How do you return a package to a sender? Is there a way to send the package back to the sender? Uber Connect is expanding to handle the packages you need to return but have been ignoring, the ride-hailing and delivery company said Wednesday.
Uber drivers will collect up to five prepaid and sealed packages and drop them off at a local post office or at UPS or FedEx stores for a flat fee of $5 or $3 for Uber One members.
Uber Eats and Uber Eats will allow customers to pick package pickup locations in their Uber and Uber Eats apps. Only locations open for at least the next hour will be listed. After a package has been dropped off, drivers will provide visual confirmation of the package.
While the service is intended to be used primarily for returning packages, Uber drivers will also mail new packages that are sealed and have prepaid labels.
FedEx and UPS deliver 31 million Parcels annually, while the U.S. sends 31 million parcels daily. Postal Service delivers 25 million dollars, according to Satish Jindel, a shipping and logistics consultant and president of ShipMatrix.
Many of that volume involves delivery to businesses that do not return packages often, Jindel said, and he believes many people will continue to return packages themselves rather than pay Uber $5 to do it.
Jindel estimates that demand for Uber's return package service could be around 574,000 parcels on business days. That would increase about 25 percent in January because of holiday returns, he said.
Uber Connect, launched three years ago, became a way to send items to friends, family, and colleagues across the town.