Now we got google checkout

[Ashish]

Many of you might be aware, today (06/29/06), google released new service
'google checkout'
It;s similiar to paypal services for businesses.

link -> http://checkout.google.com/sell

Now they already got integration with some shopping cart, I wonder if MIVA is planning to do integration with them?
Or
if other developers are planning to roll out any payment module for this one.

So far, their fees sound attractive and I am pretty sure, in coming months they will make it much better.

If u already using analytics + adwords.. this service might be much better for you in terms of fees etc.

[Brandon MUS]

We don't use paypal, and I don't see us using this.

However, for startup stores, this is amazing. If you have adwords (which any startup should), you get a 1:10 free transaction ratio...

Also, their chargeback protection looks cool. They will automatically dispute every chargeback for you...

Looking at their features, I'm kinda sad that you have to use their button. It probably won't work with most designer's minds.

I'd also like to see their checkout screens (personally I dislike Paypal's checkout process), but I can't find any stores that use gbuy yet.

(Also, I read that this system was going to be called GBuy, and was supposed to launch yesterday. I wonder what made them change that?)

[mikel]

Google Checkout certainly has pros and cons and whether I like it or not, the jury is still out (I certainly don’t like how much information Google is mining in numerous ways and this one is one of the worst).

However, I don't think there is any doubt in my mind it will be hugely successful. I hate Paypal and we dumped them over a year ago but Google seems to be doing things right for the most part regardless of my own personal opinions of their data collection. I’ll be surprised if there isn’t a developer working on a module for it as we speak. I’ll be among the first to try it (hint to any developer needing someone to give it a run).

--
Mike Lewis
PFYC

[Brandon MUS]

Yeah, when they first announced this new service, I knew exactly what they were going for.

User searches for a product (google.com)
User browses a website for a product (google.com/Analytics)
User pays for a product (shop.google.com)

There's not a bit of info that they didn't collect along the entire shopping experience. Next step... Google Shipping.

[lbdesign]

So is anyone working on a module to support Google Checkout?
Miva, will you be building a payment module for this?

[wmgilligan]

I have dropped development of a MIVA Merchant Google checkout mod.

Google wants way to much control in my opinion.

Among other things (from Googles docs)...
"On the Place Order page, the buyer can change the shipping address and shipping method, which can change the total cost of the order, as displayed on that page"

In other words - they want complete control of your order, once the "google pay" option is selected.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

This would be fine, if Google is also assuming responsiblity for any fraudulent perchases (fat chance). The most amazing thing is letting the user change addresses AFTER passing any address checking you are doing in your store. So, no "inside US, or NOT IN THESE STATES type of control...

well too bad...maybe sometime google will come to their senses...but...then again, maybe they will just be the next microsoft.

[dotCOM_host]

Okay,this may not be very helpful in addressing how Google wants to process orders (and I agree, changing things AFTER the store has already shown you the shipping, taxes, discount coupons, etc, is a BAD IDEA), but just wanted to let you know one of our clients is currently working on Google Checkout payment system for their MM5 store. It's almost ready, from what he told me last night. They weren't planning on making this a commercial module, they are developing it for their own store, but I can ask and see if they would license the code if someone else was interested in accepting Google Checkout payments........

On the flip side, I think using 3rd parties for processing one's online transactions is a terrible, terrible idea, does not add to the credibility of the business at all, and only makes it look "I'm too cheap to get a real merchant account." That, and I still want to know how these large companies like PayPal, Google Checkout and Amazon Payments are allowed to process transactions on behalf of other merchants, while processing 3rd party transactions is excplicitly verbotten by all credit card companies. Is it purely because these are large companies with a lot of clout behind them? Any small business processing transactions on behalf of others would be shut down in no time flat, yet these large companies are allowed to do the same exact thing without any problems. Anyone has any ideas how they manage that feat without getting Visa/MasterCard/Discover/Amex all over them?

[mikemike]

Hey Remik,

I believe it works like this. You (the store), is technically not linked directly with the customer at all. You are a supplier who drop ships for Google. The transaction is between Google and this Customer, and I believe that on the customer's CC statement, Google will appear (and perhaps your store name in paranthesis).

You (supplier) -> Google (merchant) -> Customer (Buyer)

I think you become nothing more (in VISA, AMEX, etc eyes "technically") than a supplier to Google

This makes it impossible for you to really fight any chargebacks. ("we'll fight it for you" [because it's our butts on the line and you can't legally fight it]. What you are dealing with is Google paying you or not, since they buy your items from you (for the price of the "commission" they charge you).

The bad part, I think, is that they have full control over what orders they will let you see and control, and some AVS mismatch and the likes may or may not be presented to you. Which really sucks, cause some of those mismatched billing address people are legit, just moved or forgot that their mail goes to their PO box and not their homes.

Mike
(thanks for all the great help)

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

While many want to be the "first on the block" I would propose that Google Payment will only be of interest to MIVA Merchant Merchant's when, just as with PayPal, it actually becomes a "concern/force/whatever." If my thinking is correct, this took Paypal many months to years...Google, if successful, will have a faster adoption since PayPal already broke through several "adoption" hurdles...but I doubt adding Google Payment would do much to the bottom line for at least several months, possible half a year.

