Google operates GSX. They have cute little vans with "Google Shopping Express" painted on them which drive around and deliver the products.
It's whichever local stores agree to partner with Google. As far as I know, the process works like this:
1. Google partners with a store. They place some subset of the inventory of that store online.
2. As a user, you browse that inventory and buy.
3. The store receives the order, places the item into a storage bin in the back and waits for a GSX van to come pick it up.
4. Every so often, a GSX van will swing by, pick up the goods, then deliver.
Yes, you can get books. As far as I know, the only real product you can't get is fresh produce. I think produce has far too low of a volume-profit ratio (and of course, produce spoils if left sitting inside of a hot van for hours on end).
You also can't get alcohol. They've been pretty smart with what they do and don't allow - makes it much more flexible than Instacart in terms of logistics on their end. It means they can just dump everything on your doorstep if you're not home.
I've noticed they do have some "fresh" things now, like bread, but that's it - no refrigerated things or other things that may spoil. I did have an issue one time ordering fresh bread and they missed the delivery window and delivered it the next day, by which time it was stale. A minor glitch though, but shows why they're so conservative about what they deliver.
Probably because alcohol requires an above-21 person to sign and receive the delivery, which adds complications to GSX if no one is home when they deliver.
They do now. I've ordered it. If I had to guess, I imagine it's not a legal requirement you want to tackle right away when you're just getting started.
Actually, you forgot one step:
4. GSX vans pick up the goods and deliver to GSX warehouse
5. GSX van #2 pick up at warehouse and delivers to consumers. GSX vans have to do 5 deliveries per hour minimum (which is no too hard to do in a city like SF once you have enough volume).
The warehouse piece is probably why they cannot do fresh produce.
Does Google "partner" with each store? I know Ebay Now does not. They get inventory feeds via a variety of methods but ultimately just make a regular purchase at the store and then deliver it to you.
Ebay Now's tip thing really screws it up. You're not sure if you're really supposed to tip or not and how much. Then you feel awkward almost no matter what when you meet the courier.
