Great review. I love that bit at the end. Google is really getting all lanes covered. Already most of us probably spend a lot of our online time on Google Domains (Gmail particularly) but with every new service they add you need to spend less and less time elsewhere.

Picase => Picasa

Well, they're not trying to be PayPal – the real idea is we need to be able to quickly get money from advertisers, if we can do some merchant sales aswell then why not? They launched the product for themselves but expanded it enough so they can make money elsewhere.

The Google Pressrelease says they are working to make it international. It would be great if the 2 stores I shop most at online (Play.com & PlayUSA.com) would use it, I am fed up of constantly updating card data for both – it gets timely.

When I tried to get into Google Checkout this morning I saw a new lay-out for the Accounts page. On the page there was the possibility to 'use' the service SSD. Only it was redirected to google.com.

What is this upcoming new service? Google Shops?

I made a crappy screenshot of the new accounts page and the SSD-url:
http://www.michelrijnders.nl/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=200

Michel, have a look at these posts for more on SSD:
http://ruscoe.net/blog/2006/06/google-rs2-ssd-and-mobile-download.asp
http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2006-06-10-n33.html

There are also a couple of references to SSD in this thread:
http://blogoscoped.com/forum/41494.html

I placed an order from one of my other accounts and it went through very smooth.

Couple things I like from the merchant point of view.
1. Notice the ability to put a tracking number in easily.
2. Notice the order history. (as seen by buyer)
3. Also notice that it doesn't charge the customer automatically. You hit the charge button. That's very cool. And I don't see the card number anywhere. That's a bonus. It's private.

But I'm puzzled as to why Google reviews the order. It still says reviewing. What's involved with reviewing the order?? Does Larry look at each order before they are processed??

http://kirb.com/images/googleorder.png

also notice the net revenue. :(must be the story of my life. :)

Thanks Tony! It seems they gonna launch it soon, so then we will know ;-)

Figured out why my credit card # was already in the Google Checkout system,
I purchased a video from Google Video in January and must have left my payment info stored. Issue solved. However, after I removed my credit card #
I was unable to use Google Checkout. In other words, it appears you need to have a credit card number stored with Google.

I ALSO NOTICED that, at least with Starbucks, you can still use PayPal to make a purchase. Clicking the regular checkout button takes you to PayPal. The Google Checkout link is below.

> I thought Google's core focus was search?

Not really for the last couple of years... or at least, not their only focus. Their different teams focus on a lot of things simultaneously...

I hear you P.L.

>>> I thought Google's core focus was search?

I was just quoting back what Eric Schmidt said a few weeks ago at press day.

"This competition is healthy for end users." But "none of the other competitors is emphasizing" search.

Ironic, at least today, that he mentioned Google's strong partnership with eBay.
As you know, eBay owns PayPal.

A few weeks later E.S. said, "Google as a business is in the targeted advertising business.”

===>> "What's involved with reviewing the order?? "

yeah why the heck is google reviewing the order and is the benifit other then just plain old nosey ?? After all both buyer and seller information is available via electronic footprints (i.e history) correct.. so its an automated serivce there.. that info can still be mined for business intelligence

So this googles way of ensuring that a transaction is "legit" ?? This means I cant "pimp" myself as a commodity – hypthetically ?? just asking :)-

Besides being from Google, what are the functional advantages over PayPal?

Chris: For who? For costumers there are not many advantages. Maybe it´s even symplier.

For merchants there are huge advantages, at least it semms to me that way. So Google wants to catch as many merchants as they can and believe, that costumers will follow.

See that: http://googlecheckout.com/

So they didn´t get it.

I let Google track my Internet usage, give me ads based off the text in my e-mails. Now I'm letting them track my online purchases as well as keep my credit card information on file. I can't think of anything more private than my credit card information besides my sexual history. And unlike the others, they have access to all of this information together, allowing them to build a file on me on the fly. A wise man will tell you not to put all your eggs in the same bag....

Many of us are letting Google have this information, but we won't be giving any of it out to other companies or websites. We have let Google become an exception. I guess we trust Google, but we tend to forget that they're just another profit-maximizing company... unlike the others I hope.

But for some reason, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt even though I know I shouldn't.

One important thing is if a person hijacks my email account, they can take control over my email, search habits, IM, and now MY money directly! Take my wife while you're at it!!

The other thing is that Google should put in place a live customer service (chat or voice) because now we are dealing with money and people can't afford to have any kind of problems with that.

