A student-run company on the University of Arizona campus is redefining on-demand delivery, ensuring that time-constrained college students can quickly get late-night meals, school supplies and other essentials.
Snag, which launched at the UA last fall, replaces Duffl, a delivery service that had been on campus until last April. Snag, like Duffl, uses electric bikes and scooters to deliver everything from groceries and snacks to school supplies to students on-campus.
UC Santa Barbara undergraduates Mason Cohen and Jacob Duijser founded Snag in 2020. The company’s main focus is to deliver groceries and snacks on college campuses. It has since grown to include the UA and 11 other universities around the country.
Unlike UberEats, which delivers from local restaurants, Snag sources its inventory from dark stores local warehouses stocked specifically for rapid delivery. Dark stores are retail outlets or distruition centers that exist solely for online shopping. Students simply download the Snag app, enter their address, and place an order for snacks, school supplies, or even alcohol. Student riders then quickly deliver the items via electric scooters.
“It’s a fun gig, to be honest,” said Tate Slaymaker, a sophomore engineering major who recently began working for Snag. “Getting around quickly is easy thanks to the scooters, and meeting other students while exploring the campus is an awesome experience.”
According to Brayden Clauson, who operates the University of Arizona Snag store, his primary responsibility is to make sure that everything runs well every day.
“I make sure drivers are ready and orders are going out on time because we’re open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. every day,” Clauson said.
Effective route management is necessary to coordinate delivery between East Grant and East Broadway when there are 20 to 30 orders displayed on the screen at once.
“We occasionally deal with scooter issues or customer calls to change addresses, but it’s important to keep things moving,” Clauson says.
Some people don’t think Snag can recreate the sense of community that Duffl used to have. Ceci Waldmire, a former Duffl employee, recognizes Snag’s efficiency but misses the bond Duffl created.
“With their technology and quicker delivery times, I think Snag has really stepped it up,” she said. “However, Duffl had a distinct atmosphere and a community that is difficult to duplicate.”
Waldmire explained that the close-knit community stemmed from the personal connections Duffl workers built with regular customers. Some students ordered the same items so frequently that she would remember their orders, which made them feel special and fostered a sense of familiarity and friendship beyond just a delivery service.
Junior business student Caitlin McKinney is conflicted but likes the convenience.
“Snag’s quick deliveries are really helpful, especially when I’m studying for tests,” McKinney said. “I do, however, miss Duffl’s unique sense of community.”
Students can download the Snag app from the App Store to place orders and have essentials delivered directly to their dorms, residences or study spots.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
