Google Checkout - the definitive thread for all questions / issues

[aspkin]

EBay doesn't like it though, it's their obvious competition. Do they even allow checkout?

I was thinking about using Google checkout for my business site, and an alternative to Paypal. I heard they're free for a long period to merchants.

[ebayaintstupid]

I was offering it at checkout to customers. I got a mail about its not being allowed but in my stubborn fashion continued to try and use it. Boink. Suspended.

Most EBAYers prefer paypal. Why? The illusion that Paypal gives that it is insured. Yeah right, they disallow almost everything. The fact that the buyers don't see the fees, so Google Checkout only saves the seller money, not the buyer. And Paypal allows buyers to file complaints that are ludicriously in favor of the buyer. Like a buyer can complain within minutes of auction end and Paypal will lock the amount they paid until they remove the complaint. I had this happen to me. A woman that said she didn't receive her item yet within hours of the auction finishing.

Anyway, Google Checkout has some major flaws too. They can't track orders as well (like they will say it shipped when it hasn't and charge your credit card). They have a great deal of trouble with customer service (even worse than Paypal).

There is very little incentive for an EBAY shopper to use GCO unless you offer them a discount. And to do that, you have to kind of be obvious online that you are offering an alternative to Paypal and are offering a discount for using it. EBAY doesn't like that, I found out the hard way.

[coldfinger]

I believe its against ebay policy to even offer discounts for alternative payments other than paypal.

[ebayaintstupid]

and exercises antitrust policies.

But I have found they do allow you to offer to pay buyers fees, which is equivalent to offering a discount.

You can't say:

If you pay Paypal, there is an extra fee of $5.00.

They will tank your auction for that.

But you can say:

If you pay with USPS Money Order, I will provide you a discount to compensate for your expenses.

I don't use USPS Money Orders though. Customers can complain about you for any reason to EBAY. EBAY uses these complaints to track you. If they complain about you on your paypal account, EBAY only gets your paypal email. But if they complain about a money order where they got your address, and that address was on a formerly suspended account, you are linked.

I also have had people contact me AFTER an auction about payment of small items by check rather than paypal. They insist they want the item and could I provide an address. If I don't, they just disappear. Why would someone take an EBAY negative mark for not paying for a $3 item and never respond to the seller again? Why not just say you misunderstood and don't want the item?

I think EBAY uses mail moles all the time to acquire addresses and find people breaking their rules. They also heavily depend on rats. Exposing mail addresses of suspended accounts can get you linked. So if you do want to accept money orders, get a fresh box somewhere.

[avarshav]

As stated, it is against ebay policy to use googlecheckout. They explicitly prohibit it in their "policy".

Someone hit the nail on the head earlier in this thread, why does google not sue?

If you look at ebay's policy page on accepted payments (I don't have the link handy, but I'm sure someone will dig it up), they list out their accepted payments and their not accepted payments. The few accepted payment methods they allow are all lousier and/or way more expensive than PayPal. Anything that remotely is competitive with PayPal, they disallow.

Now, if this is not against US Antitrust laws, folks, I don't know what is. They are forcing you to use the services of their "affiliated company" in order to do business with their "other company". They are marrying up two unrelated businesses, and forcing you to use one in order to use another. Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer anyone? Granted, Microsoft basically prevailed, but it was a helluva fight. I think this issue is even more serious than the Microsoft Antitrust case, and hence should be even more winnable in court.

Ebay touts itself as a free marketplace for all, and they are stifling competition to their PayPal business, in my mind, illegally. I for the life of me, do not understand why there have been no lawsuits filed in this matter that I know of? Can anyone explain that?

I'm going to write a letter to google and ask them, and we'll see if they bother to respond. Bottom line is, and I think someone else here said it, Google has a responsibility to its shareholders to maximize revenue. Why they haven't gone after ebay's throat on this, I don't know. I encourage everyone reading this to email google and ask them. I'm also going to suggest that we start a letter writing campaign to the attorney general in California (that is where ebay is Hq'd, right?), and complain to him that ebay is unlawfully sniffing out the competition. Might be a good idea to write a 2nd letter to the US Attorney General. You know guys, it may sound stupid, but if enough of us get on it, sooner or later, we will be heard. Perhaps if the moderators of this forum agree, post a sticky and post the contact information of the California Attorney General and the US attorney general (I don't have it here at the moment, but I'd be happy to look it up and post it back here if there is enough interest.)

[aspkin]

Avarshav you seem distraught and irate about the obvious eBay limitations when it comes to satisfying one's auction dues. Why be anguished about it, I'm sure Google in good time will attend to eBay. They're already starting when it comes to Google base and checkout. Give them more time; I'm sure they're cognizant of their competition.

