Starbucks Begins Offering Delivery, Starting In Seattle

For those who need coffee, the delivery charge is a lot less than the opportunity cost of their time away from the computer. Or at least that's how they'll justify it to themselves. JL

Jason Del Rey reports in re/code:

The service will come with a $5.99 delivery fee, plus tip. The high cost is likely too steep for most sane people ordering a single beverage, but could be palatable to co-workers requesting multiple drinks in a single order.
How much would you pay to get your iced caramel mocha skinny latte delivered to your office while your booty stays planted in your chair? Starbucks is guessing about six bucks.
The national coffee chain will start offering a delivery option through its app in select Seattle neighborhoods, though the service will come with a $5.99 delivery fee, plus tip. The high cost is likely too steep for most sane people ordering a single beverage, but could be palatable to co-workers requesting multiple drinks in a single order.
The pilot test, which will be operated by delivery startup Postmates, will be available first in the Downtown, South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, Madison Park and SoDo neighborhoods of Seattle. South Lake Union happens to be where Amazon’s large campus sits, while SoDo is home to Starbucks headquarters. The launch is happening just as other big food and beverage chains McDonald’s and Chipotle are beginning to offer delivery for the first time, also in partnership with Postmates.
Starbucks fans who don’t live in these neighborhoods can still get Starbucks delivery, but through Postmates’ own app, which means the purchase won’t count toward the Starbucks loyalty rewards program. Postmates charges $5 or more for delivery on these orders based on distance, plus a 9 percent service fee.