Google is expanding the reach of its same-day delivery service into more areas, as well as making a change to its name. Formerly known as Google Shopping Express, the new Google Express will open out from its existing San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Los Angeles operations, to cover people located in Chicago, Boston, and Washington, D.C.
The expansion now means that more than 7 million people across all the current markets can use the same-day delivery service, with close to 12 million people in Northern California able to use the next-day service. The range of products purchasable through Google Express has also increased, with 16 new merchants added in recent months. National brands including Barnes & Noble and PetSmart are joined by Paragon Sports in New York, Vicente Foods in Los Angeles, Stop & Shop in Boston, Giant Food in D.C., and Lux Roses, TigerDirect, Treasure Island Foods, and Wrigleyville Sports in Chicago.
Google has also added an Amazon Prime-style subscription option for deliveries. For $95 per year or $10 per month, subscribers will receive free same-day or overnight delivery on orders above $15, the ability to share the membership with a household member, and gets preferential treatment for delivery windows. While there is a three-month trial available, customers can also choose to pay $4.99 per order instead of paying a subscription.
