Google shutting down Google Checkout on Nov 20, 2013

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easyhostmedia

easyhostmedia

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Hi All

Just come across this while checking another forum


Basically US merchants (and only US merchants) can continue processing credit cards by applying for an application to accept credit cards through Google Wallet. Note that Google Wallet is a completely separate system from Google Checkout and requires the merchant to either signup with the new processor or they will be unable to accept credit cards in 6 months when Google closes Google Checkout. Therefore this calls for a need to add to the "things to do" list a need to create a payment gateway specifically for Google Wallet. See email below.

Link to Google Wallet Instant Buy API page - https://developers.google.com/commerce/wallet/online/

An update to Google Checkout
Hello,

A key focus of Google Wallet is to simplify and improve the commerce experience for merchants and shoppers. Just last week, we announced two enhancements to the Google Wallet platform. The Instant Buy API enables merchants to offer a fast buying experience to Google Wallet shoppers on their Android apps and websites, while processing their own payments. In addition, the new Wallet Objects API enables merchants to engage their customers with loyalty, offers, and more.

As we continue to build the Wallet platform, we must focus our priorities. That is why we are announcing today that we will retire Google Checkout. We remain heavily invested in building a platform that enables merchants to meet the demands of a multi-screen world where consumers shop in-store, at their desk and on their mobile devices.
I sell goods or services using Google Checkout. What does this mean for me?
Merchants can continue to accept payments using Google Checkout until November 20, 2013. We have partnered with a few best-in-class companies to provide you with discounted migration options, so you can continue to run your business with as little disruption as possible. provides everything merchants need to accept payments, and powers many of the fastest-growing online and mobile businesses around the world. offers a fully hosted online shopping cart so you can quickly and easily accept payments with top payment providers.

If you are a U.S. merchant that does have payment processing, you can apply for Google Wallet Instant Buy, which offers a fast buying experience to Google Wallet shoppers.
I am an Google Play Apps or digital goods merchant. What does this mean for me?
Sellers of digital goods on Google (Google Play, Chrome Web Store, Offers Marketplace and Google Wallet for digital goods) will automatically transition to Google Wallet and will not be impacted. Learn more »

If you are a user of the above products, but use the Google Checkout APIs for notifications or reporting, stay tuned. We will be announcing replacement APIs shortly and recommend you stop using the Checkout APIs as soon as possible.

Learn more about integration types, the best migration solution for your business and next steps on closing your Checkout account.
What this means for shoppers
There are no changes. Shoppers can continue to use Google Wallet to purchase goods wherever they see the "Buy with Google" button.

More details
• We will continue to process Checkout transactions until November 20, 2013. The last date for refunds will be December 20, 2013.
• After November 20, 2013, all order reports and history will be available for download.
• In order to help us disburse all funds to you and file your tax forms properly, please verify that your Tax ID and business name match what is shown on your income tax return.
• You will see slight changes to the Merchant Center as we go through this process with you.
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I've never actually used Google Checkout, so this doesn't really affect me.
However, Google Checkout seems to be the much better 'name' for an online payment gateway, as you are essentially 'checking out' and preparing to pay for your product. Google Wallet seems rather simple and plain, if not a tad boring and overused.
It may appeal to the general consumer that buys an app or two for their Android devices, but for businesses, the name just doesn't seem to fit all too well.

Just my opinion, though. This change still won't get me to use their gateway any time soon, but at least now they're making it more of a standardized payment option, rather than a service intended to compete with PayPal.
 
The signup on Google Checkout (both from a merchant and from a client) is a nightmare. I'm happy to see this go away. With the hosting business, we haven't LOST a client because we didn't have Google Checkout - but I'm sure we would lose a few if we didn't have PayPal as an option.

Consumers still trust PayPal rather than Google Checkout - the move into Google Wallet is going to be more of the same unfortunately!

