Should Uber Be Delivering Everything?

Uber Technologies has announced a new partnership with Spirit Halloween, North America's largest Halloween retailer, to enhance on-demand delivery options for customers in the United States and Canada. Through Uber Eats, Postmates, and the Uber app, consumers can now conveniently order a variety of Halloween costumes and seasonal decorations directly to their doorstep. This collaboration aims to streamline the shopping experience as Halloween approaches.

"The holiday season officially kicks off this time of year, and households across the country are looking to on-demand delivery to get what's needed—now. That's one of the reasons we're most excited to bring Spirit Halloween to Uber Eats and our other Uber apps to make costumes and other Halloween must-haves a cinch. As a working mom I know how crucial that last minute face paint or mask can be on the morning of the school parade or the hour before trick-or-treating starts, and I'm thrilled we'll be able to meet that demand at Uber."

Beryl Sanders, Director of U.S. grocery & retail partnerships at Uber, via PR Newswire

Currently, Uber delivers almost "everything."

Uber launched Uber Eats in 2014, according to Forbes, and in 2020, it added grocery delivery to its mix of services. Two years later, Uber Eats released a comical Super Bowl commercial to advertise the fact that customers can also have non-food items delivered.

This marked a significant expansion beyond food delivery. Initially focused on meals, the platform rapidly diversified its offerings to include grocery items, alcohol, convenience goods, flowers, and more. This growth reflects substantial investments in new verticals, which, at the time of the ad, resulted in nearly 3 million consumers ordering essentials beyond food each month, according to Uber.

Uber also released Uber Connect in 2020, which allows users to send packages via the Uber app by connecting them with a driver for delivery to a specified drop-off location. The service is designed for small to medium-sized packages, with a weight limit of 30 pounds for vehicle deliveries and 15 pounds for bike or scooter deliveries. Packages must be securely sealed, not exceed a value of $100, and comply with a list of prohibited items.

To initiate a delivery, users enter the destination, select "Connect," and follow prompts to provide necessary details, including the recipient's name and special instructions. While the service can accommodate multiple packages in a single trip, recipients must be ready to meet the driver at the designated pickup or drop-off point.

Moreover, Uber Flash is an extension of the Uber app that allows users to send items such as care packages, sold goods, or business documents from one location to another, offering drivers additional earning opportunities beyond standard trips. However, this service isn't available in all locations. It is currently only available in certain countries, but Uber notes that the service is in a "period of expansion and will soon be available for other cities."

Drivers who are eligible will receive an email and in-app invitation to review the terms and conditions, and upon acceptance, they can start accepting requests similar to those for UberX or Uber Eats. Deliveries require drivers to pick up items from the sender, confirm their identity, and notify recipients upon arrival. Items must be securely sealed, fit comfortably in the vehicle, and not contain prohibited items — if guidelines aren’t met, drivers can cancel the request.

On social media, users on Reddit have shared their experiences and thoughts on the matter. One driver explained how they were surprised when one of their package deliveries turned out to be dirty laundry. A reply from another driver explained how they already do weekly dry cleaning deliveries for one of their regular customers, while a different driver mentioned they probably have delivered drugs once or twice without knowing. Another driver shared how they only perform the Connect deliveries during slow days since they had to deliver two large chairs at one point, and one user stated that they would deliver anything as long as the pay was good.

In more recent news, Uber Technologies announced on Oct. 3 that it has entered a strategic partnership with Avride to incorporate the company’s delivery robots and autonomous vehicles into its services, starting with sidewalk delivery robots for Uber Eats in Austin and expanding to Dallas and Jersey City later this year. Avride's expertise in developing both delivery robots and autonomous vehicles positions it uniquely, with commercial deliveries already underway in the U.S. and South Korea.