Firefox, Instacart, and SNAP - which is the weak link?
Very suddenly, I cannot buy groceries through Instacart with SNAP. Everyone wants me to use some other browser, but I really don't want to do that.
I'm using macOS 10.15.7 (Catalina) and Firefox for Mac 94.0.2 .
Whenever I go through the regular checkout process, when I click on "Place Order," I get the attached error message.
I cannot tell you how many times I've readded that number; I can't have been wrong on all of them. Yes, there's enough money on the card. I've tried (suggestion of their "support theater" people) deleting the card, logging out of Instacart, quitting Firefox, restarting Firefox (which I did twice to be sure), and adding the EBT number back in.
I even tried my sister's number, to see if it would go through. Same result.
Once I saw a brief flash of something like "Connect to EBT" before getting the error message, but only once.
I have ordered groceries through Firefox for Mac with SNAP on this computer before. Both SNAP and Instacart deny responsibility and tell me to use Safari (which I loathe).
Does anyone have any ideas? If it works in Safari, what's different about Firefox that's stopping it?
Please, grocery delivery is not a luxury for my sister and me. We literally (I was a copyeditor, so I do mean literally) cannot get to the store ourselves. I absolutely must be able to place SNAP orders via Instacart.
Thank you.
All Replies (11)
Make sure you are not blocking content.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop also see https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2021/03/23/introducing-smartblock/
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/smartblock-enhanced-tracking-protection
Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode {web link}
A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?
Many site issues can be caused by corrupt cookies or cache.
Warning ! ! This will log you out of sites you're logged in to. You may also lose any settings for that website.
- How to clear the Firefox cache {web link}
I tried in safe mode with advanced security turned off (little shield crossed out). Same error.
I tried with extensions.webcompat.enable_shims set to false. Instacart would not let me past the CAPTCHA.
I delete all cookies every time I shut down. Nothing makes it to the next restart.
Did I miss anything?
Oh, and I dump my cache on every restart, too.
K
If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, DuckDuckGo PE, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block content.
- make sure your extensions and filters are updated to the latest version
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems
Firefox shows a purple shield instead of a gray shield at the left end of the location/address bar in case Enhanced Tracking Protection is blocking content. You can click shield icon for more detail and possibly disable the protection. You can check the Web Console for relevant-looking messages about blocked content.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/smartblock-enhanced-tracking-protection
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/trackers-and-scripts-firefox-blocks-enhanced-track
You can try these steps in case of issues with webpages:
You can reload webpage(s) and bypass the cache to refresh possibly outdated or corrupted files.
- hold down the Shift key and left-click the Reload button
- press "Ctrl + F5" or press "Ctrl + Shift + R" (Windows,Linux)
- press "Command + Shift + R" (Mac)
Clear the Cache and remove the Cookies for websites that cause problems via the "3-bar" Firefox menu button (Settings).
"Remove the Cookies" for websites that cause problems:
- Settings -> Privacy & Security
Cookies and Site Data: "Manage Data"
"Clear the Cache":
- Settings -> Privacy & Security
Cookies and Site Data -> Clear Data -> [X] Cached Web Content -> Clear
Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or userChrome.css is causing the problem.
- switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
- do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window
I turned AdBlock to always pause on Instacart. No help.
Doesn't Troubleshooting Mode turn off all my extensions? I already tried that.
I've restarted Firefox many, many times in this process, and each time wipes all my cookies and cache. I've had it set that way for years.
Isn't Dark one of Firefox's default themes? (And how do I get it to work on this site, by the way?)
If you see the responses I made to the first responder, you'll see that I have already tried everything else you suggested.
Unless I missed something?
On edit:
I just noticed the hardware acceleration thing.
I turned that off, restarted Firefox, and tried again. Still same error.
K
Modified by khindall
khindall said
Doesn't Troubleshooting Mode turn off all my extensions?
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/diagnose-firefox-issues-using-troubleshoot-mode
Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes), any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem. If the problem goes away, that tells us one thing. If it does not, that tells us something else.
Start your Computer in safe mode with network support. Then start Firefox. Try Secure websites. Is the problem still there?
Starting Any Computer In Safe Mode (web link) Free Online Encyclopedia
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If the problem goes away with the computer in Safe Mode, the problem is with one of the other programs on the system.
As a test, disable your protection programs.
My point about Troubleshooting Mode to cor-el was that I had already tried it (and said that it didn't work) before cor-el's post. So there wasn't any point in doing that again.
I can try restarting in macOS's safe mode, but I'm pretty sure that cuts off the network as part of it. I'll try it and report back.
On edit:
Well, I was wrong about Mac's Safe Mode, but it didn't help any. With macOS in Safe Mode and Firefox for Mac in Troubleshooting Mode, I still got the same blasted error message.
On edit 2:
I have been going to other secure sites throughout this: my credit union, my credit card, Amazon. Everyone else plays nicely, but not Instacart when SNAP is involved.
On edit 3:
First sorry for so many edits. I keep noticing things I missed.
Unfortunately, turning off my virus protection software didn't help either.
Modified by khindall
Can you explain what SNAP is? Have you contacted its support? Also, check with support for the websites not working properly.
SNAP = food stamps
As I said in my first post, both SNAP and Instacart deny responsibility. I've been rounds with both of them, and a friend has with Instacart, too. (I wouldn't even dignify Instacart's "support" with that title. I seem to know more about their payment system than they do!)
I really don't know what I'm going to do. SNAP via Instacart is my sister's and my only path to food.
K