Sam’s Club taps DoorDash for same-day prescription delivery

Sam’s Club is launching on-demand delivery of prescription drugs via a partnership with last-mile delivery provider DoorDash.

Through the service, more than 500 Sam’s Club pharmacies in 41 states will use DoorDash’s Drive white-label fulfillment platform to provide same-day delivery of medications, Bentonville, Ark.-based Sam’s Club said Friday.

To have prescriptions delivered, patients call their local Sam’s Club pharmacy and ask a pharmacist to schedule delivery of their medicine. Using the integrated DoorDash Drive solution, Sam’s Club pharmacists arrange for “Dashers” — DoorDash’s delivery personnel — to fulfill eligible pharmacy order deliveries.

Sam’s Club noted that it’s working to make prescription delivery options available in its mobile app in the first half of 2021.

Deliveries carry a flat fee of $7.99. In support of the service launch, Sam’s Club members get free delivery of their first two prescription orders until Jan. 31, 2022. Delivery isn’t available in Kansas, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and for controlled substances, pseudoephedrine, refrigerated items, compounded and reconstituted medicines, or for prescriptions paid by Medicare Part B or Medicaid.

“Our partnership with DoorDash to launch this new service allows us to not only give our members more convenient health care options, but also delivers on our commitment to their overall wellness needs,” John McDowell, vice president of pharmacy operations and divisional merchandise at Sam’s Club, said in a statement. “Sam’s Club has always adapted to our members’ changing needs, and that’s never been truer than today as we continue to evolve our ways of shopping to help them live healthier, happier lives.”

Related:DoorDash makes foray into on-demand grocery delivery

For DoorDash, the Sam’s Club deal marks its first large-scale pharmacy delivery partnership. The Walmart-owned warehouse club chain, which operates 599 locations nationwide, said DoorDash’s logistical capabilities, reliable delivery platform and wide geographic footprint drove its decision to partner with the company.

“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,” stated Christopher Payne, chief operating officer for San Francisco-based 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.”

Related:Instacart moves forward with pharmacy partnership at Costco

In support of the service launch, Sam’s Club is waiving the $7.99 fee for members' first two DoorDash prescription delivery orders.

Sam’s Club is the second wholesale club retailer this year to launch on-demand delivery of prescriptions. Costco Wholesale and Instacart piloted prescription delivery last fall from several Costco pharmacies in Southern California and Washington state before expanding the service to nearly 200 clubs this past April and then rolling it out chainwide in May across 42 states and the District of Columbia.

In August, DoorDash unveiled plans to expand its presence in the grocery delivery space with the launch of its DashPass subscription service, in which customers pay $9.99 per month for unlimited free deliveries for orders of at least $12. Previously, DoorDash — known primarily for restaurant food delivery — provided grocery retailers with last-mile delivery only through its white-label Drive service.

Overall, DoorDash provides on-demand delivery and logistics services to local and national businesses in more than 4,000 cities and all 50 states across the United States, Canada and Australia.