Google Express Expands to Santa Barbara

Google’s at-home delivery service, Google Express, announced Thursday it has expanded its operation to include all of southern California. Now, Santa Barbara Google Express members who order by the standard 5 p.m. deadline, which is extended to 7 p.m. in some areas, will receive their items the next day at their front doorstep, their office, or their chosen destination.

In southern California, Google Express contracts with 27 stores — among them Costco, Whole Foods, and Ulta — to provide overnight shipping on thousands of inventory items.

According to General Manager Brian Elliott, Google Express’ expansion from northern California to the Santa Barbara area has been long planned; it wasn’t launched in response to the same-day Amazon pickup location that opened last week in Isla Vista.

Last year, the Google started delivering to West Los Angeles, Manhattan, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, D.C., after having operated since about a year before in San Francisco and San Jose.

A Google Express membership costs $95 per year, which is comparable to Amazon Prime’s $99 annual membership. Nonmembers can pay $4.99 for each overnight order. The company is offering a month-long free trial to local residents who sign up immediately.