Uber on Friday launched a new feature that lets customers return purchased items without leaving their homes.
The new returns feature, accessible through the Uber Eats app, is Uber’s latest effort to add flair to its app by offering services beyond its core ride-hailing and delivery business.
The new service has limitations and, of course, a delivery fee. Uber says return fees are calculated based on the delivery person’s time and distance.
Customers may only return eligible retail items purchased through Uber Eats and must follow each store’s return policy. Participating retailers include At Home, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, GNC, Michael’s Pet Food Express, Pacsun, Petco, and Target. Uber said more retailers will be added in the future.
Uber also imposes price limits on its services. The company says customers can only return items with a retail value of more than $20.
Customers can access the new feature by going to their order history in the app, tapping Return Item and selecting the item. The process is completed when the user taps on the ‘Return by courier’ option. Some customers may be attracted to instant refunds, not to mention avoiding the hassle of driving to a retail store, finding parking, and waiting in line.
Uber has never experimented with returns at retail stores. However, the company has launched many functions beyond its traditional businesses of ride-hailing and food delivery.
In 2020, Uber launched a service called Connect that uses couriers to pick up packages and deliver them to friends, family, and colleagues. We also created Uber Direct, which allows users to order from a retailer of their choice and have it delivered to their door contactlessly. This was a reflection of the coronavirus pandemic that was sweeping the country at the time.
Uber Connect, a peer-to-peer package delivery service, expanded in 2023 to include a “drop off” feature that allows customers to hire gig workers to pick up and deliver up to five packages at a time to a post office, UPS, or FedEx location.
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