After rumors that Google was planning on launching an Amazon Prime competitor that would offer same-day delivery on a wide range of products, Google has done just that – in a small pilot test.
Google Shopping Express, as it’s called, is a local delivery service that Google says they hope will help people get items that they order online on the same day, at a low cost.
Google has just opened up a testing phase for a small number of people in the San Francisco Bay area. If you want to look into being a tester and you live in that area, you can sign up here. Tester will receive a free 6-month membership in the service which will allow them to have unlimited same-day delivery.
Google is launching the test with only a handful of retail partners, including big names like Target, Walgreens, American Eagle, Staples, Toys R Us, and Office Depot. They’ve also partnered with a couple local institutions like Blue Bottle Coffee and the Palto Alto Toy & Sport shop.
Google Shopping Express offers a single site complete with all of the products offered by the service. It’s all the local stores online in one place. Then, all you have to do is buy, select a particular delivery window, and wait.
As far as the eventual price and future of the service:
“We’re still working out our long-term pricing plan but early testers will get six months of free, unlimited same-day delivery. The pilot will expand as we work out the kinks, so please stay tuned,” says Tom Fallows, Google Shopping Express product director.