Google Shopping Express

Google Express, formerly Google Shopping Express, was a service from Google.Sarah Perez
"Google Shopping Express Expands To More Cities, Rebrands As Google Express"
, ''TechCrunch'', October 14, 2014

At Google Marketing Live in May 2019, Google announced the integration of Google Express and its more than two thousand partner stores into the new Google Shopping. Google Shopping incorporates the functionality and capabilities of Express plus other pre-existing features of Google Shopping, ' like the ability to compare prices and places to buy from online and offline stores.

Google Express was a shopping service from Google available in some parts of the United States that was launched on a free trial basis across the San Francisco Peninsula. Originally, it was a same-day service, but it later expanded to same-day and overnight delivery. Pricing was originally the same as in-person shopping, but later increased; Google Express Help said, "Because item prices are set by stores, sometimes you'll see prices on Google Express that differ from what you'd see in the store: this depends both on the merchant and the location of the store your items come from."

The service was first announced in March 2013, from San Francisco as far south as San Jose, California. Retailers include a mix of national and local stores.Iain Thomson,
"Google Shopping Express dips toe in same-day home delivery: Wants to ape Amazon and eBay, not Webvan or Kozmo"
, ''The Register'', March 28, 2013.Joanna Stern
"Google Shopping Express: Same-Day Delivery Beyond the Web"
, Technology, ABC News blogs, March 29, 2013. It was publicly launched on September 25, 2013, with some added retailers but still restricted to San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Apps for Android and Apple smartphones were announced the same day; using these enables customers to use their loyalty accounts.Sarah Perez
"Google Shopping Express Launches In San Francisco Peninsula, Debuts New Apps"
. ''TechCrunch'', September 25, 2013. In May 2014 the service was expanded to New York City and West Los Angeles,Alison Griswold
"Google Shopping Express Is Making a Masterful Play for Amazon’s Customers"
, Moneybox, '' Slate'', May 5, 2014.Alistair Barr
"In Battle with Amazon, Google Expands Same-Day Delivery Service"
, ''Wall Street Journal'' blogs, May 5, 2014. and in October 2014 service was added in Chicago, Boston, and Washington, DC, as well as additional retailers.Brian Elliot
"Google Express: more cities, more stores and a new name"
, Official Google blog, October 13, 2014.

At launch, Google waived the subscription fee for testers and for the first six months after sign-up; the fee is somewhat below that for Amazon Prime. Amazon, which is also testing same-day delivery in selected markets, is the main competitor.Farhad Manjoo
"The Glorious Future of Shopping: You order online. Your stuff comes the same day. You never have to leave your house again"
, Technology, '' Slate'', June 30, 2013. Delivery began with Prius sedans in Google Shopping Express livery, about 50 cars , when the service was available in 88 ZIP codes.Heather Somerville
"Google puts pressure on eBay, expands same-day delivery"
, Business, ''The Mercury News'', August 30, 2013. The fleet was later expanded to include Ford Transit vans, and the company announced it might use bicycle and on-foot delivery in some areas. The deliveries are subcontracted to a courier service, initially 1-800-Courier,Cyrus Farivar
"Google Shopping Express expands old formula: Take orders, deliver stuff (mostly): In which an Ars editor makes three orders in San Jose, but two actually show up"
, Business, ''Ars Technica'', September 25, 2013. and later also OnTrac. In the testing phase, retailers were not charged, or paid only a nominal fee. Customers pay $5 per shopping stop and receive deliveries within a three- to five-hour window. Customers must have a Google Pay account.Shana Lynch
"Google Shopping Express versus eBay Now: Who won?"
, ''Silicon Valley Business Journal'', September 25, 2013.

The service displays a map of the merchandise pickup and delivery locations, and attempts to use the nearest available outlet, although not always successfully.

In October 2017, merchant partners included Walmart, Target,Natalie Gagliordi
"Target partners with Google for voice shopping through Google Express"
'' ZDNet'' (CBS Interactive), October 12, 2017, retrieved October 13, 2017. Costco, and Fry's Electronics.

See also

* Kozmo.com, now-defunct 1998–2001 business that provided a similar service
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References

External links

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{{Google LLC

Express
Shopping delivery services