Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Barnes & Noble Inc. (NASDAQ:BN) strike a partnership

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By Mark Michaels on August 7, 2014 Technology & Software

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) teamed up with Barnes & Noble Inc. (NASDAQ:BN) in order to get ahead of Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN). The two partners will be fighting Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) to take over its territory – which is books. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Barnes & Noble Inc. (NASDAQ:BN) will be releasing thousands of books on the same day. By this Thursday, book buyers all over in Western LA, Manhattan and San Francisco will be able to buy store items of Barnes & Noble Inc. (NASDAQ:BN) and get them delivered on the same day through Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Google Shopping Express.

Google Shopping Express was a new delivery and shopping service that was launched about twelve months ago. It has been gaining popularity and strength ever since. Google Shopping Express allows Internet shoppers to order items from different stores, like Target, Costco and Walgreens. It then uses hired services to deliver the items from the store location to the customer within the same day.

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) also has a service that ensures delivery on the same day. It was initially available in four cities. Just this Wednesday, the company announced that the service will now be made available in six more cities. Google Shopping Express is competing with this same-day-delivery service of Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN).

Barnes & Noble Inc. (NASDAQ:BN) has recently been added to the list of those stores that are using the Google Shopping Express service to allow customers to order their store items. The new partnership has the potential to compete against the traditional book services offered by Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN). A reason for this strength is that Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s bullying attitude towards some of the publishers has annoyed several book buyers. The partnership between Barnes & Noble Inc. (NASDAQ:BN) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) connects online retailing to the traditional book stores. This will prove beneficial particularly for Barnes & Noble Inc. (NASDAQ:BN) whose sales will definitely see a potential boost after growing minimally for a few years.

Over the course of five years, Barnes & Noble Inc. (NASDAQ:BN) has been forced to shut down about 63 stores including those stores in Washington and Manhattan. Now, the company has 660 operating retail stores and 700 stores in college campuses. The partnership is beneficial for Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) in that it can now offer a wider variety of store items that can be delivered on the same day. This will allow the company to strengthen its grip on the search business - a business that is greatly dominated by Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN).

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is definitely the pioneer in the same-day delivery service. This service is now offered by other companies like Wal-Mart and eBay as well. To take advantage of its same day service, the Prime members must pay $5.99 to Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and others must pay $9.98. Google Shopping Express charges $4.99 for each delivery, from one store. For its subscribers, Google Shopping Express has offered free delivery.