Guess Authorize.net will make another push to their clients about how they're still around and not changing their code - stick with a company that works etc etc etc :)
 
we offer Google Checkout and have done for several years, but have yet to see 1 client use this for their payments, so we wont miss it
 
My previous hosting company I sold offered Google Checkout as an option. Actually was a big fan of it but a very small chunk of our customers used it, mainly just had it as an option. Felt like they had pretty reasonable standards and was simple to use (pure opinion).

We currently don't use them so this doesn't affect us at all but it's to bad to see it closing unless you make the move as mentioned.
 
Whilst we've never offered Google Checkout, this could be a good thing. Google Wallet is meant to be an enhanced and upgraded checkout so this could also be seen as a good thing.

I doubt we'll be offering it in the near future, however.
 
Google checkout was available only to merchants from USA and UK so we never used it. I won't miss it at all.
 
We do use googlecheckout and have about 20% of customers on it.

I'm looking to offer 2CO instead nearer the time.
 
ughosting said:
We do use googlecheckout and have about 20% of customers on it.

I'm looking to offer 2CO instead nearer the time.
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What do you offer along side it? Maybe you should look to implement it sooner rather than later giving time for your customers to move over (if they want to) but also to decrease your future risk by signing up new clients should you loose a chunk thanks to loosing Google.

I've used Google Checkout in the past and usually go with it if it is offered as a payment gateway (as it is so easy to use and fast) - Not happy they decided to close it, really though Google would actually start to expand the Checkout service (more supported countries, more features etc...).

Either way, good luck to them with Google Wallet.
 
this should be an improvement for Google and users. Accounts in checkout will seamlessly move into Wallet. Hasn't this been known for 2.5 years?
 
Collabora said:
this should be an improvement for Google and users. Accounts in checkout will seamlessly move into Wallet. Hasn't this been known for 2.5 years?
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Google Wallet won't be the same as Google Checkout (for many). It is primarily for Google Play, in-app purchases among other things. UK merchants will no longer be able to use this service as the Google Wallet + GMail integration is just for US based merchants.

I hope Stripe UK is launched in time for the Google Checkout closure though :).
 
http://forum.whmcs.com/showthread.php?73471-Google-shutting-down-Google-Checkout-on-Nov-20-2013

Basically US merchants (and only US merchants) can continue processing credit cards by applying for an application to accept credit cards through Google Wallet. Note that Google Wallet is a completely separate system from Google Checkout and requires the merchant to either signup with the new processor or they will be unable to accept credit cards in 6 months when Google closes Google Checkout.
Click to expand...
 
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I wonder why they decided to go this route, I always thought Google Checkout was a nicely profitable business for them considering the numbers using it (albeit not as large as I assume they would have hoped, then again they were very limited to just the UK & US).

With both offering Google Wallet & Checkout maybe this is a step forward to really push their payment processing services and focus on just the one making that as expansive and profitable as possible.
 
hostmything said:
Just configured WHMCS to use swipe :)
Goodbye Google Checkout.
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How many clients did you have paying via Google Checkout? There is still several months left of Google Checkout, might have been nice to leave it their for your existing clients as now if they want to continue to use their service they may need to rush into setting up Stripe etc... to pay, quite unfair for those with invoices within the next week or so.

Be sure to let us know if Stripe is a success for you or if dropping Google so early will cost you.
 
Collabora said:
Wallet is better poised to compete with PayPal.
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Have you read any information on this, Wallet is not going to be compatible with physical good sales and web hosting is not classed as a digital item by Google, so you wont be able to use Wallet in the web hosting industry
 
Collabora said:
Its a relative failure compared to Paypal. Been around since 2006 and hasn't made much of a dent. Wallet is better poised to compete with PayPal.
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easyhostmedia said:
Have you read any information on this, Wallet is not going to be compatible with physical good sales and web hosting is not classed as a digital item by Google, so you wont be able to use Wallet in the web hosting industry
Click to expand...

Exactly so in other words it is a step backwards to competing against PayPal. Really though to consider competing against PayPal and only supporting 2 countries is quite a joke, quite surprising for a company like Google also after so many years only supporting UK & US.
 
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