[dotCOM_host]

Mike,

While your reasoning makes sense from the standpoint of listing something on Amazon.com, this doesn't work for something like PayPal - which is advertised purely as a payment solution. You can use it for payments on eBay, many online stores, or direct person-to-person transactions. There's no "drop shipping" involved here or B2B relationship where one company acts on behalf of the other - PayPal only facilitates actual payments, for anyone who wishes to use them in place of other payment methods. How do they get away with processing credit card transactions on behalf of other people, while this is explicitly not allowed by any credit card company?

[windycityparrot]

Since installing a PayPal mod on 2004, PayPal accounts for 10% of our revenue stream. We've been advised by more than one Miva developer not to accept checks, they're a pain in the butt. We get between $100 and a $1000 a month in paper checks trickle in. We'll be the first in line to install a Google payment module and will be more than happy to beta test for any developer.

[wmgilligan]

I can't speak for other developers - but this one sells a module allowing you to accept checks - and then print them from your printer. I strongly encourage everyone to accept checks.

100% legal, and never heard of any bank denying them.

You install the module, customer enters complete check info.

Then using 3rd party check printing (ACH) software, you print a chek that states "signature not required" and deliver it to your bank. works the same as if they wrote you a check personally.

when the funds clear - send the product.

[mc0081]

I can't speak for other developers - but this one sells a module allowing you to accept checks - and then print them from your printer. I strongly encourage everyone to accept checks.

100% legal, and never heard of any bank denying them.

You install the module, customer enters complete check info.

Then using 3rd party check printing (ACH) software, you print a chek that states "signature not required" and deliver it to your bank. works the same as if they wrote you a check personally.

when the funds clear - send the product.


This modules sounds interesting. Can you let me know where to buy this module and where to get the ACH software?

Appreciate it.

Alex

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

Checks are still a risk. Not only do you have to wait for them to clear, but you will find banks doing things like putting holds on them too.

We are working out way to a paperless monetary system. Checks are the dark ages.

There is still risk involved in accepting checks. Non-sufficient funds, closed accounts, fraud, etc.

The risks are much lower wtih credit cards.

I can't speak for other developers - but this one sells a module allowing you to accept checks - and then print them from your printer. I strongly encourage everyone to accept checks.

100% legal, and never heard of any bank denying them.

You install the module, customer enters complete check info.

Then using 3rd party check printing (ACH) software, you print a chek that states "signature not required" and deliver it to your bank. works the same as if they wrote you a check personally.

when the funds clear - send the product.

[mc0081]

Checks are still a risk. Not only do you have to wait for them to clear, but you will find banks doing things like putting holds on them too.

We are working out way to a paperless monetary system. Checks are the dark ages.

There is still risk involved in accepting checks. Non-sufficient funds, closed accounts, fraud, etc.

The risks are much lower wtih credit cards.

Hi, Vic,

Thanks for your suggestion. So in your opinion, on-line business should avoid using check whenever they can. In my website, currently the customer can choose to pay by check and then they need to mail the check manually. After we receive it, we take it to bank for clearance. Is there any better way to handle this such as the echeck system some utility company use for the customer to pay monthly?

Alex

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

With all the payment options for electronic payment, I see absolutely no reason a business today should risk dealing with checks.

Bounced checks cost you and your customers money. There are Electronic check options, but many cost as much as $1.50 per transaction.

It just is not worth the hassle and expense to pickup a few sales.

IMHO.

[Southlander]

Another option for taking checks is to use a check "guarantee" service. They will insure the face value of the check and pay off to you if it should not clear for any reason. Then they go after the check writer, and you do not worry about it.

Using this method you would not have to wait until anything "clears" before you ship. As soon as you have your approval you are guaranteed to receive the payment (less the insurance fee of course).

With a good deal, you can insure the checks for less than you could pay in processing fees were they credit card payments, in some cases for much less.

For example one service provider -- Crosscheck -- even has a web-based approval interface.

http://www.cross-check.com

[wmgilligan]

This modules sounds interesting. Can you let me know where to buy this module and where to get the ACH software?

Appreciate it.

Alex


www.mivacentral.com
Let everyone else complain and tell you what you shouldn't do. Can they really say their is to much risk? District Attorneys will file charges for bounced checks - much more protection that a chargeback!

And as a wise person once told me (he has retired to a waterfront condo overlooking his boat in Hawaii and sold his multi-million dollar web site) "Give people as many opportunities as you can to give you their money".

Bill

[windycityparrot]

I have to agree with Vic - we're moving towards a paperless society. We just diabled the "I agree to send a check" module not because we received any bad checks but customers would check out with an $800 cage and "agree to send a check". We'd call and email and get disconeccted phones and bounced emails. All it did was skew our stats.

Our soulution was to place a link that offers a PDF order form they can fill out and mail with their check. We get one every month or two usually from some one in their 70's "who just doesn't trust the internet."

We used to have a module that would capture checking information from the end-user and ACH the funds to our bank much like a credit card. The fees were too high to justify the service and customer support was non existant.

[Southlander]

I would think it would depend to a degree on your target market. For example a site catering to the tastes of 18-25 year olds could easily not take checks and not suffer while a site that sells nice clothing to women that are 40+ maybe would do better to provide a method of paying by check.

So, like so many things in life.. it depends on your situation.

[jason - jmh web services]

There will be an official module released for Google Checkout shortly for v4 with v5 coming after that. Google hired Scott from Sebenza, and much of what peopel have thought about the process has not been accurate. The Google Checkout module is great.