[avarshav]

yeah, you're right. Just a little pissed off for the past few days.

I had over 2000 feedback, 100% positive. Never ripped off a soul, never got a neg, gave refunds when I didn't feel they really deserved it... all down the crapper unless I miraculously get reinstated. All because some T&S weenie didn't like what I was selling, even though there are hundreds more still on there selling the same exact crap. Damn straight I'm irate. Tell you what though, if other people don't get irate and get mad and get even, the system will never change.

Ebay is a company. They do have a right to operate their business the way they want. However, there are rules in place for companies in the USA dictating what a company can and cannot do if they are to remain in business. Ebay advertises an open market, yet they do all they can to control the market and eliminate the competition. They will continue going on the same way until someone bigger tells them to stop.

[avarshav]

And to get back on the point of this thread, speaking of Google, Google is likely our best bet to take down ebay.

If Google wanted to get into the auction business, eBay would be in for some serious hurtin. They are the one company right now that is very well positioned to stick it to ebay. I hope they recognize it and go for it. Not saying that Google would miraculously be so much better than ebay, but if they were to start up an auction site to compete with ebay, the mere fact of competition between two internet giants would alone make things better for sellers and buyers.

Yahoo could also compete if they wanted to, I just don't understand why they let their auction site go to crap. A face lift and some advertising, and they could be a serious competitor to ebay in no time.

[JackNoMore]

Much as I hate to admit it, google checkout is far from perfect. If you look over the forums at Google, there is a lot of talk about accounts being frozen (even more than Paypal) and funds trapped. I haven't had the pleasure yet myself, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen at any time. To make things worse, at least Paypal has pretty decent customer service. Google appears to have NO contact options other than an email address that can go days or weeks without hearing back from someone. That's pretty daunting.

How's everyone else's experience with GCO been? Found any phone numbers yet?

[groundhog]

Originally Posted by Jack

Much as I hate to admit it, google checkout is far from perfect. If you look over the forums at Google, there is a lot of talk about accounts being frozen (even more than Paypal) and funds trapped. I haven't had the pleasure yet myself, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen at any time. To make things worse, at least Paypal has pretty decent customer service. Google appears to have NO contact options other than an email address that can go days or weeks without hearing back from someone. That's pretty daunting.

How's everyone else's experience with GCO been? Found any phone numbers yet?

I didn't have any problems with GCO so far. Why do they froze people's accounts? I haven't heard about this yet.

On my ebay listings I claim that I accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and then I send winning buyers link to GCO. I don't mention GCO on the listing. Do you think it should work fine? I can offer lower price since I don't pay paypal fees in this case.

[JackNoMore]

I didn't have any problems with GCO so far. Why do they froze people's accounts? I haven't heard about this yet.

Search on google for the google checkout forums, or just do a google search for "checkout". It's all there. I've heard that money can be held up for as little as a day, as much as 6 months! That's pretty scary. Anyway, I spoke with Google recently and mentioned the problem. The rep said he would pass my thoughts on to the team that handles this. I'm taking that with a grain of salt, but there is hope they're taking it seriously.

On my ebay listings I claim that I accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and then I send winning buyers link to GCO. I don't mention GCO on the listing. Do you think it should work fine? I can offer lower price since I don't pay paypal fees in this case.

That's how I've handled it too. Seems to work ok, and it's not a lie--google checkout does take credit card payments. I've never been able to just send a link though. I usually just use the "send an invoice" tab when I use google checkout, which I base usually on price of the item.

[groundhog]

Originally Posted by Jack

Search on google for the google checkout forums, or just do a google search for "checkout". It's all there. I've heard that money can be held up for as little as a day, as much as 6 months! That's pretty scary. Anyway, I spoke with Google recently and mentioned the problem. The rep said he would pass my thoughts on to the team that handles this. I'm taking that with a grain of salt, but there is hope they're taking it seriously.



That's how I've handled it too. Seems to work ok, and it's not a lie--google checkout does take credit card payments. I've never been able to just send a link though. I usually just use the "send an invoice" tab when I use google checkout, which I base usually on price of the item.

Did you have any questions from buyers like "what is google"? "I don't want to pay this way"?

What are "google checkout forums"?

[JackNoMore]

Google Groups

If you send a regular invoice direct from Google, most of the time it will just look like... a regular invoice. The buyer can use their credit card to pay at that point. So most of the time, it's not an issue. If there is a problem though, Paypal is a decent backup. The only problems seem to come once the payment has already been sent, while it's in the "limbo" between their account and yours.

