Apple using Ubereats to deliver stuff???

[ftaok]

I ordered a couple of Earpods yesterday morning and was offered two delivery options. I could get it for free on the same day (later that afternoon) or for free the next day (meaning today). So I figured, why not, and chose same day delivery.

Got a text saying that they would deliver between 330 and 530 and that someone would have to be there to answer the door to sign. OK, no problem since I'm WFH and the kids are off from school and my wife is essentially a SAHM anyway.

330 roll around and I check the email link and it says that expected delivery time is 4:38. Wow, that's oddly specific, but OK. I'm upstairs waiting at 4:38 because I'm curious as to how accurate the estimate will be. Nothing. Check the link again and not the expected time is 4:42. Look at my watch and the time is 4:41. OK, I see how it is.

I wait for 5:30 and nothing. 6:30, still nothing. Oh well, it'll get here when it gets here. The email link keeps updating the expected time to be 1 or 2 minutes from the current time, which is pretty comical.

Now I'm watching TV and I get a text saying that the package has been delivered. WTF?!?!? No one rang. I didn't sign. Oh well, whatever. I go onto my porch and there's nothing there. Maybe they put it in the mailbox. Nope. Go back to the porch to check the little couch I have as sometimes they put it under the cushions or behind the chair. Nope.

OK, so I check the link again and it says "delivered 8:43". I wait around a bit thinking maybe they scanned it delivered and are gonna drop it off in a few minutes. Nope.

So around 9:30PM, I start a chat with Apple and ultimately, they're resending my order and I guess they'll chalk up the others as a shipping loss.

Anyway, I just checked to see if my replacements are being sent yet ... they haven't ... but for giggles, I check on the original order and check the tracking number. It links to UberEats. What the heck??? I had no idea they were using UE to deliver stuff. Not sure I like it, but it is creative, I guess.

 

[usagora]

I've used courier delivery about 3 times from my local Apple Store and I'm blanking out on the name of the courier service that delivered to me, but it most definitely wasn't UberEats, and aside from them being a little confused with the address and ending up next door (2 neighboring businesses / not residential), they were exactly on time and very professional and even called me when they were confused about the address.

 

[ian87w]

It might sound creative, but if that were really true, that’s a really high risk solution for Apple as ubereats just use “contractors” aka regular people that have variable motives. If they have no problems stealing food, then they will have no problem stealing Apple products. Not saying they’re all thieves, but there’s just no guarantee (unless Uber provides insurance for Apple).

 

[BigMcGuire]

I live in southern ca - Apple has used various services for their 2 hour delivery. All have been very successful and professional - had a few call asking where I was (it's not an easy address). They definitely appreciate tips - saves me having to drive to the mall and wait in line and drive back home.

I've had iPads and MacBooks delivered this way. They usually tape the top of the Apple bag together so it's really obvious if something was tampered with.

 

[Chevysales]

I Ordered a watch band for my 7ti yesterday and I got call from UBER driver delivering it. Thought strange for that but hey it was same day service for free so no complaints here. I had used same day service before when free but it has always been a local delivery service never Uber.

 

[distortedloop]

It might sound creative, but if that were really true, that’s a really high risk solution for Apple as ubereats just use “contractors” aka regular people that have variable motives. If they have no problems stealing food, then they will have no problem stealing Apple products. Not saying they’re all thieves, but there’s just no guarantee (unless Uber provides insurance for Apple).

LMAO.
Yes it’s true, my recent order from Apple came via an Uber or Doordash driver. No issues. On time and intact.

UberEats does not have a monopoly on dishonest delivery people.
USPS, UPS, and even FedEx have delivery employees that steal packages; a quick google search will reveal lots of that going on. I was a manager at one of those organizations and terminated multiple employees over the years for theft.

Every industry has its scumbag employees, including whatever industry you work in. .

 

[ian87w]

LMAO.
Yes it’s true, my recent order from Apple came via an Uber or Doordash driver. No issues. On time and intact.

