An ‘Ethical’ Instacart Alternative Is Now Facing Its Own Worker Backlash
Grocery delivery app Dumpling attracts couriers with the promise of full autonomy. Some drivers say it’s not following through.
When Louise Saler-Reinier started making enough to pay her bills by delivering groceries, she was thrilled. She had previously worked as an Instacart shopper in and around Chicago but had grown frustrated with low wages and customers who pulled their tips just after their groceries were delivered. Then she discovered Dumpling, a grocery delivery app founded in 2017 as an ethical alternative to gig economy stalwarts.
On Dumpling, couriers set their own rates, shop at whichever stores they want, and develop relationships with customers who book them specifically. For a monthly fee or $5 per transaction, Dumpling provides them with digital tools, puts their profiles in a searchable database that can generate business, and issues Dumpling credit cards that cover the cost of groceries until the customer can be charged.
Saler-Reinier joined Dumpling in February. Through dogged marketing efforts on Facebook and Nextdoor, she was able to build a sustainable business called “Louise Shops for You” and even had the option to set a minimum tip for herself. But this summer…
