[masklinn]

> The payment side is powered by Google Checkout, so the fee structure smacks Apple around all over the place.

Except for the part where as a vendor it's only available in half a dozen countries or so, and several major countries can not pay via Checkout either (does Checkout work at all from canada yet?), and where the customer service is non-existent (a Google constant).

[a-google-guy]

>Half a dozen countries? Please see the countries mentioned in this support document: http://goo.gl/I49QQ

Canada is definitely supported for users.

>Where the customer service is non-existent: Hi. Any specific problem we can help with?

[mdaniel]

>>Where the customer service is non-existent: Hi. Any specific problem we can help with?

In my experience, "Customer Service" can mean one or both of the following: 1. Actual help to resolve real problems 2. A human voice on the phone to walk you through resetting your computer (or otherwise generally offering moral support)

I find that most folks get nervous when #2 is not available, even if they would never use it or it would be unlikely to solve any of their actual problems.

The big G does not even pretend, and I think that is possibly to their detriment.

[kawera]

Brazil?

[nudge]

Whereas PayPal and iOS App Store customer service are famously excellent?

[masklinn]

Let's check:

Google Checkout,

- Not present at all in a number of countries

- Impossible to sell from an even higher number of countries

- No customer support at all

Paypal

+ present virtually everywhere

- customer service generally considered frustrating, becomes terrible when dealing with their fraud detection

iOS AppStore

+ present in more than a hundred countries (though some parts e.g. iAd may not be available everywhere)

± customer service generally regarded as good, except when dealing with the approval process (and even that area shows progress)

[a-google-guy]

>-No customer support at all

Hi, may we help? :) We also do have forums that are actively monitored.

Also if anyone is interested, checkout is present in these countries: http://goo.gl/I49QQ

[ROFISH]

Except that Google's forums don't help when Google locked five figures from you on a spiky day, continues to accept money with no way to withdraw, provides no telephone support, and offers only an (apparently overloaded) email support. (Eventually I got my account unlocked and funds released... six months later.)

Coincidentally, I've never had such a problem with Paypal. (My gripes with them generally revolve around the glacially slow history search.)

[Keyframe]

Can you sue them for interests, if not damages?

[ROFISH]

That was two years ago and it's not worth the effort. It's better just to explain the moral of my story when Paypal vs. Google Checkout debates occur: Paypal at least has a phone line.

[patio11]

I say this every couple of months but no one believes me: Paypal has gotten religion on business support. Fraud sucks for everybody, but they really are making AB effort on it.

I got my account auto locked when an apartment move, sales spike (Valentine's day), and large withdraw all hit at once this week. It took one call and two minutes on thhe phone to resolve. "Sorry Mr. McKenzie, we just saw an unknown individual try moving a lot of money in and out of your account and wanted to make sure it was you. You're good to go."

[nudge]

I'm glad they're working well for you, but I'm not working on rumours - I just spent over a week and about a dozen phone calls trying to fix a mistake they made. Eventually they did accept that the mistake was at their end, but until that point their service was appalling. To their credit, though, they did seem to take a lot of notice of the feedback form I submitted.

[nickpp]

Excellent AND working from countless countries. Payment is one proble Apple has actually solved.

[alanh]

App Store customer service IS excellent in my experience.

[Keyframe]

in contrast to what competition is offering, yes.