Using Google Checkout as only option.

Possible Disadvantages?

[Sierra_Dad]

Right now I have a secure site and custom checkout page that I wrote for selling digital goods with an Authorize.net compatible merchant account.

Volume is low, and I would probably spend about $50/month without processing anything.

I don't have any Google Checkout account now, but I will be forced to have one once I'm selling apps through Android Market.

I know the best way to solve this problem is to have more volume. And I'd love to have it. Looking at it realistically, though, my volume for indirect sales will probably increase more than my direct sales. I might have a better chance of getting volume through Google Checkout since in

I don't how friendly Google Checkout's policies are to downloadable software. While they do sell software in Android Market (and are pretty liberal with refunds) I don't know

In any case, being able to track analytics and being able to process orders automatically is important.

Can anyone comment?

In general, are there reasons to hate or love Google Checkout or its API?

[Sierra_Dad]

Google's API does have tags to support Digital Goods Delivery.

Are there any more opinions about this topic?

I notice that digital goods are not eligible for the Payment Guarantee, as expected.

I have never had a chargeback for digital goods through my merchant account. I wouldn't want to start having more if I switched to Google Checkout.

Any other plus/minuses?

[Jack_Hughes]

We sell tangible goods so I'm not sure how it compares to software but Google Checkout is the worst payment we use. Taking direct payments is the best, then a distant second comes PayPal and then even more distant comes Google Checkout. Not tried the Amazon payment thing because it isn't supported over here.

[piatkow]

Do they still force people making payments to open an account? I looked into it when it first came out and rejected it for that reason.

[Sierra_Dad]

Do they still force people making payments to open an account?

As far as I can tell, yes.

For selling Android software, *everyone* will have a Google account - although I don't know if they have a Google Checkout account.

It could definitely be a barrier for people otherwise.

[mycrystalbridge]

Yes, they do ask users to register to google or sign in before making payment. checked it out yesterday since I was considering adding google checkout to my website (in addition to Paypal).

It completely turned me off.

[Rune]

As "only" option, I would not do that.
They blocked my account without any warning, and the reason wasn't reasonable. There was also no reasoning with their support. More the kind to send form responses than communicate. Fortunately I had only added it as a courtesy option.

[CernyM]

We switched over and now offer only Google Checkout for domestic (US) customers.

Our shopping cart is older and we've heavily customized it making PCI compliance issues a huge headache.

Google's fees are competitive (though not offering monthly fee payment is a hassle) and we've not noticed conversion rate issues (yet, knock wood).

[jwolthuis]

I view stores that use Google Checkout the same way I view Yahoo! stores. The redirect to checkout looks amateurish, and gives me the sense that I'm dealing with a basement operation.

I prefer to shop at sites that control their checkout process, from the shopping cart screen to the congratulations screen, only redirecting where required (for a PayPal payment, for instance).