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☆ Theft just keeps getting worse for Dollar Tree
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dollar Tree says theft will remain a problem at its stores well into 2024. Dollar Tree is closing about 1,000 Family Dollar stores, it also said Wednesday, a result of a review of the brand that has been months in the making. Theft was one of many factors that Dollar Tree considered when it decided which locations to close, the executives said. Last year, Dollar Tree locked some items up and put others behind checkouts to deter would-be shoplifters. Do you work at Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, or Dollar General and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Richard Dreiling, Jeffrey Davis, Davis, Dreiling Organizations: Service

☆ Instacart, DoorDash, and other delivery service customers say their accounts were deactivated because of innocent mistakes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Some customers of Instacart, DoorDash, and other delivery services have had their accounts randomly deactivated. Other delivery customers have similar stories. Instacart's website says that customers' accounts can be deactivated "due to potential fraud or other risks." "In accordance with our Community Guidelines, Instacart can deactivate customer accounts in cases of suspected fraud," an Instacart spokesperson said. AdvertisementDo you work for or use Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Walmart Spark, or another gig delivery app and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Ryan Ladd, Ladd, rancid, Uber, Instacart Organizations: Service, Costco, Facebook, BI, Walmart Locations: Instacart, Denver , Colorado, South Carolina, Denver

☆ Some Walmart stores are limiting self-checkout lanes just for Spark drivers and Walmart+ customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Dominick Reuter | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewYou might need an app on your phone to use self-checkout during your next trip to Walmart — the lanes might be one reserved for the retailer's Spark delivery drivers or Walmart+ subscribers. Drivers with the company's Spark delivery platform told Business Insider they've seen the limited kiosks at their stores, and photos showing cordoned-off lanes have been cropping up on social media over the past few weeks. At these stores, shoppers need to use the full-service lanes unless they're buying for themselves using the Walmart app's scan-and-go feature or for someone else using the Spark app. A Spark driver in California told BI that designated lanes for Spark drivers showed up at a store there at the end of February. Requiring shoppers to log in to an account before using self-checkout could help stem some of those losses.

Persons: —, they've, Joe Pennington, Pennington, they're, abitter@businessinsider.com Organizations: Service, Walmart, Business Locations: California

☆ Whole Foods is launching mini-stores for quicker shopping trips
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Called "Whole Foods Market Daily Shop," they'll be a fraction of the size of a normal Whole Foods. Called "Whole Foods Market Daily Shop," they'll take up between 7,000 and 14,000 square feet, Bloomberg reported on Monday. People want things fast," Christina Minardi, executive vice president of growth and development at Whole Foods Market and Amazon, told Bloomberg. A rendering of the produce section at a Whole Foods Market Daily Shop store. It also aimed to be more affordable than mainline Whole Foods stores by focusing on Whole Foods' own-brand products.

Persons: It's, —, they'll, Christina Minardi, Andy Jassy Organizations: Amazon, Service, Bloomberg, Foods, Shop, Daily Locations: New York City

☆ I left apps like Uber Eats to start my own delivery business. I love connecting with people and not having to rush around
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But in January, he started "Tony Delivers" and brings people their food using his own system. Working as "Tony Delivers" has allowed him to interact with more people than on gig apps, he said. Customers order their food from a restaurant for takeout, then text Tony their order for delivery. I was talking with one of my buddies about working for the delivery apps, and he was like "What if you just cut out the middleman?" Often, gig delivery work has no growth.

Persons: Tony Illes, Tony, —, Illes, didn't, I'm, I've, It's, we'll Organizations: Service, Google Locations: Seattle

☆ I worked in a call center for Walmart Spark workers. I got reprimanded for giving drivers tips they had earned, and most calls were frustrating and scripted
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dominique Anderson, a former resolution coordinator in North Carolina who fielded support calls from Walmart Spark drivers. I worked at what they call "Tier 2" for Spark support. There were a few reasons why Spark drivers would call our support line. Some people would also call in about the Spark drivers using multiple accounts. AdvertisementA Walmart spokesperson told BI: "Our driver support agents are invaluable, and they provide tremendous support to drivers on the Spark Driver platform.

Persons: Dominique Anderson, It's, I've Organizations: Service, Walmart, Business Locations: North Carolina, Virginia

☆ Hackers are targeting Walmart Spark drivers' accounts and using them to shop for the delivery service, drivers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The problem has popped up in about half a dozen posts in Facebook groups for Spark drivers over the last two weeks. Some legitimate drivers told BI they were kicked off of Spark after trying to verify themselves, for example. Drivers should report any concerns to Spark Driver support so we can look into it further and take the appropriate action." Walmart Spark drivers' identities are at risk. Do you work for Walmart Spark, Instacart, Uber Eats, or another gig delivery service?

