How to Use Uber’s Package Return Service

Made a few too many impulse buys during Cyber Week? Or maybe that outfit you ordered for the holiday party doesn’t look so good in person. In any case, you’ve got packages you need to return and that you’ve been meaning to drop off at the post office, UPS or Fedex, but it’s a really busy time of year.

If you have the Uber app, you can return packages easily and on the cheap ($5). Uber started offering “Return a Package” feature in October 2023, and it’s perfect for the time of year when you’re maybe not thinking very carefully about what you add to your online shopping cart (and when packages are piling up in your entryway).

How to Return Packages with Uber

Uber will return up to five packages for you at a time (they must each be under 30 pounds and fit comfortably in the trunk of a mid-size car). The items inside must not have a value of more than $200.

You’ll pay a $5 flat-rate fee ($3 for Uber One members) for each trip to a single postal carrier. In other words, say you have three packages to return via USPS, five packages via UPS and two packages via FedEx. You’ll pay $5 for each destination, so $15 in total.

Here’s how to return a package via Uber, step by step:

First, get your packages ready. Tape everything up and attached your pre-paid shipping label. Or, you can send the driver your pre-paid QR return code via the app. Either way, make sure the packages are ready BEFORE you confirm pickup, because, just like when you hail a ride, your Uber might arrive in minutes.
Open the Uber app. Toggle to “services,” then hit the Packages icon:

uber app screenshot showing the package icon — Image: Uber App

3. Then, select “Return a Package”

uber app screen shot showing the return package option — Image: Uber App

4. Then, select which carrier you need your packages dropped off at:

screen shot from Uber app showing carrier destinations for returning a package — Image: Uber App

5. Confirm your pickup. This works just like hailing a ride, and you won’t have to wait long!

screenshot showing how long the wait is to have a package picked up by Uber — Image: Uber App

6. Help the driver load your packages, and then track the drop-off in real time via the app. Your driver will send you visual confirmation that your package has been dropped off at the carrier.

Yes, you’ll have to pay for this service (it normally costs nothing to drop a package off for return), but the convenience might well be worth it, if you don’t have time to head to the post office. Remember: If you ordered from Amazon, Amazon offers a bunch of free and convenient return options of its own.

The post How to Use Uber’s Package Return Service appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.

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