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Comment by tehwebguy | Hacker News Reader

Related question: Am I allowed to send a package via regular Uber?

I need to move t-shirt samples across LA regularly and end up driving myself, would happily send an Uber or a Lyft instead.

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I once moved all my possessions from San Diego to Tucson using Craigslist Rideshare.

Payment occurred once they SMS'ed a photo of my boxes in my storage unit. I gave them a combination to my storage unit and hid the payment in various locations in the delivery boxes (e.g., page X of book Y in box Z, etc.).

Worked great but it took 3 drivers. I paid around $5 a box (in 2009 dollars).

I forgot my laptop charger in my hotel room and I was already at the airport. I called the hotel confirmed they had it. Booked a Lyft to arrive at the hotel. Called the driver and they were happy to oblige even though it was only going to be ~15 minute drive. I called the hotel explained the make and model and the deal clerk said she would walk it out. I met the Lyft driver outside. I tipped the Lyft driver $20 in cash, $5 on the app.

Lyft is cheaper than buying a new Apple charger.

The drivers are independent contractors. They can choose to do whatever you'd like them to do.

I can confirm that drivers often are fine to do this. But someone needs to pick up the items, the driver should not be expected to make a delivery themselves.

You can certainly negotiate with the driver. With tipping, drivers are generally happy to do a little bit extra (e.g. make the delivery) in exchange for a reasonable tip.

Yeap. When I had to catch a train while carrying too many bags, I offered the driver an extra to carry one of them to the platform with me.

It's actually an interesting question for the future: a self-driving car won't be able to do this :)

You could try postmates

It will work in theory, until a driver gets caught up in a bust for (unknowingly) transporting concealed drugs, stolen property, etc.

Is it really that different? What happens if the driver helps the passenger put a bag in the trunk, then when they get stopped and searched, the passenger simply denies the bag being theirs?

have done it plenty of times. Just call the driver and ask if they mind having a package instead of a passanger (no one will care).

And yes make sure someone is ready to receive the items, then you are golden.

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