Hasta La Gadget!

It looks as though Walmart isn’t the only company that is making some moves with its online shopping delivery service as Google has announced it is starting to test its “Shopping Express” service in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company is partnering with big-name retailers like Target, Walgreens, Staples, American Eagle and Toys ‘R’ Us, as well as local coffee shops and independent stores and will offer early adopters six months of free, unlimited same-day delivery with prices of goods reflecting how much they cost in their respective stores.

Google will be looking to price its same-day deliver service competitively against Amazon at around $69 a year, but the company is still currently working on its pricing plan for the service that may change based on data from its early testers and retailers. The process to order same-day delivery goods is said to be as easy as buying your goods, selecting a delivery time slot and waiting for one of Google’s delivery partners to drop it off. Let’s just hope they’re able to deliver your box of popcorn and Diet Mountain Dew in time for movie night, or you can expect to be entertaining some hungry and un-caffeinated guests.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Walmart Considers Using In-Store Customers To Deliver Online Shoppers’ Packages, Facebook Buy Ticket Button Could Make Things Easier,

Apple has brought back its free next-day shipping promotion, only this time it’s for the iPhone. It was first introduced back in December just before Christmas to make room for those last minute shoppers looking to get that special someone a brand new Apple product for the holidays. This time around, Apple is opening those doors once again just in time for Easter.

Of course, the first time that Apple made the promotion available, it made sense with Christmas right around the corner, but this time around we’re not sure what Apple’s motive is to offer free next-day shipping in March. Easter seems to be the only plausible holiday explanation, but it could also be because of Apple’s competition releasing new devices soon.

Both HTC and Samsung have new smartphones ready to be released. Samsung’s GALAXY S 4 will be arriving sometime next month, while the HTC One is getting delayed, but will starting shipping out units later this month. Apple’s free next-day shipping promotion could be an effort to sidetrack shoppers from theses upcoming releases.

The promotion only allows buyers to get two iPhones per household, and there’s no say on how long the promotion will last, but we’re guessing that if you’re in the market for a new iPhone, right now would be the best time to buy. Sure, there’s a rumored iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 that might be on the way soon, but if you keep waiting around for the next best smartphone to release, you’ll drive yourself nuts.

[via The Next Web]

Apple offering free next-day shipping with iPhone purchase is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

One of the best parts of the seasons changing—besides a reprieve from snow and slush—is shopping for new clothes. Swirl will help you in that endeavor and it might save you some money while you’re at it. More »

If you think that dolls are traditional things of the past, think again. MakieLab, a U.K based startup company launched an app called “Makies Doll Factory” last week that allows users to design their very own unique dolls. You can choose the hairstyle, facial features and custom clothing for the doll and have it 3D printed. The doll will be delivered to you. The price of a custom made doll starts around 59 pounds ($88) excluding shipping. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Hitachi Ropits Self-Driving Vehicle, Google Improves Gmail Mobile Web To Adopt Gmail 2.0 for iOS UI,

Multiple companies have been testing out same-day delivery in a select number of markets, with Amazon being one of them. However, it looks like they’ll have some competition if recent reports are to be true. It’s said that Google will be creating their own same-day delivery service called Google Shopping Express that will ship goods to customers who ordered them the same day.

According to TechCrunch, one source is saying that Google’s Express service will be $10 to $15 cheaper than Amazon Prime, which means that it’ll be priced around $65 to $70 per year and will offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores like Walmart and Target, although a complete list of chains wasn’t given, nor is finalized.

It’s not said when the service would be launching, but sources say that internal testing has begun, so if we were to see this new service come to fruition, it could be fairly soon. In an effort to streamline Google’s e-commerce initiative, it’s said that the company will be creating a centralized storefront that will combine Google Shopping and Google Wallet services.

Google recently acquired locker storage provider BufferBox back in December, so it’s very possible that the Mountain View-based company could be planning to debut a locker delivery service that Amazon is currently testing in several markets, where packages are delivered to lockers in stores, and customers can pick them up at any time, similar to a P.O. Box.

[via TechCrunch]

Google rumored to be working on Amazon Prime same-day shipping competitor is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.