Google takes on Amazon with same-day shopping delivery

A announced in March this year, Internet search giant Google Inc is now spreading its wings to online shopping, taking Amazon head-on by offering same-day delivery through Google Shopping Express.

The new service is already available in San Jose and San Francisco areas of California. The service was initiated and tested in March and is now on an expansion drive throughout the US.

Google has vowed to keep further improving the new service, which enables users to shop at their favourite local stores from home and get their purchases delivered the same day.

According to the details of the new service, orders placed before 9 am will be delivered by and 1 pm, while items ordered before noon will be delivered by 5 pm. And orders placed before 4:30 pm will be delivered by and 9 pm.

The Google Shopping Express service is available online through iOS and Android apps, meaning people can place their orders from virtually anywhere.

Participating brands include Walgreens, REI, Staples, American Eagle, DODOcase, Lucky, Target, Toys'R'Us, Photojojo, Office Depot, Blue Bottle Coffee, Guitar Center and Palo Alto Toy & Sport to name a few. Participating brands are also increasing as the service improves.

Trial membership to Google Shopping Express is free for six months. Members need to have a Google Wallet account that has an active credit card association. Web shoppers who do not wish to become members can still buy goods through the service, but with an additional $4.99 delivery charge.

The company has not announced the fee for the service once the trial period ends, but it will likely be around the price Amazon charges its customers for the Prime feature which is $79 per year.