A clever text will not rescue a bag of bruised produce. My Shipt advice starts with the shopping: get the right items, make substitutions easy to approve, and keep the customer from wondering where their groceries went.
I originally wrote these tips in October 2024 from my experience shopping around metro Detroit. This update keeps the useful parts and corrects the substitution advice. I do not have a measured tip increase to promise you. Good service is worth doing, but the customer still decides whether to tip.
New to the app? Start with my Shipt shopper guide or the first-order walkthrough.
Make the replacement question easy to answer
“They’re out. What do you want?” pushes the shopping back onto the customer. Give them something concrete: the available brand, size, price, and a clear photo when useful. These are suggested messages, not transcripts from actual orders.
“The 12-ounce strawberries are unavailable. They have a 16-ounce pack for $1.50 more. Would you like that, or should I skip them?”
Before sending that message, read the substitution preference. Shipt lists three choices: contact the customer about unavailable items, do not substitute, or use a selected backup. Follow that choice rather than treating every missing item the same. Shipt explains its substitution instructions here, checked September 9, 2026.
My old suggestion to say “trust me” about another granola bar brand was too casual. Your favorite bar might be the wrong flavor, price, or ingredient list for that household. Describe the option and let them choose. Silence is not approval; follow the app’s current instructions when you cannot reach someone.
Bad produce is a reason to ask, not upgrade the bill
Look underneath the berry container. Check the bread before dropping it under a gallon of milk. Those little checks matter more than forcing a joke into every message.
If the strawberries look bad, explain that. Pre-cut fruit may be an option, but it can cost more and be a different product from what the customer wanted. Do not automatically grab it.
Correction to my original article: I previously claimed a pricier produce replacement improves base pay. That was unsupported, and I have removed it. Choose replacements for the customer’s needs, not to increase the basket total. I also removed the suggestion to treat ginger as a straightforward replacement for turmeric.
Send an update when something actually changes
A short introduction is fine. After that, concentrate on useful updates: an unavailable item, a checkout delay, or your delivery estimate. Keep the personality if it comes naturally. There is no need to perform a comedy routine beside the cereal.
“Shopping is finished. Checkout is moving slowly, so I’ll send an updated arrival estimate once I’m on the way.”
That is better than promising “five minutes away” before you have even paid. Send driving updates while safely parked, and tell the customer promptly if the timing changes.
Keep two orders from becoming one messy order
Separate each customer’s groceries in the cart and vehicle. Check the order before checkout and again before unloading. Similar bags are easy to confuse when you are rushing.
Before accepting more work, account for both delivery windows, the checkout line, and the drive between addresses. Two payouts do not help much if the extra stop makes the whole trip run late. My delivery-offer checklist covers the time and mileage decision.
Finish the delivery without asking for applause
Follow the drop-off instructions, keep bags clear of an outward-opening door, and complete the required steps in the app. A simple “Your groceries are at the door. Thank you!” is enough when appropriate. Skip the repeated reminders about ratings or tips.
After the shift, track what you actually earned against your total time and miles. Do not accept an otherwise poor order assuming a generous tip will fix it.
Fuel is another cost to watch. You can check nearby offers with my Upside referral link, but compare the final price and any extra driving before choosing a station. I may earn a reward if you sign up and qualify through my link.