earnings or ratings.

However, diving into demo orders can gear you up for real orders, enhancing your chances of earning more down the line. Here’s how:

• Get acquainted with the app to dodge common pitfalls.
• Polish your speed and accuracy in scanning items and finding replacements swiftly.
• Boost your confidence and shopping prowess.
• Familiarize yourself with various stores and their layouts.

Are demo orders mandatory?

No, demo orders on Instacart aren’t must-do. You can dive straight into real orders the moment you sign up for Instacart and get your payment card. There’s no obligation to complete any demo orders to start your shopping spree.

Nonetheless, demo orders from Instacart are highly recommended for newbies to learn the ropes of the app and improve their shopping chops. Even seasoned shoppers might find demo orders useful to brush up their knowledge or to explore new stores or types of orders.

Final Words On Demo Orders

Demo orders stand as trial runs you can execute right in the Instacart Shopper app, without the need to step into a store or make a delivery to a shopper.

This feature is not mandatory but is designed to get you acquainted with the nuts and bolts of the app, such as scanning goodies, switching out items, tacking on extra items, and the checkout process.

These demo orders serve as a robust springboard to get you ready for the real deal, building your confidence as a shopper. They are a tool to steer clear of typical blunders and snags that could dent your ratings and tips.

So, if the idea of becoming an Instacart shopper is on your radar, or you are on a quest to polish your skills, it’s a wise move to venture into the demo orders feature of this gig app.

You can take them for a spin as many times as you wish until you hit a comfort zone and feel prepped.

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