Google Checkout Module Completed?

[Danielc1234]

I see a few treads on the Google Checkout and was wondering if any developers have completed one or have a way to incorporate the Google Checkout feature. We are using mivasql and would really like to have a module to accomplish this or maybe a customization to the cart. I was reading on Googles site that you can incorporate these features with no matter what cart you are using. Is this true? Thanks Daniel

[d_host]

While this "sort of" is true, the developers who have started building such a module gave up after a while. Not because of technical, but rather logistical problems with how Google wants to control each transaction. To make a long story short, Google Checkout specifications require that the customer be allowed to make changes to basket contents, billing and shipping info, etc, on the final checkout page after already having any possible discount coupons applied, or tax rates calculated. At that point the checkout becomes a nightmare in terms of not having customers cheat merchants out of discounts applied when they purchased a qualifying item to get some $ off the order total (they can remove that item from the cart, but keep the discount anyway with Google Checkout), or customers may circumvent the tax calculation by entering a non-taxable ship-to State, then change it to their real State during checkout, in essence skipping on paying taxes while you, the merchant, getting stuck with paying for it yourself to be within the law.

All in all, Google wants the ultimate control of the transaction at a point where any selections should no longer be allowed to be made, without going back to the basket contents screen to make changes.

There's one person (a hosting client of ours) still tinkering with it and still hoping to have a working version soon, but... it seems like he, too, put a lot less of a priority on this project than he originally started with. IF and WHEN he completes this, and wishes to make it available to others, I'll be sure to post an announcement here on the forums, but don't hold your breath - my guess is it's most likely not going to be in the next day or 10 or 30.

[Kent Multer]

Hey folks -- this is somewhat off-topic ... OK, maybe it's completely off-topic :^| But it's been on my mind lately, and I might as well mention it.

<soapbox>

Is anyone besides me annoyed with Google for caving in to the Chinese government's demand for censorship? As I understand it, in China, if you do a Google search on, say, "Tiananmen Square," all you get is travel-brochure stuff, nothing controversial. Isn't Google making enough profit already, that they shouldn't need to let themselves be manipulated like that?

I haven't stopped using them completely, but nowadays, when I want to do a search, I always try Yahoo first. I'm actually toying with the idea of starting a boycott or some other form of activism ... am I just a right-wing extremist?

</soapbox>

[Danielc1234]

Sure sounds like it!!! LOL.
I agree with you that Google is trying to gain too much control over too many things, but I do not see them taking over and becoming a one world order any time soon!
Back to my issue, the only reason I was looking into the Google Checkout is we do enough adword campaigns on our site that allows us to process orders through Google Checkout for free. The whole processing service would be completely free. Whereas we are paying our current merchant out the nose for processing orders.
But dont mind me here...You go a head and trash Google all you want! LOL

[sebenza]

The reason why there is no Google Checkout module yet IS technical reasons. Weather that is the reason other developers stopped... I dont know. At this point MivaScript cant read raw xml data posts. For Google controlling too much... its more of an opinion. Any and all actions with Google Checkout are 2-way... meaning if you make a change during Google Checkout, it will communicate those changes back to the cart and look for a response... such as updated discounts, shipping, etc...

[Danielc1234]

8-31-2006
Just checking back in to see if any Miva Brainy-acks have gotten any further with the Google Checkout. I know by reading the forums, that Miva is not very friendly for doing this, but just had to check.
Thanks Daniel

[max]

I am now checking in on the status of the Google Check out module. Anybody know if this is available yet?

Thanks!

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

I'm sure the Scott will announce it publically on the forums when it becomes available.

[wayman]

I'm very disappointed that so much time has passed since Google announced Checkout and there still isn't a way to incorporate it into Miva. Free processing, tied into Froogle and adwords. I'm sure many people are already implementing the advertising and analytic services that Google offers. I for one would definitely use it. The credit card processing fees involved for a small shop are a heavy burden which this could resolve. The small shops are the target users for this services and being a miva user in this respect is a negative. I'm holding out a wad of cash for whatever developer is building Google Checkout functionality. Who wants my money?

[sebenza]

Save your money... It will be out shortly and at no charge.