Sam’s Club is teaming up with DoorDash to deliver same-day prescriptions across 41 states, the companies said in a statement on Friday (Oct. 30). Deliveries will be handled by DoorDash's white-label fulfillment platform, Drive.
“Our partnership with DoorDash to launch this new service allows us to not only give our members more convenient healthcare options, but also delivers on our commitment to their overall wellness needs,” said John McDowell, vice president, pharmacy operations and divisional merchandise, Sam’s Club.
He added that Sam’s Club has always made it a priority to meet customers’ changing needs, “and that’s never been truer than today.”
In the first half of 2021, the Sam’s Club app will have prescription delivery options available.
“Businesses have evolved amidst the pandemic to prioritize the safety of their communities and to adapt to new consumer habits, and our goal is to help merchants meet those demands in a way that’s best for their business,” said Christopher Payne, chief operating officer, DoorDash.
“Same-day pharmaceutical deliveries have never been more important in today’s health climate, and we’re incredibly honored to team up with Sam’s Club to make that option a reality for their business and for their customers. Through this partnership, Sam’s Club can continue to provide the quality and service their patients expect, made even more reliable and safe with store-to-door delivery powered by DoorDash,” Payne said.
This is DoorDash’s first pharmaceutical collaboration at scale. Sam’s Club chose DoorDash for “its commitment to quality logistics, vast geographic footprint in the U.S. and reputation for providing a reliable, on-time delivery platform,” the statement said.
Sam’s Club said the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Pharmacy Study ranked its pharmacy services as having the highest customer satisfaction among mass merchandiser pharmacies.
PYMNTS' How We Eat Tracker shows how digital shopping tools have made an impact during the pandemic. With the Sam’s Club Scan & Go app, customers can scan items’ UPC barcodes to avoid checkout lines. Although it launched in 2016, the app is getting increased traction now, with usage up fivefold since March.
In a June interview with PYMNTS, Lance de la Rosa, chief operating officer and executive vice president at Sam’s Club, said retailers that stayed open during the pandemic have stepped up innovation to meet the challenges.
Digital ordering and contactless delivery have become commonplace during the pandemic, and now some of the bigger platforms are expanding options for consumers by partnering with more merchants in more categories.
DoorDash is also launching a digital convenience store — DashMart — to better compete for market share in the fast-growing and competitive delivery sector.
