Google Checkout
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Google Checkout Overview
Google Checkout Logo
Google Checkout is a service offered by Google.com that allows merchants to accept credit cards online, primarily through their websites. The service is mainly marketed to consumers as a way to securely checkout of online stores by storing their credit card information in their Google Checkout account. Not only does Google claim that it’s a safer checkout option for consumers, but that it also speeds up the checkout process and stores the purchase information in one place so that consumers can easily review past purchases.
Google Checkout’s service is similar to PayPal’s “Website Payments Standard” and “Website Payments Pro” which allow merchants to either collect payments from a hosted checkout on Google’s servers, or through their own hosted shopping cart with either an HTML or XML-based API. Merchant’s will likely need to work with an experienced web developer for the API option, but the other options can be implemented by just about anyone with basic knowledge of HTML.
Although a merchant cannot collect credit card information independently and type it into their Google Checkout merchant account to process sales, they can use Google Checkout’s invoice emailing feature to request payment from a customer. If a buyer places an order via phone or fax, a merchant can generate invoices through his/her Google Checkout Merchant Center and email it to the buyer. The buyer is sent a link along with the invoice that allows him/her to confirm payment and shipping information. Unlike PayPal, Google Checkout does not offer a virtual terminal service for processing face-to-face transactions but does have a Google Checkout app for Android that allows Google Checkout sellers to accept payments from the Android app users.
Google Checkout Sales Strategy & Tactics | A+
Google uses no misleading sales tactics or marketing to promote Google Checkout. The service is primarily marketed online by other merchants and in search results.
Google Checkout Costs, Fees and Contract Terms | A
Like PayPal, there is no cost for setting up a Google Checkout account and merchants can cancel anytime without incurring a cancellation fee. Google Checkout, also like PayPal, has no monthly fees, but Google Checkout does not offer as many different services as PayPal. As of this review, the transaction fees for Google Checkout are:
Google Checkout Pricing
Additionally, Google Checkout has a surcharge of 1% if the buyer’s billing country is different from the seller’s. There is also a $10 fee for merchants found liable of a Chargeback and an additional $0.30 fee for each “partial capture” if a merchant selects to do so with a sale. Registered non-profits pay the same fees as above unless they are a Google Grants recipient. Currently Google Grants recipients get free processing through 2012 for donations received through Google Checkout.
Google Checkout Service, Complaints & Dispute Resolution | C
Google Checkout is a fairly popular service so, as to be expected, there are a few hundred complaints filed against it. However, the vast majority complaints come from buyers and not merchants. As for merchant complaints of Google Checkout, there were only a few that complained of slow customer service, a non-existent customer support phone line and return/refund issues. The majority of buyer complaints mirrored those of merchants but mostly pointed to problems with returns and refunds.
As of this review, Google Checkout only offers email support and a merchant forum to resolve issues. Because of this fact, the rating falls from what would have been an “A” rating for this section to a “C” rating.
Google Checkout Better Business Bureau Report | N/A
As of this review, Google Checkout is not listed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Bottom Line
Google Checkout offers a simple payment processing service that is ideal for online merchant that are just starting out. For more established merchants, Google Checkout can be implemented as an additional checkout option that can be paired alongside PayPal and a traditional merchant account giving the buyer the option to choose his/her favorite payment method.
With no setup fees, monthly fees and cancellation fees Google Checkout out is a great option for any seller wishing to accept online payments or donations. The ease of establishing account and the lack of other fees does mean higher transaction fees than most traditional merchant account setups. For most merchants, Google Checkout is best used as an additional credit card acceptance method rather than a sole option for collecting electronic payments.
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8 comments
Chris Whitley says:
December 19, 2011 at 3:10 pm (UTC -8 )
I tried to set up an account with google checkout and it just isn’t happening. After three day of giving them all the info they ask for, I when from placing an order with an account, to an canceled order and suspended account, and when I gave them more personal information, they closed my account and won’t even tell me why or help in any way. Three day I have wasted trying to set up an account with them and I give up.
I finally contacted the company I needed to place an order from and they sent me to a sister company that takes paypal. No problem at all with paypal.