Beside all that I can see why this will grow and bring another revenue stream besides advertising:

1. Google can directly target products to users
2. Sellers can save money by combining payments processing and advertising fees (this is HUGE).
3. Users can buy products fast, easy and safe.

This move is bringing the power of Google to the sellers to find buyers.

Google is removing anything else that can stand between a buyer and a seller and being the ONLY middle man.

<<But I'm puzzled as to why Google reviews the order. It still says reviewing. What's involved with reviewing the order?>>

Still reviewing.... wow!! that's slooooooooowwwwwwwww....

yeah, thats the wacky thing.. Online transcation per day will unfold into the thousands, maybe millions .. so how they heck are they ever going to manaully review such orders ?? If this is automated , then what odes this this mean ??

Nowhere does google clarify this process!!

I am disappointed of this would be some sort of maual process.. I for one would not want some human intravention seeing whatever I buy

[moved from "Paypal counters Google Checkout?"]

about an hour ago I received an email form Paypal advertising their services and vendor disc.ounts.

What do you guys think? Random coincidence or strategic counter to Google Checkout?

I've made two purchases so far (in order to take advantage of the $10 off coupons). I must say, the process was very smooth and faster than ordering at Amazon.com where they already have my account information stored. The checkout page is very sleek and unobtrusive. I also like how you can use a coupon without reloading the page.

I bet there are some at Microsoft who are very pissed because I imagine this will succeed where Passport failed.

Weird thing on Amazon.com – whenever I order with 1-click, there's an "error" message and I'm prompted to provide my credit card data again. Just clicking "continue" works though.

An update from Garett:

<<About 5 hours after signing up for Google Checkout, I noticed a message from Mastercard on the machine stating my card was blocked because of suspicious activity. How could that be?>>

Answer here...
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/?p=249

As Google attempts to boost its already lofty profits and become an even more prominent player in e-commerce, the Mountain View, Calif.-based company risks alienating one of its biggest advertisers _ online auctioneer eBay Inc., which runs the Internet's leading payment service, PayPal.

Although Google doesn't view its service as a PayPal competitor, there is no question it poses a long-term threat to eBay, said Internet market analyst Greg Sterling.

"Any time Google does something like this, it has the potential of turning into a big deal," Sterling said.

At least two merchants, Starbucks Corp. and Buy.com, that have signed up for Google's new service also accept PayPal, which eBay bought for $1.3 billion in 2002.

http://ibtimes.com/articles/20060629/google-paypal.htm

Couple things I want to stress here:

1. Google did NOT implement Adsense accounts to be linked to the Google Purchases. I think they should add that. Now that they've got a payment system of their own, they should allow to keep a balance of all money related matters into this one Google Purchases account.

I guess they don't want us to be paying them Adwords with their own Adsense money!!!!

2. If a person hijacks my email account, they can take control over my email, search habits, IM, and now my MONEY! Take my wife while you're at it! I think there is a great risk involved with having this much information into ONE account.

3. Google must put in place a live customer service (chat or voice) like any other company who handles your money. People can't afford to have problems with their CC/order/etc... and receive automated emails for that matter!!

[moved from "Five Reasons Why You Won't Use Google Checkout (and 5 Reasons You Will)"]

<< Five Reasons You Won't Use Google Checkout

   1. You make your living on eBay, and eBay may not allow you to use Google Checkout. Or, eBay may offer new competitive di,scounts if you continue to use PayPal. Even better, you think the eBay/Yahoo partnership will eventually launch a competing product that will mimic the search/advertising tie-in.>>
http://googlewatch.eweek.com/blogs/google_watch/archive/2006/06/29/11150.aspx

--------
reasons i will use it:
1. No spam
<<Control commercial spam.
You can keep your email address confidential, and easily turn off unwanted emails from stores where you use Google Checkout.>>

2. Google is much safer! :P

3. Dont know why, but i rather use Googles services than MS's or Paypal's or eBay's.

---
one reason i wont use it:
its for US residents only.. :(
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/index.php?p=246

I'd like to echo Andrew's comments above.

The checkout page is very good. It lacks distracting clutter and simply shows data pertinent to the purchase.

The e-mail receipt I received (shown below) was also very concise.

btw, I just received confirmation from DVD Empire that my first purchase (from them) using Google Checkout has shipped. And they sent along another $10 off coupon! I used the Google $10 coupon on the first purchase.

http://home.kenkuhl.com/misc/google-checkout-receipt.gif

And this is interesting....

