Instacart Launches Costco

Can someone tell me how exactly Instacart is working this? Do they have an agreement with Costco? (I'm guessing not.) Do they have individual shoppers who just do their thing as though they were individuals, and then deliver? Are those individuals employees or freelancers?<p>I'm guessing Costco would be a bit reluctant to formally allow something like this, as I also presume that one reason they get lower prices from suppliers is that they only sell to members, so there is less of a perception that a supplier is undercutting other retailers by letting Costco sell at a reduced price. A sort of price discrimination... but if stuff gets resold without a markup to bring the price in line with other retailers it would make their negotiations more difficult.

I used Instacart for the first time yesterday to have Trader Joe's delivered. It was awesome! Their website shopping experience could use a little TLC, but other than that it was solid.

Wow, this is awesome. It works even better for Costco than most places since Costco inventory is fairly consistent, so ordering in advance is fine.

As someone who lives outside the valley, I feel so weird seeing articles like this. I think they bother me because they illustrate just how much this whole universe of tech is totally rooted in a single geographic area.<p>In anything else, changes in a business that had such a tiny area of influence would not make the news next to stories on international business. I shouldn't feel so bothered about this, but I do.

How do they get the inventory of a costco if it isn't officially sanctioned by costco? Do they buy the stuff on their corporate card then charge you on yours and bank off the $10 fee? I don't live in an instacart location, so am not sure how their biz model works (sounds like peapod).

I love Instacart... that is all. Please branch to NYC soon!

Hm interesting that you don't need an existing Costco membership. I hope they are able to expand service beyond SF!

This is excellent news for Chez JJ. Thank you Instacart, you just made our hacker house network more scalable.

This alone would have me as a customer in Portland, but I agree with titlex that forcing a signup modal before I can peruse the site is really unfriendly.

Ugh I can't even look at the Instacart page without having to sign in. I don't even live in the valley, I just wanted to check out their page.

Do the terms of costcos membership agreement allow them to do this, or did they negotiate a separate agreement?

Why do they force you to sign up? That could potentially turn away customers.

Will you deliver non-food items from Costco? Are there weight/size limits?

as a user I have never been more excited!! this is so awesome :)

Hurry up and come to Seattle!

So.. it's 1999 again?

Oh my god. If this includes berry ice cream delivery I will be a happy man.