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US sees new wave of online delivery

Start-ups avoid pitfalls of investing in warehouses and hiring large numbers of staff

Published Wed, Oct 29, 2014 · 09:50 PM

Washington

APP in hand, Jack Plater-Zyberk has delivered caviar, condoms, chicken nuggets, cases of beer and even a little black dress.

And he can get it to you within an hour.

Mr Plater-Zyberk, who manoeuvres his 1992 BMW through Washington streets, is one of an estimated 5,000 independent contractors in the US for Postmates, an online service and smartphone app which delivers anything from lunchtime tacos to late-night diapers.

"For me, it's like being a superhero," said Mr Plater-Zyberk, who uses Postmates to supplement his income as a fill-in attorney. "When you get hot shawarma (Middl…

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