UberEats does not have a monopoly on dishonest delivery people.
USPS, UPS, and even FedEx have delivery employees that steal packages; a quick google search will reveal lots of that going on. I was a manager at one of those organizations and terminated multiple employees over the years for theft.

Every industry has its scumbag employees, including whatever industry you work in. .

Definitely. But from my understanding, UPS/FedEx probably have some kind of insurance for contracts with big companies like Apple that cover these losses. I’m not sure if Uber can provide that. Maybe I’m wrong.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

LMAO.
Yes it’s true, my recent order from Apple came via an Uber or Doordash driver. No issues. On time and intact.

UberEats does not have a monopoly on dishonest delivery people.
USPS, UPS, and even FedEx have delivery employees that steal packages; a quick google search will reveal lots of that going on. I was a manager at one of those organizations and terminated multiple employees over the years for theft.

Every industry has its scumbag employees, including whatever industry you work in. .

Very true, but I think there's a different level of consumer trust towards in-house employees vs contractors.

 

[Killbynumbers]

Yes, it is UberEats that delivers Apple orders. They've been doing this for several months now. They delivered my 2021 MBP and my two Apple watches that I ordered a few weeks later.

It used to be Postmates who also delivers food that delivered Apple store orders.

 

[antnard1]

Please, whatever you do, do NOT USE THIS SERVICE. I have been bouncing back and forth between Apple and Goldman Sachs for going on 2 months trying to get refunded my money for a 16" MacBook Pro that the UberEats driver stole. Maybe it was someone using stolen UE driver creds, who knows. They slowed down in front of my house, marked it as Delivered, and took off. Apple and GS just tell me to call one another and it's exhausting and depressing.

There are plenty of accounts of the same thing happening if you search for it. I truly hope that Apple stops using UberEats for this.

 

[ian87w]

Please, whatever you do, do NOT USE THIS SERVICE. I have been bouncing back and forth between Apple and Goldman Sachs for going on 2 months trying to get refunded my money for a 16" MacBook Pro that the UberEats driver stole. Maybe it was someone using stolen UE driver creds, who knows. They slowed down in front of my house, marked it as Delivered, and took off. Apple and GS just tell me to call one another and it's exhausting and depressing.

There are plenty of accounts of the same thing happening if you search for it. I truly hope that Apple stops using UberEats for this.

See, this is the thing using these contractors. There’s zero guarantee. I’m really amazed a company like Apple is willing to tarnish their own premium consumer experience by relying on something like Uber, and give their own customers a runaround. Really embarrassing for a trillion dollar-company.

 

[wetcoastTJL]

I ordered a couple of Earpods yesterday morning and was offered two delivery options. I could get it for free on the same day (later that afternoon) or for free the next day (meaning today). So I figured, why not, and chose same day delivery.

Got a text saying that they would deliver between 330 and 530 and that someone would have to be there to answer the door to sign. OK, no problem since I'm WFH and the kids are off from school and my wife is essentially a SAHM anyway.

330 roll around and I check the email link and it says that expected delivery time is 4:38. Wow, that's oddly specific, but OK. I'm upstairs waiting at 4:38 because I'm curious as to how accurate the estimate will be. Nothing. Check the link again and not the expected time is 4:42. Look at my watch and the time is 4:41. OK, I see how it is.

I wait for 5:30 and nothing. 6:30, still nothing. Oh well, it'll get here when it gets here. The email link keeps updating the expected time to be 1 or 2 minutes from the current time, which is pretty comical.

Now I'm watching TV and I get a text saying that the package has been delivered. WTF?!?!? No one rang. I didn't sign. Oh well, whatever. I go onto my porch and there's nothing there. Maybe they put it in the mailbox. Nope. Go back to the porch to check the little couch I have as sometimes they put it under the cushions or behind the chair. Nope.

