Google checkout allows customers to purchase products quickly and securely using just a single username and password. Also if you do take payments using Google checkout, your search engine listings will be highlighted with the Google checkout badge which will encourage existing Google checkout customers to click on your ad.
One disadvantage of using Google checkout is that the payment pages will take customers away from your website and onto the Google Checkout payment pages in order to process a payment. This can look a little unprofessional and put people off purchasing through your website. Also Google checkout only accepts US Dollars or British Pounds. It also defaults all payments to the currency of where your business address is registered, therefore you can’t display or process payments in other currencies.
Fees
Google checkout will charge you a transaction fee for every transaction that you process. The rate you will be charged will depend on the amount you processed during the prior calendar month. The table below gives you the current rates.
Monthly Sales Through Fee per Transaction
Google Checkout
0 – 1,500 = 3.4% + 20p
1,500.01 – 6,000 = 2.9% + 20p
6,000.01 – 15,000 = 2.4% + 20p
15,000.01 – 55,000 = 1.9% + 20p
55,000 + = 1.4% + 20p
There is no Setup, monthly or gateway fees and you won’t be charged to transfer funds from your Google Checkout account to your bank. Google Checkout processes Visa (including Visa Electron), MasterCard and Maestro (including Switch/Solo).
Refunds
Once you issue a refund, the refund cannot be cancelled. Google will send a refund notification email to the buyer. Google will return the variable portion of the transaction fee (1.5%) however they will retain the flat fee (15p)
Chargeback
Google uses proprietary fraud detection technology to protect sellers from unwarranted chargeback’s. In cases where you are found liable for a chargeback you will charged the full amount of the chargeback plus an additional £7 chargeback fee.
Setup time
In order to setup a Google checkout account you will be required to first create a Google account. Once you have created a Google account you will then be required to fill in an online registration form. This will require you to fill in all your business information and agree to the terms and conditions. Once you have completed all this information you will then be ready to process payments through Google checkout.