Google Checkout vs. PayPal One Year In
Comparing PayPal with Google Checkout one year after Checkout's launch, AP writer Anick Jesdanun finds Google Checkout much easier to use. The simpler approach of Google Checkout's wallet-based approach versus PayPal's more complex bank account-like functionality explain much of the difference between the two. Jesdanun concludes by saying that "unfortunately, until Checkout is more widely adopted by merchants and begins to let regular accountholders receive money, I must accept PayPal's complexities to fully engage in e-commerce."
After almost 10 years with PayPal, PayPal decided that I had to upgrade my account to receive my cash on my last eBay sale (remember, these guys hold your money! And apparently, they do what they want with it - so I learned)
I refused to upgrade my PayPal account. After 30 days of waiting, PayPal actually RETURNED the money to the buyer, with no warning whatsoever, so my item was left unpaid: talk about trust! Boy, did they lose mine!
So I setup a Google Checkout account on my son's Website, put a menu item called "eBay Payments", listed the item and Google Checkout button, sent an email to my customer to explain the PayPal fiasco, and asked him to pay me through Google Checkout. Fortunately, as in the vast majority of cases, the guy was honest and paid me immediately. He is now sold on Google Checkout too, and I am in the process of converting a dozen of my clients to Google Checkout.
Moral of the story: don't trust anyone who can hold your money - PayPal, the Mafia, or anyone else!
Posted by: Andre | November 04, 2007 at 01:37 PM