OK, so I check the link again and it says "delivered 8:43". I wait around a bit thinking maybe they scanned it delivered and are gonna drop it off in a few minutes. Nope.

So around 9:30PM, I start a chat with Apple and ultimately, they're resending my order and I guess they'll chalk up the others as a shipping loss.

Anyway, I just checked to see if my replacements are being sent yet ... they haven't ... but for giggles, I check on the original order and check the tracking number. It links to UberEats. What the heck??? I had no idea they were using UE to deliver stuff. Not sure I like it, but it is creative, I guess.

I had a similar experience. I ordered a new 16" MacBook Pro and had the option for free delivery in six weeks or next day delivery for a small fee. I opted for that and the next day received a text from Apple that the laptop would be delivered in a couple of hours to my office. As I wasn't at the office, I texted the number of the delivery person and asked that it be rerouted to our campus's main mail room. He texted back that it would be no problem but that only I could accept the delivery. I then replied that I wasn't on campus and why couldn't campus mail receive it (as usual with deliveries). Again he replied that only I could receive it so I asked that he either re-deliver it the next day (when I would be on campus) or deliver to my home. He said he could deliver it to my home but I would have to change my home address in Uber (WTF?). I checked my Uber home address and it was correct so I asked him to deliver it there. He said sure, but what about his fee? (WTF again?!!!!) I said that his fee was nothing to do with me and he should redeliver it to my campus address the next day. I heard nothing back from him, but got a text from Apple that the delivery had been cancelled and my money refunded. I then reordered the laptop, but with the six week delivery. I'm NEVER using that next day service again.

 

[L8gR1v3r]

Some people signed and received orders. Couple hours later they call Uber and Apple tell them that they're victim of fraud and want a refund. I think they would take a picture of an ID's receiver to proof but I dont know why they dont do it. Sign on the phone is nothing and it proof nothing... What if they have an insurance company take care about their lost/theft items so they dont care.

 

[SquishyTank]

Had the same experience today. This is my first time using Uber Eats, normally I use Grubhub for ordering food. I've only used Uber for transportation in the past. I literally had no idea about any of this about Uber Eats until today. I thought it was Apples own delivery team and even if it's not, it's partnered with a big company like Apple, so it can't be that bad, right? But damn, did I find out the hard way today, lol.

Anyway, I placed my order around 7:50am using the 2 hour delivery option since I have no plans to go out until later. When I got the notification on my phone that my delivery is on its way and will be here at 11:40am, I've been watching the car icon move on the Apple store app. By 11:36am, I saw the car icon slow down and stopped outside my apartment building. But like 2 to 3 seconds later, the map suddenly closed and a pop up says "Delivered". Like Wtf?????? I stood by my door waiting for 20 minutes, the UE driver never came to knock on my door, never called or texted me neither.

Seriously, who would've thought the delivery guy would go all the way to your home and just leave so he can pretend to have delivered your stuff so he can steal your stuff. What's worse is that all that info about the driver was on the Apple store app, and once the order is marked as delivered, the drivers picture, name and phone number would be removed right away.

I already called Apple and Uber Eats, both of them just told me to wait for their investigation, didn't give me any ETA or anything. I'm planning to call them again tomorrow. Only after searching did I find out Uber Eats has such a problem with their drivers, otherwise I would've never known.

 

[JPack]

It’s a real mismatch between the type of people hired to do this service and the type of product being delivered. Those people don’t mind losing their “jobs.”

Apple might as well ask people coming out of payday loan stores to deliver a MacBook Pro. You know it’s gonna turn out bad.

 

[cmatuk]

I got an apple watch ultra order sent via Uber today and since the driver was not in the mood to deliver it, he returned it to the store, apple then proceeded to cancel the full order and refund me, (in 5 - 10 work days); no way to salvage the purchase.... all because I added that 9 dollars delivery fee; just to have them call an Uber (like for real).

I'ts unavailable Apple would outsource this kind of "service" to something like Uber; truly outstanding.