While I was writing the above I received another "item shipped" notice, but this time from Google Checkout.

That is, I received an e-mail from DVD Empire telling me my order had shipped and then 12 minutes later I received an e-mail from Google Checkout (that looked a lot like the one I posted above) also telling me my order had shipped.

So not just the payment data, but the order tracking data is shared between Google and the merchants, too. Pretty cool.

Many merchants won't like the terms of service (if they read them) as it appears at first glance that Google wants to control the relationship between customer and merchant.

Still waiting to try this outside of the US of A. Until then PayPal is still pal.

Robert: Yes that is the case. Even in the advert video they made they mention that Google will provide you will a fake address so that excessive mailing to customers can be limited.

Can you use GCheckouts at Amazon? And do you think you will ever be able to?

I just used checkout to set up four invoices for payment from clients – quick and easy to do in Movable Type using their prebuilt buttons. Two payments came right through, $150 each, no delay or waiting for review.

IZeitgeist said "1. Google did NOT implement Adsense accounts to be linked to the Google Purchases. I think they should add that."

The difference is Google Checkout doesn't maintain a balance. Its get transferrd to my bank within two days.

Also I did get the full proper name and address of my customers.

$300 showed up in bank account this morning like clockwork, no problem.

It'd be nice to be able to generate simple one-item buttons with out going through the entire API integration scheme, or using the online buybutton form.

Hello all,

it looks to me that nobody and I mean NOBODY cares for security at all in this thread.
Think about the following.
Till now, nobody cared about your google account at all. Now, as the google websites and specifically the checkout page is VERY simple with an easy to manipulate URL (You should never have something like "checkout.google.com" as many user do not see a different between something like "chekout.google.www.com"). E.g. PayPal is just paypal.com! Now think about the fact that a "store" is selling a real bargain, a camera for 60% off the regular price. You click on the Google Checkout button and you go to something like "chekout.google.www.com" and enter your google account information.....and it's gone. You just get an error message and so you just wait and do this later. In the meantime the owner of that "store" can change your password AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT IT, as the password change goes to your gmail account which is included in the hijack. That user now can shop for quite a while as it will be hard for you to proof that you are the owner of that account (You of course have the proper documents to show it is your account, but who cares?).

This is just one thing why you should never use Google Checkout. Besides it has many other flaws. I had a different shipping amount in the buy.com website than at google Checkout. Also I didn't get a Tracking Number as you usually do when loggin on to buy.com. At the end of the Checkout process I was just sitting there on a page not telling me much.

I think, that for a company like Google, this will become a nightmare as their good name will go downhill because hackers from all over the world will try to hijack your accounts.

Think about it. You would loose EVERYTHING! If somebody hijacks my buy.com account, or even PayPal the hijacker does not have my whole "business" or "life" plus my buying power. Pretty scary, isn't it!

Please don't get me wrong. I am a big Google fan. I use gmail, adwords and even Google Checkout, but other that you do not have to enter your CC Data all the time there is NO benefit at all to this system. It will not increase online sales as the majority of customers still have the security concern in mind and that exists with Google Checkout even more.

Why isn't it secure? How can the store owner change the user's password?

I think he's talking about possible phishing scams.

Martin – what you say makes no sense. You can just as easy imitate a Paypal site by faking all the screens with copies of Paypal content. Google is no differerent. The only way they can get your password is to trick you into entering it, and that the same with any site in the world.

So far it has worked real smoothly for me as a seller.

On another topic, reviews of sales, I did have a couple of sales last night held up for a few hours before clearing.

Hello David,

of course you are right, BUT the fact that you use the Google account for so many different things, you have not just 1 page, like PayPal, no, you have about 10 – 15 pages they can trick you. Also, I actually never really checked the URL of GMail or my Ad-Words account and if Hackers just try to get your username and PW by copying those pages it is very easy to get the Information.
The URL's of the Google services are not just like www.paypal.com, they are always subdomains or directories of the main Google domain which makes it even harder for NON technical people to verify if the URL is correct.
Also, this service might just shift sales because the majority of users don't want to shop online because of exactly these security concerns. No extra or more sales are generated.
The next thing is in case you click on the Google Checkout Button and you do not have a Google account, you can create an account by entering ALL information into one form. Many things can go wrong when entering ALL into one form and the data is going back and forth INCLUDING your CC data (Creating an account including payment options is always at least a 2 step process). Who would want that?
I hope I am wrong, but at the end the user will decide and than we will see.
Thanks