In Toronto, the Globe and Mail reports that supermarket retailer Loblaw and ride sharing service Uber are teaming up "to make it easier for customers without cars to pick up groceries they have ordered online."
The story goes on:
"Loblaw’s 'Click & Collect' e-commerce service is still in its testing phase at three Toronto-area locations. It allows customers to place orders that are filled by store staff, to speed up the grocery trip. Customers can then pick up the items in-store.
"The service could be particularly appealing to time-pressed professionals. But for city residents who do not own cars, grocery trips are often limited to what they can carry home. The Uber promotion, which lasts until the end of the day on April 20, offers a free ride worth up to $30, to and from a Loblaw store for Click & Collect pickup ... The new promotion is also an opportunity for Loblaw to further advertise its e-commerce service, and offers a contest for $1,000 in free groceries to any users; new Uber users also get a coupon for $10 off their next 'Click & Collect' purchase.
There is, of course, an irony ... because even as Loblaw is teaming with Uber, the controversial ride sharing service is facing calls to shut down its Toronto business. The Globe and Mail writes that "some local governments and competing taxi operators have raised concerns about the safety of encouraging people to get in strangers’ cars and the extent of drivers’ insurance coverage for commercial operations. Taxi companies have criticized Uber for operating outside of the regulations with which they must comply."
The story goes on:
"Loblaw’s 'Click & Collect' e-commerce service is still in its testing phase at three Toronto-area locations. It allows customers to place orders that are filled by store staff, to speed up the grocery trip. Customers can then pick up the items in-store.
"The service could be particularly appealing to time-pressed professionals. But for city residents who do not own cars, grocery trips are often limited to what they can carry home. The Uber promotion, which lasts until the end of the day on April 20, offers a free ride worth up to $30, to and from a Loblaw store for Click & Collect pickup ... The new promotion is also an opportunity for Loblaw to further advertise its e-commerce service, and offers a contest for $1,000 in free groceries to any users; new Uber users also get a coupon for $10 off their next 'Click & Collect' purchase.
There is, of course, an irony ... because even as Loblaw is teaming with Uber, the controversial ride sharing service is facing calls to shut down its Toronto business. The Globe and Mail writes that "some local governments and competing taxi operators have raised concerns about the safety of encouraging people to get in strangers’ cars and the extent of drivers’ insurance coverage for commercial operations. Taxi companies have criticized Uber for operating outside of the regulations with which they must comply."
- KC's View:
- This is all about two companies testing boundaries, trying to see what works. I like it.
