Google Checkout

CNET editors' take

• Reviewed by:
  Elsa Wenzel
• Reviewed on: 06/29/2006

Or if you're eager to hawk your wares online, Checkout provides simple sign-up for small and large merchants and shares details about how customers respond to your Google AdWords campaigns.

How does Google Checkout work? Perform a Google search for whatever you desire, such as LCD monitor or silk pillowcase. A Google shopping-cart icon appears within participating sponsored links along the right side of the screen, indicating that you can pay with Checkout. Or, you can directly visit any of the dozens of merchants that have already signed up with Checkout, which, so far, include Starbucks.com, Buy.com, and Levis.com. Google Checkout will appear as an option alongside those Web sites' individual shopping-cart forms. However, there's no international support, so forget about spending euros on Belgian chocolate via Checkout--for now.

To sign up for Google Checkout, just enter the details of your credit or debit account, and you're ready to spend without needing to enter those account numbers again.

Ready to shop? You must first link your Google login to a Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express credit or debit card account. Visit Checkout.Google.com to log in and enter those details. Once you sign up, be sure to safeguard your Google login with a solid password. During sign-up, Google visually displays whether your password looks strong, so you can immediately beef up your password with numbers and symbols if it appears weak.

Individual merchants won't see your credit card number, which you might prefer. On your credit card statement, Checkout transactions will display both Google's name and the merchant's. Google Checkout's Purchase History page handily displays everything you've bought, as well as the shipping progress of any packages on the way to your door. However, shopping with Checkout places your Web surfing and shopping history directly into Google's hands.

We like the clearly explained privacy options on Google Checkout's Web pages. Google Checkout's policy insists that the company won't share your information with third parties for marketing purposes. If you don't want Google to share your activity with Checkout and the company's services for promotional or other purposes, then make sure to visit the privacy policy page and scroll down to Sharing Between Affiliates for a pair of opt-out e-mail links.

Some merchants' Web sites, such as Buy.com, enable you to choose from their own payment methods or use Google Checkout.

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Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 71 reviews
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  "Worst experience I have ever had!"

  by Kozzy49 on November 23, 2009

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  "The absolute worst! Possibly worse than PayPal."

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  "POOR SERVICE"

  by ttronicsinc on October 22, 2009

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