Google Checkout released in UK

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 16th April 2007
Comments (8) Stumble
Google Checkout released in UK

Can Google Checkout face down rival PayPal, or is this step of Googles world domination plan doomed to failure?

The Goliath of internet search engines, Google, announced recently that it would be going head-to-head with the colossus of online shopping, PayPal, as it releases its own online shopping facility in the UK.

Previously, the BBC reports, the Google Checkout service had only been available to buyers and sellers in the US and this is the first time it has been released in the UK.

The Google Checkout system is intended to compete with card processing services, as well as the massively used online system, PayPal. It will also boost Google's income by allowing its advertisers to use its order processing facilities at a cheap rate.

Google Checkout, originally called GBuy by bloggers, was initially launched in June 2006 for the US.

Some are skeptical of Google Checkouts ability to replace the ubiquitous PayPal however. A recent survey carried out at the end of last year revealed that in America Google Checkout was used in just 2% of end-to-end payment services, that is services that do not use a retailers own systems.

The BBC reports that the unveiling of Google Checkout was fraught with early hitches and Checkouts senior product manager for Europe acknowledged that "There were plenty of sleepless nights going up to the launch."

Google is confident however that that Checkout will be secure and steadfast against cases of online fraud, promising to 'make buyers whole' and represent retailers when things go wrong.

If you've had a chance to use Google Checkout yet, or are simply peeved at how Google is seeping into too many facets of modern living, then let us know in the forums!
Quote DougEdey 16th April 2007, 16:17
How the hell did you miss out the launch offer!

£10 off any transaction over £30 before shipping but after VAT. And there's no limit!

I've done two transactions via Ebuyer already, 2x Classic pads + 1 keyboard: £31 -> £21

2x256MB SODIMM £34-> £24
Quote Jamie 16th April 2007, 16:42
Speaking of SODIMM's your post just pushed me to buy another GB of ram for my macbook pro... with £10 off :D
Quote DougEdey 16th April 2007, 16:46
Glad to be of service **tips hat**
Quote capnPedro 16th April 2007, 17:45
Spotted the ebuyer offer this morning and was well chuffed as I have about £150 of kit waiting to be bought. Best part is, I can split it into 3 orders to get £30 off!

But... Google checkout won't accept my Solo card. Bloody marvelous. I'll be phoning Google/my bank soon to sort it out. The offer's good until about the 12th June IIRC.
Quote pendragon 16th April 2007, 18:04
ive used Googlecheckout over here in the US, every now and then they have these "save $10 with Google Checkout" dealies, so I gave it a shot.. doesnt seem all that bad really, of course paypal seems a little smoother having done that a bazillion times more often
Quote DougEdey 16th April 2007, 18:23
I found Checkout easier then paypal really. Clearer aswell
Quote Veles 16th April 2007, 19:13
Unless it can infiltrate eBay, it will never be as big as PayPal. Unless of course they make gBay or something 8/
Quote Stompy 16th April 2007, 21:17
eBay have already banned it =\
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