Wine Delivery and ID Verification

Federal regulations mandate that couriers must verify ID for alcohol deliveries. While most people don’t have a problem flashing their license “on premise” (i.e., at a bar), some are irked at doing so at home. To make matters even trickier, most courier companies require that drivers actually scan the ID with their phones, something that can make customers uncomfortable.

The good news is that Getcho has cracked the formula for complying with the law and keeping customers happy.

ID Scans and Wine Returns

When a driver can’t verify ID for a wine delivery, they have to return the order to the store. Package loss rates are three times higher when a driver needs to return the item. Plus, customers have a bad taste in their mouths.

And during the holidays, take note: Wine that’s delivered as a gift is returned 20% of the time, as recipients tend not to be prepared to show ID.

Preventing Returns of Locally Delivered Wine

To solve this problem, we can take inspiration from an unlikely place: the airport.

Many people willingly enroll in CLEAR, trading their biometric data for a shortcut in line.
Some of these same people resent the verification-by-photo checks in the regular TSA lines.

The difference is that people have the option to enroll in CLEAR and they’re getting something in return. The tablet photos, on the other hand, are default and opt-out.

This same principle applies with wine delivery ID checks: When customers feel that they’re given the choice to show ID in exchange for faster delivery, they welcome the opportunity. When they’re surprised to learn they need to fork over their ID just to get the wine they already purchased, they can get upset.

ID Verification Data From Getcho Deliveries

Getcho is a local delivery platform that runs on fleets like DoorDash, Uber, and Roadie. We provide customer support & delivery guarantees on top of whatever delivery network(s) you use. We charge a small percentage of the order which pays for itself in just ten orders.

Over the past year, Getcho ran a large experiment on ID verification:

• A control group was asked to scan ID at delivery.
• Another group was given the option to scan ID or opt for another method of delivery (in-store pick-up or snail mail).

Deliveries in the second group — where customers were given the choice to show their ID — were returned 99% less often. In the control group, 31% of customers complained about ID verification (many refusing altogether). So it’s amazing that virtually no one complained when given the choice, and less than 10% opted out of local delivery.

Getting Started With Getcho

There’s a better way to comply with the law and keep your customers happy, and Getcho can help. Book a demo here.