Google Adopts Delivery-Service Model, Targets Amazon

Google is expanding its delivery service and will start charging a membership fee, intensifying its battle with Amazon.com for consumer spending. Starting this week, Google will charge $10 a month, or $95 a year, for unlimited same-day or overnight delivery on orders over $15. Nonmembers will pay $4.99 an order, or $7.99 if the order costs less than $15. Until now, the deliveries had been free. The service, initially named Google Shopping Express but now known simply as Google Express, lets customers place orders online for products from physical stores run by retailers including Costco, Staples and Walgreens.