Uber already has a lot of services to offer beyond its ride-hailing business such as Uber Eats for food delivery. Now, the company aims to expand its Uber Connect service by letting couriers pick up packages at their locations and drop them off at local posts.
New Uber Connect Service
Technically, Uber Connect has been around for three years. Initially, it was a way to send items to friends, family, and colleagues across town. With the new addition, the company will now take care of the packages you've been dreading to return because of the hassle.
Uber states that 79% of shoppers under 30 think mail returns are "somewhat annoying," according to research from the National Retail Federation. This comes at the perfect time when people usually shop too much during the holidays.
To do so, users must go to the app and select the "package" section under suggestions. The option to return a package will then appear which will lead the user to a couple of options such as choosing a postal carrier, as well as confirming pickup and delivery.
There are a couple of rules for the package to be accepted. The parcel has to be sealed and prepaid to qualify for the service and the customer can only send up to five returns. The available carriers for the return are USPS, FedEx, and UPS.
As for the service fee, Uber Connect will charge a flat rate of $5, but for Uber One members, it goes as low as $3. Customers can even track the package in real-time through the Uber app and will get a visual confirmation that the package has been received by the carrier.
The feature is already available now in more than 4,950 cities in the US, including Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York City Suburbs, San Francisco, Seattle, upstate New York, and Washington DC.
Uber Connect
Uber Connect was initially a same-day delivery service that lets you send items for businesses such as food or groceries, send last-minute birthday gifts to friends and family, and transfer documents, supplies, and equipment across locations.
It has the same process as the "return package" feature, wherein the customer can arrange a pickup through the app, meet the driver, and hand over the package. It also comes with in-app tracking to make sure that things go swimmingly.
Uber boasts that users can book a delivery the same way they can hail a cab through the app. The ride-hailing app also says that it can offer "on-demand delivery, usually within the hour." If needed, customers can choose the delivery method and the kind of vehicle that would fit the parcel.
This service, along with the additional feature is a convenient offer especially to those who are enthusiastic about giving gifts for the holidays. With the same-day delivery, they can send gifts to their loved ones. If they happen to have bought too many presents, they can easily ask Uber again to return them.
