Add item and replacement instructions through the Instacart app or website. 

Item instructions

You can add item instructions from your cart, on the checkout page, or even after you placed your order (but only before the shopper starts working on it).

  • From your cart: Click or tap Instructions (website) or Add a note (app) on the item.
  • From the checkout page: Click or tap Review to review items and add instructions.
  • After you order: Visit the Order page to review your items and add any instructions.

Item instructions carry over to future orders. If your item preferences change, review your notes when ordering the same items in the future.

Preference instructions

When you add an eligible item to your cart, you’ll see a preference window appear. You can set item-level preferences for items, including but not limited to—

  • Bananas (ripeness)
  • Avocados (ripeness)
  • Deli meats (slice thickness)

Your preferences help shoppers pick items more accurately for you.

You can either choose your preference right away or dismiss it. Once chosen, these preferences are saved to your account for future orders, and you’ll be prompted to review them every 30 days. Note, updating a preference removes any previous shopper note for that item, but you can still add a new item note if you’d like.

Shoppers will see your preference clearly while shopping to help meet your request. You’ll receive an automated update if your preference can or can’t be met.

To set a preference—

  1. Select an eligible item (like bananas or avocados).
  2. Tap Edit preference under Item instructions.
  3. Choose your option (for example: not ripe, almost ripe, ripe).
  4. Select Confirm.

Replacement instructions

When items are unavailable, you have 3 options—

  • Best Match: Your shopper selects the best possible replacement. They’ll also use replacements you’ve approved on past orders.  
  • Specific Item: You can search the catalog or choose a replacement from a list of suggestions.
  • Refund: If you prefer not to replace an item, get a refund.

Replacement instructions carry over to future orders.

Replace items in-app—

  1. In your cart, tap Add Instructions on the item.
  2. Tap Choose replacement.
  3. Tap Replace with specific item, Replace with best match, or Refund this item.

Replace items on the website—

  1. In your cart, click Choose replacement on the item.
  2. Select Replace with specific item, Replace with Best match, or Refund this item.

We'll refund or charge you for the difference in price for replacement items.

If you've turned on order notifications, look for alerts when your shopper replaces or refunds an item.

Checking another store for your out-of-stock items 

We know how important it is to get every item you ordered. We may check another store for any refunded out-of-stock items. If the out-of-stock items are at another store and a shopper is available, we’ll let you know we’re working on a new order. 

Restrictions include—

  • No alcohol items

  • No Rx items 

  • No gift orders 

  • Only delivery orders 

You can’t reschedule the new order, but you can add items or cancel on the order page. There’s no additional service or delivery fee for this second order and you can cancel it without a cancellation fee. Delivery instructions from the original order carry over. You’ll also get order notifications if you’ve enabled them.

The new order creates another authorization hold for the out-of-stock items only. (Adding items to the new order might create additional authorization holds.) The new order includes a portion of the service fee and tip from the original order, but there are no additional service or delivery fees. 

The second shopper will visit a different location of the same retailer. While item prices are based on the original order, please note that the same coupons, discounts, and promotions (e.g., BOGO, order minimum) may not apply.