Hey I was considering adding Google checkout as one of my payment gateways for customers who do not wish to use paypal. I did some research here, couldn't find much and some research at DP but it was more of a mix in the sense that I got reviews from users but not merchants who are web-hosts.

The reason I chose Google Checkout out is because the merchant fees are identical to Paypal so I would not have to worry about receiving different amounts with the two gateways.

So I was wondering does anyone here use Google checkout if so, do you like it? Do you find that it was worth integrating? Or do you have some horror stories?

Plus maybe even if you chose not to go with Google checkout but went with something else.

I like it. Seems a lot simpler than paypal. Can't hurt to accept it. I accept both personally.

I use it and like it. Google's API and documentation are much better than PayPal's.

Just added Google Checkout as a payment form last week and I'm already seeing a few invoices being paid with it, so I'd say some people do in fact prefer it.

Frankly, I didn't expect anyone to use it, but there ya go. Cheers.

I like it but with one minor exception - their API won't notify your server that the payment's gone through until it's passed fraud detection. That's all well and good, and saves you from auto-provisioning something that's just going to get rolled back because of their fraud detection... but for some foreign customers I've seen the fraud check go on for up to two hours.

In the mean time the customer's wondering what the heck is going on - so we had to make it known to our customers that we're waiting on Google to "process the payment" and that we will setup the service as soon as Google tells us to do so.

The other issue is that when you refund, they'll keep the 30c charge or whatever it is for the credit charge... but that's basically less of an issue because starting August, Paypal are allegedly doing the same thing. So unless you're doing the "all payments non-refundable" thing, you might consider adding that to your ToS.

I stopped using Google Checkout when they removed the discount for linking Google Ads
One other issue was the automated withdrawal of funds into my bank account (monthly cycle)

On PayPal I can decide when to withdraw funds, typically double the minimum threshold and this is more suitable to cashflow of the business

We accept google checkout and find it is generally a good service, Paypal is still used by 90% of customers, I do not like the fraud checking side of things, even with customers who have google checkout accounts months old it still takes time to do the fraud check.

It's so sad it's not available for Europe (NL) :(
Otherwise we also would definately use it.

Thanks for all the input everyone, especially fwaggle I had no idea about the 30 cent fee not being refunded. I would also have to agree m8internet on how not being able to choose when you can get your money could be a hassle. I think I might only offer this on a case by case basis for now till I get more comfortable with it. Thanks again everyone.

Oh, one more thing... I'm not sure if Paypal require this or not, but Google Checkout requires you have HTTPS with a valid certificate for their API to contact you. You'd probably be crazy to try and sell anything over the internet without springing for an SSL certificate, but it's a gotcha nonetheless.

We use Google Checkout as an additional payment option. Only 1% of our customers actually use Google Checkout, but it's worth using because the fraud protection from Google is pretty good. :D

It's so sad it's not available for Europe (NL)
I would suggest you contact them, as Google Checkout is available to the UK

We use Google Checkout as an additional payment option. Only 1% of our customers actually use Google Checkout, but it's worth using because the fraud protection from Google is pretty good. :D
Do you ever get charge backs?

Do you ever get charge backs?

Google has a payment guarantee that helps. If an order passes their fraud checks and they approve the charge, they will protect you from a chargeback. For more info:
http://checkout.google.com/support/sell/bin/answer.py?answer=42863&hl=en_US&ctx=sibling

Anyone knows Google plans about introducing Google Checkout to continental Europe?

Anyone knows Google plans about introducing Google Checkout to continental Europe?

Currently it's only available to US and UK merchants. Not sure if/when they plan to make it available to additional countries.

Currently it's only available to US and UK merchants. Not sure if/when they plan to make it available to additional countries.

Yeah, it's been like that for several years now. They still have not expanded with GC to any new countries.

Yeah, it's been like that for several years now. They still have not expanded with GC to any new countries.

Since they allow buyers from almost every country, you'd think they would allow sellers as well. :(