Update: The deal is now official. Full statement below.
Rumors about Uber buying Postmates have been confirmed by a new report today, which says that the deal has been agreed and is set to be officially announced shortly …
If you’ve ever used food delivery apps like Postmates or Uber Eats, there’s another side to the convenience we enjoy as customers: the low-paid, high-pressure, and sometimes shocking world of the workers responsible for the deliveries…
After initially launching same-day delivery in partnership with Postmates earlier this year in San Francisco, Apple today has revealed that the capability is expanding to more locations. Users today have started noticing that same-day delivery from Apple’s online store and Apple Store app is now supported in New York.
Apple considered but ultimately rejected Uber for the same-day delivery service it piloted in May and expanded earlier this month for its online store, reports the WSJ.
In recent months, Uber lost out on the opportunity to make deliveries in some cities for Apple Inc. and Starbucks Corp. , which discussed tie-ups with Uber but then made deals with startup courier service Postmates, according to people familiar with the discussions.
One possible explanation for the decision not to use Uber may be found in a comment by another online retailer, Gilt Groupe, which says it rejected Uber because the company “was unable to insure high-priced items.”
Apple’s same-day option offers delivery within four hours for a $19 courier fee, but only for certain items and within a very small number of zip codes.
Postmates appears to be the main or sole courier company being used for the service, but Apple’s offer does not extend to all areas covered by the delivery company. If you live within a Postmates area but Apple does not currently offer same-day delivery, it may be worth trying to order the product through the Postmates app.
Apple has updated its online store with a quicker, same-day delivery option on select items ordered in certain zip codes. The new “courier delivery” option, which promises to deliver “on the same day, within four hours”, has been added today as an additional supported faster delivery method for items bought on Apple’s online store. Apple previously only offered guaranteed shipping services with additional fees that promised next day shipping or next day shipping before noon.
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Apple appears to be testing same-day delivery for some of its products in select markets for customers using the Apple Store app on iOS. First noticed by MacRumors, same-day shipping options fulfilled by the on-demand shipping service Postmates now appear for certain items when checking out with the app.
Not at all in-stock items qualify for the $19 flat rate same-day shipping option, however. The option doesn’t seem to be available within the Apple Store app for all markets with Apple Stores that Postmates serves, either, suggesting the same-day delivery option is being tested on a small scale for now.
Apple recently updated the Apple Store app for iOS, adding support for Touch ID to view order information and 2-step verification for added security. The update also highlighted availability in more countries around the world, but Postmates integration and same-day delivery options have not yet been officially announced.
