Google Checkout is at least as bad as PayPal, though for other reasons. The API is a clunker. The buying process is not particularly nice or fast for users (and it doesn't have the benefit of being familiar, like PayPal).
There are a few things about Checkout to love. They take more responsibility for fraud than any other payments provider I know of. That has a lot of value, particularly for online retailers. The rates are better. They don't have the reputation for being shifty that PayPal has, though they'll probably earn one in time. When it comes to money, people get grouchy fast. Any mistakes, any perceived unfairness, any slight, will be trumpeted from the mountain tops (or sites like paypalsucks.com). It's just the nature of the business.
I've never had a problem with PayPal, and we have $10k+ in our account most of the time, and I've been using it since nearly the beginning of its existence.
I'm considering dropping merchant services payments altogether on our online shop and taking just PayPal, Google Checkout, and Amazon FPS. I haven't yet talked to enough customers to know whether this is a sane course of action, though.
Exactly. The others aren't even trying to expand to outside of the US, as far as any outsider can tell. It's frustrating to no end being a startup outside the US and having to rely on Paypal or a very slim selection of even crummier merchant providers here (Canada). I've had so many problems with the few providers that do offer service here that I grudgingly stick with Paypal now.
Amazon, come on guys, support Canada already! Help us out!
There are a few things about Checkout to love. They take more responsibility for fraud than any other payments provider I know of. That has a lot of value, particularly for online retailers. The rates are better. They don't have the reputation for being shifty that PayPal has, though they'll probably earn one in time. When it comes to money, people get grouchy fast. Any mistakes, any perceived unfairness, any slight, will be trumpeted from the mountain tops (or sites like paypalsucks.com). It's just the nature of the business.
I've never had a problem with PayPal, and we have $10k+ in our account most of the time, and I've been using it since nearly the beginning of its existence.
I'm considering dropping merchant services payments altogether on our online shop and taking just PayPal, Google Checkout, and Amazon FPS. I haven't yet talked to enough customers to know whether this is a sane course of action, though.