Resale marketplace, Mercari, announced its partnership with Uber to expand access to its contactless delivery service, Mercari Local, across the United States.
The company is leveraging Uber’s fulfillment logistics service to match nearby delivery workers with buyers and sellers, allowing them to exchange products without having to leave their homes or even package their listings — an added convenience, especially for customers selling bulkier items that are expensive and hard to ship.
“By combining Uber’s network with Mercari’s local marketplace, we’re bringing on-the-go-shopping directly to people’s doorsteps,” Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, said in a statement. “With options for easy pick-up and delivery of items, we’re creating the modern, convenient shopping experience that consumers increasingly crave.”
Mercari Local’s nationwide launch follows the success of its pilot in San Francisco, New York and Houston. It comes at a time when a growing share of consumers are turning to resale platforms to sell their unused items. According to Mercari, one in 10 surveyed consumers have earned at least $1000 by selling their second-hand items, while 78 percent plan to sell second-hand items in the next 12 months.
“When you think about the traditional American garage sale, it is as much about connecting with your neighbors as it is about decluttering and cleaning out your space,” Mercari’s U.S. CEO John Lagerling said in a statement. “Our exciting new partnership with Uber now offers an even easier way to buy and sell almost anything, making resale even more accessible for people across the U.S.”
The partnership expands on the ride-hailing giant’s debut of the Uber Direct service in 2020. The service helps retail businesses and manufacturers deliver an end-to-end customer service through its on-demand delivery offering.
