Shopping the order.
Collecting the order.
Both end with groceries at a door. The work before that can be very different.
Shopping & Delivery
On a shopping offer, the driver goes into the store and works through the list before delivering it. Item availability, produce selection, replacements, checkout and loading can all affect the time. A price-based tip alone cannot describe all of that effort.
Curbside collection
The driver may collect groceries prepared by store staff. That removes the shopping task from the driver’s side, but waiting, loading, travel, route finding and unloading remain. A delay at pickup still occupies part of the driver’s workday.
Customer POV: I chose delivery, not an employment arrangement.
Most customers are trying to save a trip, manage a busy day or get groceries they cannot easily collect. The app may not make the division of work obvious. It is reasonable to want clear information about who is doing what.
Driver POV: price the actual work.
The useful comparison is time, mileage, item handling and access. A small shop can be quick, while a collection can be delayed; neither label guarantees a fixed duration. The calculator deliberately gives shopping, waiting and handoff separate controls.
What helps both sides
Be available for relevant questions, keep access instructions current, and recognize the difference between a store delay and something the driver can control. Spark describes its offer types on its official site; the linked sources explain the platform’s terms.
Independent educational guidance. Examples are illustrative. Sources and assumptions ↗