Have You Joined Google Checkout UK?
Posted on April 28, 2007
Filed Under Credit Cards, Merchant Accounts, Shopping Carts, Third Party Merchant Accounts
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After the official announcement on Google Checkout has reached my neck of the woods in the UK on 13th April.
At first I thought there may be some teething problems as they integrate the system. However the main issues raised were in relation to affiliate program tracking.
I have seen a dramatic increase in North American web sites offering Google Checkout as a payment choice for customers.
For instance Tinu Abayomi-Paul has replaced her PayPal buttons and replaced them with Google Checkout for her customers.
With the extremely attractive ZERO transaction rates until 2008 the rate of growth in new merchants has been be a big boost for Google.
However, online auction site Ebay prohibits sellers from using Google Checkout as a payment option and continue to boycott the service in favor of PayPal.
Consumers have expressed their concerns over how secure their credit card information will be with Google because their email address can be used over all of Google’s many groups and services..
There are ways to safeguard your customer/seller account from fraud.
For instance you are given the choice to link all of your Google groups together or open a SEPARATE email account for Google Checkout transactions.
Definitely go for this option to keep track of your orders and sales from Adwords account and other Google Groups.
I recently made a large payment through Google Checkout for the first time and so far the whole transaction ran smoothly. 
As with all of my online shopping accounts and third party merchant accounts I will be making regular changes to my password as an added security measure.
In fact I was so impressed with how easy it was use the system that I have taken steps to accept credit card payments Google Checkout UK. I just have to wait until my bank statement shows a small transaction from Google Checkout to complete the verification process.
I must admit that their little shopping cart icon stands out below Adwords when I am looking through search results. This could boost your click though rates and grab customers attention who an account or would prefer to pay via Google Checkout, as well as self promotion, and why not other credit card processors and card issuers use their logo to show buyers that they can purchase with a recognized brand.
Anyway, I am getting a little ahead of myself here. Until I have completed it will be interesting to track sales conversions and customer feedback.
Oh yes, I mustn’t forget Yahoo Checkout, a collaboration between Yahoo and PayPal. Looks like there is some confusion as to the distinction between the two services due to their identical names!
Ah well. Google can’t have it all!
In the end it is up to the merchant to decide what options to provide to buyers which should be evident from increase levels of sales. I wonder if you can offer both payment options if it is not against the terms of services.
On seconds thoughts maybe this idea would create too much conflict and unnecessary confusion for consumers.
Have you been using Google Checkout?
Has it increased your sales?
Would you consider adding Google Checkout as stand alone payment module?
You would probably be better off presenting Google Checkout in addition to other credit card processor at first to test which payment module customers prefer to use before making a decision to use Google Checkout as a stand alone payment module.
Take a look at how other online stores are offering customers wider payment choices:
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3 Responses to “Have You Joined Google Checkout UK?”
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I like Google Checkout, and I’ll probably write a whole post about it some time this week. It’s major drawback is that you can’t accept international orders, which is where most of my smaller transactions come from. So I’d have to add other methods of payment. So far, I don’t see a problem offering both, and I’ve told Morgan and Cindy that’s what they should do.
Hi Tinu,
I thought you could accept international orders. Well at least from their list of accepted countries.
I made an order from a US merchant with no problems.
However, as I have a UK address I can only accept payments in my own currency of Great British Pounds (GBP).
I’ve been using USD for long now I almost forgot what my own currency looked like. LOL
Anyway I REALLY do hope Google Checkout will change this real soon because it is a hell of a job checking exchange rates.
They should have just started with USD for the whole system like most third party merchant account companies.
Hmm, worth the wait I suppose!
Thanks for dropping by Tinu,
Nancy
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