Last comment, google customer support is the worst I’ve seen in my life time. I guess everything would be fine if you just don’t need any help from them.
-Chris
mike says:
December 9, 2011 at 1:52 pm (UTC -8 )
I have been a merchant customer of Google Checkout for years. I am not sure why, but I am moving to another vendor asap. They recently refunded an order to a customer without my knowledge and then charged me $10 to do so. I called the customer and they were kind enough to write a letter to Google telling them there was a mistake. There is NO PHONE NUMBER to call. Google to this day, months later, still has not reversed the fee. its funny, I pay them over, $1,300/month in transaction fees and they dont even provide me with a simple phone number to call about a MISTAKE of theirs. GOOGLE IS TERRIBLE AND THEY ARE TRYING TO BE SOMETHING THEY ARE NOT. THEY ARE NOT A TRANSACTION MANAGAMENT COMPANY.
Annette Bridges says:
December 11, 2011 at 10:32 am (UTC -8 )
Yes, you cannot get to speak to a human at google and all you get is a generic response.
Google keep stating that they are regulated by the FSA. Yes I fully understand that, But we are “Merchants” and chose to employ Google to carry out the card transactions for us, whom in turn charge us for their services. We have to have a business bank account. To open a Business Bank Account you have to give all your personal and business details and all those details must check out.
Google are a transaction company.
They are NOT my BANK.
Why should they need a copy of my driving license and or passport.
My Bank Yes, a transaction company No?????
I think they are getting above their station!!!!
Norma Anderson says:
December 6, 2011 at 4:33 pm (UTC -8 )
We were very impressed with how easy it was to order the product we wanted. And.. We were VERY surprised that the item was delivered so quickly. We would definitely order from them again-with the help of Google. thank you for making it so easy and quick.
Annette Bridges says:
November 21, 2011 at 2:25 pm (UTC -8 )
Hello
I grow willow and would be classed as a micro industry.
I have been using Google Checkout since beginning of October 2010.
The last time I received a payment from them was 29th March 2011 it is now 21st Nov 2011.. They are withholding my payment as they said they were unable to verify some details from the details I had supplied. Nothing has changed. All my details have been the same for over 6 years.
Google have now asked for a passport or driving license. Yet when I opened the account they did not ask for passport or driving license. Why do they want now and what are they comparing it with.
They have no phone number and I keep getting the same generic answer that they are regulated by the FSA, I have contacted the FSA who also think this is odd.
I am lodging a complaint about them and will take it to the Banking Ombudsman.
Bernice Hicks says:
January 15, 2012 at 9:44 pm (UTC -8 )
I’ve been reading some comments and complaints and must tell you of my recent nightmare. I was scammed by a woman claiming to sell a vehicle to us but convinced us to pay with a western Union money transfer and I bet you can guess the rest of the story. They had (the scammers) set up a phony site using Google Checkout logo’s and such and claimed they were the one’s holding the money until i retrieved the vehicle. While processing this whole scam I kept trying to contact Google checkout themselves to get some answers but had no luck. Like many of you have stated, there are no phone numbers to contact them so this gives the scammers a wide open opportunity to suck you in before you can get a response from Google. If there are any others out there like myself, I could really use some advice about how to stop this and catch these scum. Tomorrow I’ll be opening a case with the FBI in Salt Lake, Utah. If I had been able to contact Google Checkout to verify, this never would have happened, but the scammers know this. All I can say now is that I am very ashamed of myself for falling for this and am sick about it. Be careful, the scammers and the real Google Checkout look a lot alike.
Clarence Waller says:
January 31, 2012 at 4:04 am (UTC -8 )
Would this happen to have been a Lady named, Sophia that showed the picture of the car in New Jersey, but said it was in Miami fl, but she has a mailing addr in Texas, they never gave a phone # but a person email me asking me to send him $4000. cash and the vehicle would be delivered. Is this the same person
Clarence Waller says:
January 31, 2012 at 4:00 am (UTC -8 )
I’m thinking of buying a car from them but as you stated they give no number to reach them, and they want me to western union them $4000. cash and await the delivery of the vehiche, but all i have is a fax number to fax the receipt vertifying that the money has been sent.
WHAT DO U THINK