4 ms·

Unclear if this is better used for transporting drugs, or transporting cats. Seems like it would work for either. I don't see any real terms of service limita

by rdl 13y ago

Unclear if this is better used for transporting drugs, or transporting cats. Seems like it would work for either. I don't see any real terms of service limitations or KYC which would prevent it from being used as a "delivery service" for drugs.

Maxious 13y ago
The words "Maximum Capacity" at the bottom of the page expand when clicked to reveal "If your messenger refuses delivery due to size/value/fragility or possible illegality, a cancellation fee will apply"
- rdl 13y ago
  You clearly wouldn't declare "cocaine, 1kg" on the package, so I don't think drugs would be easy to catch. (although I think end-user-retail p2p lockers would be much better for this than couriers). With cats, I suppose couriers might refuse them -- walking down the street with a cat carrier would be kind of unpleasant, and it would be worse on a bike.
  - biftek 13y ago
    We had a rule at the company I messengered at: Never ask what’s in the package. But I honestly doubt anyone ever trusted us with drugs, the most memorable things I delivered were A) a pee cup (luckily empty) and B) an industrial size sink from Wall St. to 42nd.
- bertil 13y ago
  That made me wonder: why wouldn’t they suggest to use a Uber Car in case the object was large or fragile? Sounds like a perfect case of up-sell. I can already imagine lawyers having a field-day on the words ‘possible illegality’.
  - rdl 13y ago
    Parking.
    - bertil 13y ago
      I’m not sure how that is more of a problem than what Uber faces for the moment: imagine a bike messenger (heavily branded as it seems they are going to be) facing a parcel that isn’t ridiculously large, but still not ideal to carry in a messenger bag — smaller than a carry-on luggage. Shouldn’t he be able to say: “Look, I can strap that and risk crashing your box, or for $3 more I can ask this Uber driver who’s idle right now to do the delivery for you. He’ll be here in three minutes.”
samstave 13y ago
In any metro area, there is already door-to-door delivery for any drugs you might want, likely cheaper than what Uber can afford anyway as delivery price is already baked into the price of the drugs. This is just Kozmo.com 2.0
- llamataboot 13y ago
  In NYC and the Bay maybe. In most other metros?
  - TheCowboy 13y ago
    I'd extend it to include even rural and suburban areas. It is easier to imagine if you consider that it is likely safer for a dealer to simply travel to their customers. One attracts too much attention if they have random people showing up at their residence, or takes on more risk if they have to meet under the public eye. Customers share in this decreased risk. It also provides low level dealers a competitive advantage in markets they don't have locked down. It might be more of a necessity than optional service these days.
- brianbreslin 13y ago
  did kozmo source the goods from convenience stores?
  - samstave 13y ago
    yes
the_watcher 13y ago
I'm assuming the same regulations and laws regarding what can be sent apply to Uber Rush as the couriers and messengers working outside of Uber. The same way the same driving laws (like speed limit, stop lights, etc.) apply to Uber drivers.

by rdl 13y ago

Maxious 13y ago

The words "Maximum Capacity" at the bottom of the page expand when clicked to reveal "If your messenger refuses delivery due to size/value/fragility or possible illegality, a cancellation fee will apply"

rdl 13y ago
You clearly wouldn't declare "cocaine, 1kg" on the package, so I don't think drugs would be easy to catch. (although I think end-user-retail p2p lockers would be much better for this than couriers). With cats, I suppose couriers might refuse them -- walking down the street with a cat carrier would be kind of unpleasant, and it would be worse on a bike.
- biftek 13y ago
  We had a rule at the company I messengered at: Never ask what’s in the package. But I honestly doubt anyone ever trusted us with drugs, the most memorable things I delivered were A) a pee cup (luckily empty) and B) an industrial size sink from Wall St. to 42nd.
bertil 13y ago
That made me wonder: why wouldn’t they suggest to use a Uber Car in case the object was large or fragile? Sounds like a perfect case of up-sell. I can already imagine lawyers having a field-day on the words ‘possible illegality’.
- rdl 13y ago
  Parking.
  - bertil 13y ago
    I’m not sure how that is more of a problem than what Uber faces for the moment: imagine a bike messenger (heavily branded as it seems they are going to be) facing a parcel that isn’t ridiculously large, but still not ideal to carry in a messenger bag — smaller than a carry-on luggage. Shouldn’t he be able to say: “Look, I can strap that and risk crashing your box, or for $3 more I can ask this Uber driver who’s idle right now to do the delivery for you. He’ll be here in three minutes.”

samstave 13y ago

In any metro area, there is already door-to-door delivery for any drugs you might want, likely cheaper than what Uber can afford anyway as delivery price is already baked into the price of the drugs. This is just Kozmo.com 2.0

llamataboot 13y ago
In NYC and the Bay maybe. In most other metros?
- TheCowboy 13y ago
  I'd extend it to include even rural and suburban areas. It is easier to imagine if you consider that it is likely safer for a dealer to simply travel to their customers. One attracts too much attention if they have random people showing up at their residence, or takes on more risk if they have to meet under the public eye. Customers share in this decreased risk. It also provides low level dealers a competitive advantage in markets they don't have locked down. It might be more of a necessity than optional service these days.
brianbreslin 13y ago
did kozmo source the goods from convenience stores?
- samstave 13y ago
  yes

the_watcher 13y ago

I'm assuming the same regulations and laws regarding what can be sent apply to Uber Rush as the couriers and messengers working outside of Uber. The same way the same driving laws (like speed limit, stop lights, etc.) apply to Uber drivers.