Persons: —, Sherry Medellin, she's, hadn't, hasn't, Uber Organizations: Service, Business, Walmart, BI Locations: El Paso , Texas, Medellin, Texas, North Carolina

☆ Gig workers explain how they got their accounts reactivated on Instacart and Uber Eats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Gig workers often have their accounts deactivated, even if they've done nothing wrong. Here are the top tips for getting reactivated from people who deliver for Instacart and Uber Eats. But some gig workers have had success getting their accounts — and an income — back. Business Insider spoke with two gig workers who successfully got apps to overturn their deactivations. AdvertisementDo you work for Instacart, Uber Eats, DoorDash, or another gig delivery service?

Persons: Uber, —, Instacart, could've Organizations: Service, Walmart, Companies, Business, Trust, Safety, Instacart Locations: South Dakota, Instacart, Oregon

☆ Bots are some DoorDash and Walmart Spark delivery gig workers' dirty secret
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Frustrated by falling pay and intensifying competition on delivery apps, some gig workers are turning to "bots" — apps and other programs that claim to help them optimize their earnings. AdvertisementBots can "negatively impact other drivers"Using a bot violates the delivery apps' terms for workers, the companies told Business Insider. One called "Spark Ninjas" supposedly captures orders automatically on Walmart's Spark delivery platform. Bots appear to be just one way that some gig workers are improving their earnings. Do you work for a gig delivery app like Instacart, DoorDash, or Walmart Spark and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, I'm, DoorDash, Para, illicitly, Sharell, Barshishat, there's, Spark Organizations: Service, DoorDash, Business, Indiana, Uber, New York Times, Walmart, Nike, Facebook, BI Locations: Indiana, DoorDash, Para, Texas

☆ Aldi is the latest grocery store to use a rival version of Amazon's Just Walk Out tech
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Aldi is reportedly testing checkout technology similar to Amazon's Just Walk Out at a store. The technology, from startup Grabango, has been used at a Chicago-area Aldi store since November. AdvertisementAldi is the latest retailer to add in-store technology that functions like Amazon's Just Walk Out checkout system. Like Amazon's Just Walk Out, Grabango's technology allows customers to download an app on their phone and add their credit card information. AdvertisementHave you visited the Aldi store in Aurora and have a story idea or insight to share?

Persons: — Organizations: Aldi, Retailers, Service, Amazon, Foods, Grabango, Business Locations: Chicago, Aurora , Illinois, Aldi's, North Carolina, Aurora

☆ Walmart offered to pay Spark drivers as little as 52 cents per order after a 'temporary' app issue
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Walmart offered some Spark drivers as little as 52 cents to deliver orders to customers' homes. AdvertisementWalmart offered to pay some Spark delivery drivers as little as 52 cents to deliver groceries and other merchandise from its stores to customers' doorsteps after "a temporary issue" in its app. A screenshot from the Spark app shows an offer that pays 52 cents. But some Spark drivers have reported being shut out by the feature despite using accounts in their own names. Do you work for Walmart Spark, Instacart, DoorDash, or another gig delivery service and have a story idea to share?

Persons: — Organizations: Walmart, Service, Business, Pay, Georgia Spark Locations: Texas, New Mexico, Georgia

☆ I'm a gig worker who argued for Seattle's new minimum pay laws. Now, I'm fighting for my Instacart job.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michelle Balzer, an Instacart driver in Seattle. Balzer was among those who advocated for PayUp, a series of bills meant to protect gig workers passed by Seattle's city council. One of the laws, which requires companies like Instacart to pay contractors the equivalent of the city's $19.97-an-hour minimum wage, took effect on January 13. An Instacart spokesperson told BI: "Due to new regulations imposed by the Seattle City Council, we're making several changes to how Instacart operates in Seattle. AdvertisementDo you work for Instacart, DoorDash, Walmart Spark, or another gig work app and have a story idea to share?

Persons: Michelle Balzer, Balzer, I've, Instacart, PayUp, It's Organizations: Service, PayUp, Business, Shoppers, Seattle, Seattle City Council, Safety, Walmart Locations: Seattle, Seattle's, Pacific Northwest, PayUp, Instacart, Washington, DoorDash

☆ DoorDash raises fees for NYC deliveries after warning that a new minimum wage law would hit customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jordan Hart | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

DoorDash followed through with its claim that delivery orders in New York City would be hit with increased fees. All customers placing orders in New York City will start seeing that fee on Friday in response to new minimum wage rules in the city, a DoorDash spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider. DoorDash warned customers that fees would increase due to these rules. Referring to the Regulatory Response Fee in Seattle, DoorDash said in a statement on January 13 that it helped "cover the costs of these new regulations. AdvertisementUber Eats has added similar fees to orders in New York and Seattle with the advent of those cities' laws.

