Comments on: Google Checkout – The GDS of eCommerce http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:27:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: PayPal Shopping - PayPal Teams Up With TheFind | ComparisonEngines.com http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-686 Tue, 25 Dec 2007 01:02:39 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-686 [...] doled out, and it has just snowballed from there. I’ve voiced my concerns – especially around customer ownership – but that’s not stopping 94% of merchants from making a quick buck or [...]

]]> By: ComparisonEngines.com » Blog Archive » Google Base - The Comparison Shopping Story of Q1 2007 http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-685 Fri, 12 Jan 2007 23:50:18 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-685 [...] zed merchants are going to pay any attention. They see dollar signs and that’s it. I just really wish that these small guys would talk to a couple air [...]

]]> By: ComparisonEngines.com » Blog Archive » When Google Checkout Adoption for Merchants Makes Sense http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-684 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 17:37:52 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-684 [...] riteria…thinking short term and only about top line revenue growth. Ok, ok, you know my opinion on this one. Even with the $50K? $100K? in free AdW [...]

]]> By: MyStoreRewards http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-683 Tue, 10 Oct 2006 18:23:35 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-683 I thought I would come-back and add to my post above. I’ve recently gone through a payment transaction with Google Checkout. A new (at least to me) and positive step added to the process is check-boxes on the checkout page which allow a buyer to opt-in or confirm they wish to keep their email private.

I think this addition is a big step in giving sellers more direct control of the buyer and being much more forthright with the buyer.

I like it.

Kudos to the Google Checkout team for making this addition.

Actions speak louder than words, and this is the kind of step that I can really appreciate for sellers.

I’m swinging my vote over to the Google Checkout side of the equation.

Brian

]]> By: ComparisonEngines.com » Blog Archive » Shopping.com To Test Universal Shopping Cart http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-682 Fri, 06 Oct 2006 07:20:15 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-682 [...] nnel and Shopping.com could completely take away the ability for a merchant to re-market. The concerns Safa Rashtchy uncovered in talking with merchants [...]

]]> By: ComparisonEngines.com » Blog Archive » Google Checkout Now Appearing on Froogle Results http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-681 Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:42:29 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-681 [...] ch that Google Checkout is increasing CTR or Conversion Rate. I still have concerns about customer ownership. But I’m busy dealing with server iss [...]

]]> By: Ejovi Nuwere » Google Checkout and your Business http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-680 Sun, 27 Aug 2006 18:24:10 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-680 [...] 27 Aug 2006 01:24 pm Entrepreneurship and Technology Google Checkout and your Business Comparison Engine has a good write up about things to consider [...]

]]> By: seamusmccauley http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-679 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:02:35 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-679 There’s also the issue Scott Karp highlighted last week (see: http://qurl.com/62nn2) that advertisers don’t want to pour their transaction data into the Google black box: “I’ll never put my data into Google’s black box, because then they will know how much I’m making on keywords and they can raise prices to squeeze my margins.” Avoiding Google Checkout isn’t just about retaining the customer relationship, its about not shovelling your entire business model over to Google so they can squeeze every penny out of it.

]]> By: Screenwerk » Blog Archive » Google Checkout and Customer Ownership http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-678 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 15:33:04 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-678 [...] Google Checkout and Customer Ownership Brian Smith at ComparisonEngines has an interesting post (citing research from Piper Jaffray’s [...]

]]> By: MyStoreRewards http://comparisonengines.com/2006/08/21/google-checkout-the-ota-of-ecommerce/#comment-677 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:39:05 +0000 http://www.comparisonengines.com/?p=520#comment-677 I posted this elsewhere, but it is worth repeating in connection with your very clear statement.

Another issue sellers should be aware, and one Google must be extremely cautious about, is the potential for Google to solely “decide” that a seller acted fraudulently on a transaction using Google Checkout. Google is on the record saying if they find such fraudulent activity, they can (and seem to indicate they will) ban the seller from ever using Adwords. Thus, along with giving up significant customer control with Google Checkout, there is a potential that a seller could get banned from ever using Google Adwords — which could be the kiss of death for a seller.

eBay’s “TnS” can turn off a seller’s listings and ban them for life on eBay in one simple key-stroke. Just ask any powerseller how they live in fear of eBay’s Trust and Safety group.

It now seems quite likely that Google will create a similar group which will act as the Google judge, jury and executioner regarding buyer complaints made through Google Checkout.

Ina Steiner, the editor of Auctionbytes.com, did a very recent video interview with one of the Checkout product managers who confirmed that if Google found something they deemed fraudulent within a Google Checkout transaction, they (in their sole discretion!) could and apparently would, ban the seller from using any other Google service. Here’s a link to her video:

http://digbig.com/4mkwr

This seems to be an increased risk. One should ask if the risk in using Google Checkout warrants the risk of being banned from Adwords for life…..

I can easily imagine a single disgruntled buyer who used Checkout, petitioning Google to certify a seller as acting “fraudulent.” Without a proper hearing and without all the facts, Google could ban that seller from using Google Checkout (and ban them from accessing their buyers who used Checkout) PLUS they could ban the seller from using Adwords.

I have great respect for Google as a company — and I believe they do strive to “do no evil.” However, I also believe the maxim: “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Sellers should go into Google Checkout with their eyes wide-open.

Checkout is a seismic shift in power into Google’s hands.

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