Power Sellers Unite

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 16923 Location: Texas

We just heard from the folks at Google Checkout that they are rolling out an unprecedented promotion. For those already signed up and those that SIGN UP for Google Checkout, you will receive FREE PROCESSING until the end of the year.

Previously you received the free processing in the ratio of 10:1 with AdWords spend, now they are blowing open the program for folks that don't even have AdWords or are burning through those AdWord credits!

more.. link to news article

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4027 Location: Wi

The trick is getting it to work with anything.

I've been scouring the Google groups to figure out how to make it work for my site. From what I have been able to find, it won't work at all like the PP buttons even tho Google does offer buttons.

I checked with my site host to find out what cart they have -- it's osCommerce. On the osc boards there is a looooong thread about all the problems people are having trying to get the Google contribution to actually work. It all sounds WAY beyond my ability.

I have a post in at Mal's to see if anyone has actually gotten that cart to work with Google Checkout.

If anyone has a cart set-up that is working with GC, please post here with what it is and how you did it. Difficult or easy.

I really would like to be able to use GC, but they haven't made it easy to do.

Carol

damaradeaella · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 501

If anyone has a great tutorial, from hands on experience with using GC, please post it...

I would love to get away from PP and this promotion sounds incredible...

Implementing it, like Carol says, is another story...

So GC users, tell us how!!!

Then we can all get off that damn PP...

Binarywebs · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 1401

When you say you cant get it to work with OSC (OS Commerce) - Keep in mind its not google who created the plugin. It was created by a third party.

You can always contract work through a number of different sources, and have someone who knows what their doing create a plugin for you. The good thing about OSC is its in public domain, and is free of charge, as are the plugins for it. Sometimes free is not the best way to go, especially for an ecommerce site.

smudgedglass · Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 15

Hello, I currently use google checkout. I signed up with Ecrater and google checkout is automatically fully integrated. check out my site www.breezeauctions.ecrater.com

You can also list items on google base or froogle and you can use google checkout there too. It is so much easier to use than paypal and it is really fast. I had the money in my bank account 4 days after the sale! Very smooth!

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4027 Location: Wi

smudgedglass,

I know about eCrater and I'm signed up there and at Blujay for GC. I'm trying to put it on my own site like I have the PP buttons on my own site.

Binarywebs,

The Google Checkout contribution to osc IS from Google itself. Here is the thread on the osc forum about it http://forums.oscommerce.com/index.php?showtopic=229637

It's a 5 page thread and as far as I can figure so far NO one has gotten it to work properly yet.

I am not a programmer/coder. I can get by with HTML but that's about it for me. Php is way over my head.

Until GC has an easier way to implement, they just aren't going to be a viable option.

I know I could load all my stuff to Base, but my customers don't find me on Base. I can't find the things I want on Base.

I have my own site that is a pr4 and gets plenty of traffic during my selling season. I'm just trying to add an option for my customers that don't like/use PP, but it hasn't been doable so far.

Carol

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4027 Location: Wi

OK, here is what I've been able to find out.

OSC doesn't have a workable Google mod yet. Google has contributed a mod, but so far, on one has been able to get it to work properly without a LOT of code tweaking.

So I checked out Mal's cart.

There is a Google payment mod for it. I asked on the boards there is anyone has actually gotten it to work with GC. My answer back from Mal himself this morning is that there are over 100 sites using the GC payment mod. And it's even available on the free Mal's cart.

So maybe next month or so when I have a bit of time, I will be looking at setting up a Mal's cart for Google Checkout for my site.

If anyone has a chance to do it before I do, please keep us informed as to how it works out.

Carol

EleganzaJewels · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 519

Carol:

A hearty amen to your note that GC is just too glitchy and hard to implement as of yet on an individual website. I did do a test run through ecrater to see if it worked, and yes, the payment would have posted directly to my GC account, good news there.

Like you, I can stumble around with HTML a little but am no coder :-(

Easiest and least expensive way to offer your website customers a non-paypal payment method is PayPal Pro. They get 2 choices for online payment at checkout, either paypal or "other secure online payment method", which gives them the option to pay by credit card directly.

They never even know their payment has been run through a Paypal processor, and they are happy because their credit card/bank policies will protect them.

A flat $20 a month, not counting the per transaction fees, can't beat it with a stick

If and when GC gets its act together and I am postiive that shipping and taxes will be added to every order, not to mention that products can be found in Base itself...well, there's only so many hours in a day, and GC and GB have fallen far down on my priority list!

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4027 Location: Wi

Frankly I can't afford $20/ mt for 2/3s of the year. I really only have 3-4 GOOD months when I sell about $3-500/ mt. (Last March I did almost $1000, but that was very unusual) The rest of the year I'm lucky to sell $100/mt. So merchant processor fees would eat me up.

And I think there have been posts in the processor thread where there are a few that are less than that.

And besides -- it's STILL PayPal !!! The whole idea is to be able to get away from PP.

I think Mal's cart will be my answer when I have the time to work with it.

Carol

EleganzaJewels · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 519

Ah hah, you have a point on the seasonality and keeping costs down. I had a Mal's cart for a while on my "old" website, and I loved it. Mal is a great guy, has a great service, I'm sure you'll be very pleased with his cart!

LFRYARTGUY · Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 568 Location: San Antonio, Texas

I don't endorse or promote Paypal at all , but I have a "business level" acct with paypal, that I use ...which doesn't cost me anything extra, & it offers other forms of payment in the checkout portion.. (Visa - MC - etc)
......no $20 a month fee.. ??

EleganzaJewels · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 519

You have a paypal account, yes, Lindsey, but not a Paypal merchant account. Don't confuse "merchant" and "business" accounts, they are not the same thing.

All payments made to paypal business accounts (PP Standard) take the customer to an off-website Paypal screen. The only disadvantage to that is if they don't want to use paypal, then you have to have a separate gateway/merchant account (GC, Linkpoint, etc.), and they are not inexpensive.

All payments made to a paypal merchant account (PP Pro) are made directly on the SSL encrypted website, the customer never goes to a Paypal screen. Hence the $20 a month fee, which if you do some pricing out there, is a great price. No international customers allowed with PP Pro, though, so that's why I'm looking at moneybookers for those folks.

Pro has the virtual terminal, too, which is great for people who want to call in or fax in their orders, you process the transaction manually offline.

EleganzaJewels · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 519

Stated that incorrectly. PP Standard customers can opt to use a credit card without paypal account, they just go to an off-website screen, whereas PP Pro customers stay on the SSL secured website.

Sorry, been a long day, just finished putting together a 1,500 line spreadsheet for ecrater WHEW

LFRYARTGUY · Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 568 Location: San Antonio, Texas

I have a merchant acct for my business (thru NOVAS) for many years (10yrs)..but have not implemented it on the websites I have....I have had many sales thru various sites that the customer used the PP buttons & paid using credit cards... though it may not be an actual merchant acct ..I also don't pay $20 plus to have the options available...
It's an option until Google gets the kinks out.