New Safety Measures for the Shopper Community

We’re continuing to prioritize the health and safety of the shopper community above all else. We know that this commitment extends beyond COVID-19, and we’ve been making ongoing investments to make sure shoppers feel secure and protected while on the Instacart platform. Today, we’re introducing several new resources and offerings to further support the safety of the shopper community.

In-App Safety Hub

We’re making it easier for you to access all of the safety resources you may need with a new in-app safety hub, found directly in the Shopper app and the Shopper Help Center. The new in-app safety hub will include information and tools on the most important safety matters.

• Tools: If you need to report an issue that occurs while shopping or delivering, you can now more easily access in-app incident reporting directly from the safety hub. In the coming weeks, you can also access the new “Get emergency assistance” functionality, which will connect you with emergency services when you need.
• Resources: Learn more about important safety resources such as shopper injury protection, in the event that you are injured while shopping or delivering with Instacart. You can also find more information on trusted third-party safety organizations, such as the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE).
• Guidelines: A one-stop shop for guidance on shopping and delivering safely, including food safety, alcohol and prescription delivery, and safe driving.

To visit the new safety hub, tap the “?” icon in your Shopper app and go to the “Your safety” section.

Emergency Assistance

In the event of an emergency, we want to make it as easy as possible for shoppers to get the help you need. The new “Get emergency assistance” button will connect you with emergency services, as well as share critical information like your GPS location to make sure authorities can help get you the help you need. This new feature is being offered in partnership with ADT, who will connect with you and make sure you get assistance in case of an emergency. The emergency assistance feature can be found in the new in-app safety hub, and will be rolling out to all shoppers in the coming weeks.

Shopper ID Verification

Ensuring the security of your shopper account is extremely important. To help keep all shoppers’ accounts secure, we’re rolling out ID verification for all shoppers in the coming weeks. With ID verification, you’ll be periodically prompted to take a photo of yourself to ensure that the person shopping matches the photo we have of you on file. This helps us confirm that shoppers are the only ones using their accounts, and nobody other than you is able to shop with your account.

Safer and More Convenient Alcohol and Prescription Delivery

We’re introducing a safer, more convenient way for you to deliver items that require ID, including alcohol and prescriptions. Our updated contactless delivery feature will allow customers to scan their ID and sign for their delivery from their own smartphone, so they never have to come into contact with yours. You can then verify that the ID matches the customer from a safe distance. We’re rolling out this feature to all shoppers and customers in the coming weeks.

New Health and Safety Kits

We’re continuing to source health and safety kits for the shopper community. We’ll begin shipping newly updated health and safety kits, which will include a multi-layer face mask that is washable and reusable and a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer that will ship with a leak proof seal. Any active shopper can order a new kit free of charge, even if you’ve already ordered and received one. You can order your updated health and safety kit directly from the dashboard card in the Shopper app.

New Perks for the Shopper Community

To help make sure shoppers stay connected and safe, we’re announcing new partnerships with Sprint, CarAdvise, and Good Sam as part of the Instacart shopper perks program. These new offerings will provide shoppers with savings on cell phone coverage, automobile maintenance, and roadside assistance, helping you get discounts on the purchases that mean the most to you.

• Sprint: You can save up to 25% off an Unlimited Premium plan with Sprint, including unlimited data, talk, and text, along with up to $650 per line to cover switching fees. Your Sprint plan will also include free subscriptions to Hulu, Tidal, Lookout mobile security, and Amazon Prime.
• CarAdvise: CarAdvise helps you save time and money on automobile maintenance by scheduling services from your smartphone. You can receive discounted services through a special premium subscription rate available to Instacart shoppers, including discounted service pricing, mechanic advice, service warranties, maintenance reminders, and more.
• Good Sam: You can receive a 50% discount off a 12 month membership to Good Sam Roadside Assistance, offering 24/7 towing, flat tire service, battery jumpstart, emergency fuel and fluid delivery, lost key and lockout assistance, and more. With a Good Sam Platinum+ Auto membership, you have access to plans that cover all vehicles in your household and all members of your family (including spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children under 25 years old).

To learn more about each of these new perks, including how to access these exclusive offers, visit the Shopper Help Center.

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Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.