Instacart Slaps New ‘Regulatory’ Fee on NYC Orders After Law Takes Effect
New York City shoppers opening their Instacart apps this week were met with an unwelcome surprise at checkout — a brand-new charge quietly added to their grocery bills just days after sweeping delivery worker rules went…
New York City shoppers opening their Instacart apps this week were met with an unwelcome surprise at checkout — a brand-new charge quietly added to their grocery bills just days after sweeping delivery worker rules went live.
According to the New York Post, the grocery delivery platform has begun applying what it calls a “regulatory response fee” to orders placed within the five boroughs, a cost that did not appear on customer receipts before Monday.
By Tuesday, the fee — listed at $5.99 — was showing up on orders both small and large, including purchases totaling as little as $35 and as much as $184.
The change coincided with the rollout of new city laws governing grocery and food delivery platforms. Instacart’s website now acknowledges the added charge, noting in its FAQ section that “NYC regulatory response Fees appear in the order summary.”
The company says the fee “helps cover increased operating costs in NYC due to government regulations on delivery platforms.”
Archived versions of the site from just weeks ago make no mention of such a charge.
Instacart confirmed the timing of the fee in a statement and squarely blamed City Hall.
“For months, we raised clear, data-backed concerns that the policy would increase grocery delivery costs for New Yorkers, but those warnings were repeatedly ignored,” the company said, calling the City Council’s actions “misguided and burdensome grocery delivery laws.”