[JackNoMore]

Agreed, you need to at least offer Paypal to look legit. Or you could make a big statement about how Ebay fees are already outrageous so you don't offer Paypal. I have seen that a few times lately, and the auctions turned out ok. It seems Paypal's rep is starting to catch up with them slowly but surely.

[groundhog]

Originally Posted by Modee

But if PP is not an up front payment option most buyers will assume you are crooked, unless you have a lot of feedback and have been around a while. And with PP as an option, most buyers will then send you a PP payment before you have a chance to Google invoice them....

What about listing paypal as an option in your description, but not providing paypal email address?
Then when buyer wins the auction he won't be able to send you paypal payment immediately. If he insists on paypal then I can send him paypal invoice later.

[JackNoMore]

Definately a good idea, groundhog. I've seen it done that way before too, but I'm not too sure how, since ebay has shown that as a requirement. If you figure it out, please post here. Thanks

[tvaughan08]

google is no better then paypal, actually there worse I was using google checkout with ebay, this is my story. I sign up for google checkout to replace paypal, I did everthing they asked at the sign up. then I logged on to ebay and started selling but in my discription I put I used a merchant account to take payments, I never said google just "Merchant account"
customers would ask what type of merchant account but I would not type the word google into the ebay interface I would just email it to the customer a personal email. So everything was fine, I took some orders after the auction would end I would go to google checkout to the invoice link and email the customer a invoice with the item number they won and everthing to complete there transaction, then I would go back to ebay and email the customer and to tell them check there email to pay for the item threw the proper checkout within the email "google" this is where the story flips....customers would pay but after a certain amount of orders guess what!! google turns around and does a paypal number on me. They asked me for all this information credit cards drives license ect ect. but im legit so im like what the hell give it to them. why? because they have 4,000usd in there system of mines for orders. But im legit so what the hell..I give them the information. I fax all information and my suppliers information so they could verify im legit. then they turn around and ask me to ship the items before I get my money I told them HELL NO! actually this is the letter they sent me.

Thank you for your email. I appreciate you re-submitting a copy of your
driver's license.

Please note, our specialists have been unable to confirm delivery with
any
of your buyers to date. Your merchant account will become eligible for
payouts once we have verified shipment of these items.

Also, after speaking with your supplier yesterday, I am under the
impression that you have purchased and have ownership of the goods
listed
on the invoice you submitted. Please ship these items to your buyers at
your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any additional questions,
please respond directly to this email.

Sincerely,

Chad
The Google Checkout Team

**back to my story**

I told them I can't ship those items because I run the risk of them freezing my account with my money and iv shipped those items to customers and i don't think there going to give them back if I tell them hey! google didn't give me your money so needless to say I still have my items and google still has them money in there account..if u want to see all the dumb letters they have sent me just request them i have no problem posting them. But google is the worst, no better then paypal.

[tvaughan08]

16k, I don't even want to think about 16k in anybodys account stuck
well to everybody who's thinking about the google option save your wpm because there just like paypal, and on there way to having the same reputation.

[tvaughan08]

Originally Posted by Jack

Definately a good idea, groundhog. I've seen it done that way before too, but I'm not too sure how, since ebay has shown that as a requirement. If you figure it out, please post here. Thanks

Very easy, sign into your google account, click settings, on the left hand side you will see a option send a invoice all the information is there but do yourself a favor don't send to much money to your google account, they will pull a paypal move on you and lock your account.

[CPUGEEK]

Originally Posted by Jack

Agreed, you need to at least offer Paypal to look legit. Or you could make a big statement about how Ebay fees are already outrageous so you don't offer Paypal. I have seen that a few times lately, and the auctions turned out ok. It seems Paypal's rep is starting to catch up with them slowly but surely.

You dont need paypay to look legit? What kind of bullcrap is that. I sold thousands of items monthly with out even taking paypal. Jut by accepting cheks and money orders. Only the scammers and complainers will want the sellers to use paypal...

[ihatebay]

Yes, I also do not use Paypal I HATE them!!!!

Why use them when you can use your own merchant account?

No, it does not mean you will bypass protection for buyers, as the buyers still can do a charge back, but it means you are in control of your money, not Paypal. Also, so long as you are a scammer or screw up, then you will continue to make money because no one can limit your account

BYW, it's much cheaper.

[maris23]

Bidpay is becoming more common.. similar to paypal but far fewer issues. Auction Checkout seems to be the Merchant account of choice among eBayers. I have an account, but have yet to use it with eBay.
Marisa