Google's express delivery service, Google Express, has expanded to much of the U.S. East Coast, including all of New York State and New Jersey, in an attempt to compete with current express delivery champion, Amazon Prime. In a move meant to acquire new customers for the service, Google Express is now offering a three-month free trial to all customers.
Google Express offers express delivery of eligible items from some of the biggest retailers in the country, including Costco, Kohl's, The Vitamin Shoppe, PetSmart and Whole Foods. The service has now expanded its delivery area and is available in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
"Our goal with Google Express is to offer a great shopping experience and connect people with their favorite stores," said Brian Elliott, General Manager of Google Express.
Members pay a $95 per year fee to belong to the service, or can opt for a $10 monthly charge instead. Membership entitles users to receive free express delivery of certain items from all participating retailers. Deliveries may be received the same day, the following day, or at the latest, in two days depending on the item and the location from which it was ordered.
If that sounds a lot like the terms of Amazon's Amazon Prime delivery service, it's because it is similar in many aspects. Amazon offers almost identical payment options and prices of either $99 annually or $11 per month.
While Amazon customers are ordering from a single company, Google Express website instead features eligible items from participating retailers. While most of those retailers are national for now, some local stores also participate, for example sporting goods stores Paragon and Road Runner, and electronic goods retailer Adorama in Manhattan, where the service has been available since 2014. As the service grows, it plans to add additional local retailers.
In order to entice new customers, Google is offering a generous free trial of three months for all members who subscribe using the code WELCOME.
Amazon's free trial offer for new members of Prime only lasts for one month before customers begin being charged. After the Google Express free trial is over, members will automatically be charged on an annual or monthly basis, depending on the preference they choose when joining.
Membership, however, can be canceled at any time, so those who do not wish to pay for the service can cancel before the trial is up and not be charged. The Google Express free trial offer is available through Jan. 31, 2017.