Persons: DoorDash, Uber, we're, abitter@businessinsider.com Organizations: Business, Seattle, Target, Workers, Walmart Locations: New York, New York City, Seattle, Instacart

☆ Starbucks is even taking a hit in the US from Israel's war in Gaza, its CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Starbucks said its sales in the Middle East took a hit after Israel's invasion of Gaza. And events in the region have also impacted US sales, CEO Laxman Narasimhan said. AdvertisementStarbucks took a sales hit last quarter in the Middle East after Israel's invasion of Gaza, its CEO said. The company has previously pushed back against "misrepresentation" of its position on Israel's invasion of Gaza. Starbucks did not disclose sales figures for the Middle East, and a company spokesperson declined to comment beyond Starbucks' earnings release and call.

Persons: Laxman Narasimhan, —, Narasimhan Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Consumers Locations: Gaza, Europe, Malaysia, Australia, Texas

☆ Amazon delivered a box of cookies by drone to someone 15 minutes and 29 seconds after they ordered
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewAn Amazon drone delivered a box of cookies in about 15 minutes — making it one of the company's fastest deliveries of 2023. "During rainstorms, strong winds, extreme heat events, or other unfavorable weather, drone delivery is not available," the FAQ reads. Amazon plans to expand Prime Air drone deliveries in 2024, adding a new US location as well as hubs in Italy and the UK, Herrington wrote. Amazon delivered orders to Prime members at its "fastest speeds ever globally" in 2023, according to the blog post. AdvertisementHave you received an Amazon delivery by drone and want to talk about the experience?

Persons: —, Doug Herrington, There's, Herrington, Amazon Organizations: Service, Business, College Station ,, Amazon, College, Air Locations: College Station, College Station , Texas, Lockeford , California, Italy

☆ You might be paying twice as much by ordering takeout food on DoorDash or Postmates, new study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Besides tips and service fees, restaurants often also charge higher menu prices for delivery orders. AdvertisementOrdering takeout food for delivery might cost you twice as much as picking it up yourself, depending on the delivery service you use, according to a new study. AdvertisementFinanceBuzz compiled its data by ordering food from various national restaurant chains on DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats. Delivery orders from the fried chicken chain were between 82% and 149% more expensive than pickup, depending on which delivery service customers ordered from. AdvertisementDo you work for Instacart, DoorDash, Walmart Spark, or another delivery service and have a story idea?

Persons: —, FinanceBuzz, DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber, Gruhub Organizations: Service, Uber, Panda Express, Walmart Locations: Southern California, DoorDash

☆ Instacart wants to turn grocery shopping into 'Pokémon GO' to get you to buy more using smart carts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Instacart is trying to gamify grocery shopping with its Caper smart carts, an executive said. AdvertisementInstacart is trying to get you to buy more at the grocery store when you use one of its screen-equipped shopping carts — by turning shopping into a game. The company's Caper carts can show shoppers ads or discounts for products based on their buying habits, Instacart has said. McIntosh told Grocery Dive that customers spend around 30 minutes in front of the cart's screen during a visit. "We really believe that it's going to be the future of grocery shopping," CEO Fidji Simo told Bloomberg at the time.

Persons: Instacart, —, David McIntosh, McIntosh, financials Instacart, Fidji Simo Organizations: Service, Connected, Bloomberg

☆ Self-checkout is alienating shoppers, new research finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewSelf-checkout might make shoppers feel less loyal to a store, according to new research. One asked shoppers about their recent grocery-buying habits, including whether they used a self-checkout kiosk or were rung up by a human employee. In it, some shoppers read a short passage about how doing something themselves is rewarding before paying for groceries using self-checkout. But technology aimed at catching shoplifters using self-checkout has caused confrontations between Walmart employees and innocent customers, Business Insider reported. Do you work at a store with self-checkout and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Yanliu Huang, Farhana Nusrat, Huang, Nusrat, She's, Todd Vasos Organizations: Service, Business, Kroger, Costco, Drexel University's LeBow College of Business, Drexel, University of San, Walmart Locations: University of San Diego, Albuquerque , New Mexico

