Google is taking on Amazon and eBay with a ‘Buy’ button that lets mobile users purchase items from search results, according to a news report. The Wall Street Journal suggest that the tool will initially feature on a on a ‘small number of searches’ and purchases will be made from the retailer via a Google-hosted […]
Google is taking on Amazon and eBay with a ‘Buy’ button that lets mobile users purchase items from search results, according to a news report.
The Wall Street Journal suggest that the tool will initially feature on a on a ‘small number of searches’ and purchases will be made from the retailer via a Google-hosted product page.
The buttons will appear only within sponsored results toward the top of the page and be available first to mobile users, the Journal said.
Purchases can still be made from the original retailer, and Google won’t reportedly receive any commission, but it has been designed to streamline the process.
The buttons are set to appear alongside paid search results on mobile in the ‘Shop on Google’ section.
Similar to how categories appear on eBay, Facebook now lets users sort and find ‘For Sale’ posts across multiple groups based on the item being sold.
These categories include Appliances, Event Tickets, Household Items, Mobile Phones, Real Estate and Rentals and more.
It is also not clear whether payment details will be stored in Google Wallet, for example, or need to be entered each time.
The service may also take advantage of the site’s same-day delivery service, Google Shopping Express.
It is only currently available in Boston, Chicago, Manhattan, San Francisco, Washington DC, West Los Angeles.
An overnight option is additionally available in Northern California.
According to the Journal’s Alistair Barr and Rolfe Winkler, Google will be facilitating the transactions but the orders will be fulfilled by retailers. Macy’s is one of the retailers reported to be in talks with Google.
To allay fears, Google will reportedly co-brand its order pages and give retailers the ability to ask customers to opt in to their mailing lists.
