alt Hacker NewsI have a really hard time believing that people who are actually struggling to make ends meet would use Instacart. This article does point out some pretty despicable behavior, but its attempt to pull at heartstrings falls flat due to the idiotic nature in which the argument is constructed. It’s comparable to complaining how terrible it is that caviar costs different amounts to different homeless people. Should’ve just stuck to the numbers — they are compelling and the story does need to be told.
Replies
> When you live in a food desert where your only store is a Dollar General that defrauds you at the cash-register, you are more likely to accept a higher price from Instacart, because you have fewer choices than someone in a middle-class neighborhood with two or three competing grocers.
I imagine some people use Instacart because they don’t have a car and there are no grocery stores or public transit nearby.
> Instacart has disclosed its pricing experiments in corporate marketing and investor materials, noting that “shoppers are not aware that they’re in an experiment.”
If it’s not a big deal why don’t they come out and tell the users?
Instacart (and other delivery providers) accepts EBT SNAP.
The price of caviar fluctuates a lot depending on quality and where you are buying it, there would really be no reason to get angry about that.
Why doesn't Instacart directly display their sucker ooops "surge pricing" ? This would empower poor people to make an informed choice on directly funding the billionaires associated with Sequoia Capital so that they can buy their next luxury yachts faster. Have some pity for the oligarchs!
Have you ever watched Caleb Hammer's "Financial Audit?"
People in dire financial situations very often have a history of making bad decisions with money.
Personally I do not struggle with money/budgeting but the only time I will ever use something like InstaCart is if I am sick and can't leave the house.