☆ Dollar store chains would be prohibited from opening stores within one mile of each other if a proposed Chicago law passes
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewChicago is the latest city to consider limiting the number of dollar stores. AdvertisementSome have followed the path of the Chicago proposal, enacting laws limiting the opening of new dollar stores. One community in Southern Michigan pushed back on a proposed Dollar General store but ultimately approved the store after the company sued. Dollar Tree and Dollar General have responded by opening more stores with space for produce and refrigerated foods. AdvertisementDo you work at a Dollar General, Dollar Tree, or Family Dollar store and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Matt O'Shea, O'Shea, Dollar Organizations: Service, Chicago City Council, Chicago Sun, Times, WTTW, Business, Fortune, Sun - Times, Consumer, Institute for Local Locations: Chicago, Stonecrest , Georgia, Southern Michigan

☆ A viral video appears to show Walmart Spark shoppers with perishable groceries waiting for a ride in the Arizona sun
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Alex Bitter | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A viral video appears to show Walmart Spark workers leaving perishable groceries in the sun. Some Spark drivers appear to be using fraudulent identities, as Business Insider previously reported. Additionally, many Spark drivers appear to be using accounts with names other than their own. Walmart previously told BI that selling, renting, or borrowing accounts goes against its policies for Spark workers. Do you work for Walmart Spark and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Aaron, YouTube Aaron, Aaron said, wasn't, they've, he'd, dreuter@businessinsider.com Organizations: Walmart, YouTube, Arizona Walmart, Business, Service, Spark ., Spark Locations: Arizona, Chandler , Arizona

☆ Target might limit you to just 10 items at self-checkout registers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Target is testing a 10-item limit at some self-checkout kiosks. AdvertisementShoppers who use some Target self-checkouts now have to limit themselves to 10 items or fewer. "In select stores we are testing self-checkout lanes of 10 items or fewer in order to reduce wait times and better understand guest preferences," Target told Business Insider. The retailer did not say how many stores are involved in the experiment, but CNN reports that the limit applies at select self-checkout kiosks "at a handful of stores." Do you have a story idea about Target or self-checkout to share?

Persons: —, Target Organizations: Service, Target, CNN, Star Tribune, Costco, Walmart Locations: Minnesota, Edina , Minnesota, Minneapolis, Albuquerque , New Mexico

☆ What is retail shrink, and how does it differ from theft?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Shrink" has come up frequently as retailers like Walmart and Target talk about theft at their stores. AdvertisementExecutives at retailers like Walmart and Target often mention "shrink" or "shrinkage" when they talk about theft at their stores. In 2022, retailers lost $122.1 billion in shrink, or 1.6% of all retail sales, according to the National Retail Foundation. External theft represented 36% of shrink that year, while 29% came from employee theft. And executives at Dick's Sporting Goods said in August that higher-than-expected shrink from theft pulled the retailer's profits down during its second quarter.

Persons: —, it's Organizations: Walmart, Service, National Retail Foundation, Dick's Sporting Goods, CNBC

☆ Walmart Black Friday crowds and chaos are a thing of the past
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Alex Bitter | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

One current and two former Walmart employees told Business Insider that stores in recent years aren't bracing for chaos on the day after Thanksgiving. AdvertisementInstead of one day of sales, Walmart now offers a series of items on mark-down, from pajamas to electronics. "It's made just for Black Friday," Baker said of on-sale products that might otherwise appear similar to regularly available merchandise. AdvertisementA Black Friday sales event at a Walmart Supercenter on November 14, 2023. Advertisement"Because of my time at Walmart, because me and my husband both have done it, we just don't do Black Fridays," she said.

Persons: —, Karen Baker, Baker, Athenia Camacho, Brittany Chang, hasn't, Camacho, It's, " Baker, it's, Mario Tama, abitter@businessinsider.com Organizations: Walmart, Service, Business, Southwest . Business, Black, Southwest Locations: California, Southwest

☆ Walmart Black Friday crowds and chaos are a thing of the past — but the deals could be better than ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Alex Bitter | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sales are spread over multiple weeks, and shoppers are going online to snag deals instead of lining up outside a store. Former Walmart employee Karen Baker told Business Insider she worked each Black Friday in her decade with the company and described it as a "free for all." One current and two former Walmart employees told Business Insider that stores in recent years aren't bracing for chaos on the day after Thanksgiving. "It's made just for Black Friday," Baker said of on-sale products that might otherwise appear similar to regularly available merchandise. "Because of my time at Walmart, because me and my husband both have done it, we just don't do Black Fridays," she said.

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