See below email from Google this morning
 
Hello Kim,
 
After a recent review of your account, we found that your website
http://www.BigKidsClothes.co.uk/ doesn't appear to display Google Checkout buttons in accordance with the following policies:
 
- Use standard Google buttons only
You may only use Google-hosted button images. You may not alter the size, shape, color or any other aspect of these images. e.g . Google Checkout should not be listed in a drop-down menu or as a radio button.
Additionally, Google Checkout must be presented as an alternative checkout flow, not a payment type akin to Visa, personal checks etc.
 
Google Checkout is not a form of payment that replaces or is equivalent to existing payment types and must not be presented as such. Buyers using the ecommerce provider's standard checkout flow should not, therefore, encounter a payment field dropdown with Google Checkout listed alongside payment types like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. Instead, the buyer should have the option of selecting Google Checkout as a distinct checkout flow.
 
- Place Google Checkout buttons before login pages Buyers should only have to provide their purchasing information once. If you require users to register or sign in to your site, you must ensure Google Checkout and Buy Now buttons are available before the login process so buyers are able to check out with Google Checkout without having to log in. (You may still track visits and personalize pages using cookies.)
 
- Direct buyers quickly to Google
If you're using Google Checkout buttons, you must ensure that buyers who click the Google Checkout button on your site see the Google Checkout confirmation page within one second, and without seeing any intermediate pages. This will help you avoid shopping cart abandonment. We recommend you consider pre-computing shopping carts, leveraging server to server posting, and other tips in our Developer's Guide.
 
On your website the buyer has to first login and then choose Google Checkout from a drop down menu. Please ensure that you place the Google Checkout button on the shopping cart page and see to it that the buyer does not have to fill in any information before or after clicking on the Google Checkout button. When the buyer clicks on the Google Checkout button he should be taken directly to the Secure Checkout page without seeing any intermediate pages.
 
For more information about Google Checkout button and Buy Now button requirements, please visit https://checkout.google.com/seller/policies.html.
 
We also found that the Public URL you have listed in your Google Checkout account leads to your order confirmation page. Please ensure that your Public URL leads to your home page.
 
To edit your public business website URL:
1. Sign in to Google Checkout at https://checkout.google.com/sell.
2. Click the 'Settings' tab.
3. Edit your URL beside 'Public business website' under the 'Public business information' header.
4. Click 'Save profile'.
 
To avoid having your account suspended, please make the necessary changes to your account and let us know so we can review your website and approve your account.
 
For general product or account questions, please review our Help Centre at https://checkout.google.com/support/?hl=en_GB. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact me by replying to this email.
 
Kind regards,
 
Nishant Nair
The Google Checkout Team
 
Google Payment Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
 
Google Payment Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 5903713. Its registered address is Belgrave House, 76 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TQ.

I did my first live test yesterday - my site is live but full of notices saying do not buy here yet.
 
Today the Google Police e-mailed me:
 
During our recent review of your Google Checkout account, we found that your website( http://www.malikstores.co.uk ) appears to be under construction or non-functioning. As a result, your Google Checkout badges have not been activated to display on your AdWords ads at this time. (Your account is still active, however and you may continue to process
transactions.)
 
If you would like to display badges again, please make the appropriate changes to your website, then reply to this message so we can confirm the changes.
 
You must separate the Google checkout process from your existing checkout process. If a buyer initiates your existing checkout process, they must not see a Google Checkout button. If you're using Buy Now buttons, you must display a Buy Now button in a visible and appropriate location for each item you'd like to sell using Google Checkout.
 
- Place Google Checkout buttons before login pages
 
Buyers should only have to provide their purchasing information once. If you require users to register or sign in to your site, you must ensure Google Checkout and Buy Now buttons are available before the login process so buyers are able to check out with Google Checkout without having to log in. (You may still track visits and personalize pages using cookies.)
 
For general product or account questions, please review our Help Centre at https://checkout.google.com/support/?hl=en_GB. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact me by replying to this email.
 
===============================
 
That test also showed me how prescriptive and controlling Google is - they try to take over the order and dictate the way it is handled: it made me feel that it would be more trouble than it is worth.
 
I think I can do everything I need with PayPal Express and PayPal API - and without yet another bank account to manage. And having a Google Badge on Google ads is not so special.

Christopher
 
I have contacted the Office of Fair Trading regarding Restrictive Practices with regard to Google and they have asked me to write to them. Perhaps more than one letter will make a difference
 
In the meantime I understand that the next version (3.3) of Viart will comply. This is expected at the end of August/beginning of September.
 
Kim

Yes - what address did you write to?
 
Re using Google: I am now not sure I want to use this.
 
They are very controlling - a bit like EBay who want to dominate all transactions.
 
But more worrying - I sell a mix of standard and zero rated products [malikstores.co.uk]. I did a trial order with a food item (zero rated) and their confirmation showed the amount of VAT included in the order!!! Ugh!! How many of my customer will complain that I am adding VAT to food?
 
I also do not like that they encourage customers to refer to Google for order status - I cannot keep updating order status with Google as well as on my own site.
 
Nevertheless I am very happy to support you lobby at the OFT. BTW - could I see you site - I suspect I will get some ideas from you?

I used to have the same problem (kids clothes) in the end I just de-registered for VAT as I make well under the threshold and the net VAT was always in their favour... So I haven't tried that bit out yet.
 
There are a few tax settings scattered about in the admin, Globals, Products, Options and possibly some I havent found

AArgh my cat stood on my mouse hand and clicked add instead of preview. Badly trained.
 
The rumble is that yahoo have teamed up with Paypal in the states offering time limited free transaction fees. Unfortunately it looks like they are introducing their own draconian rules, much the same (maybe even worse if you read the current TaC's) as the current Google ones. It is all out war.
 
enquiries at oft.go.uk Attention: Alice Coral.
 
My site is just bog standard template because I liked the look and memories of trying to change the look of my oscommerce website still give me troubled nights. I have added Zoomify to product descriptions which really improves customer confidence.
 
I like your java thingy or is it swf. Very nifty

Nice sites you guys ...thanks for the mention of google checkout even if they are being a bit off still a function that may be useful. Does it improve SEO btw?
 
I have been using Viart for a bit on my site but still a beginner but its a good system i think. Easier then osc etc perhaps.
 
All the best Colin oh heres my site btw too - http://www.evolutionhaircare.com/

Kim
 
Yes I also feel the heat rising in competition for payment transactions.
 
I was interested in Google as I use adwords and liked the idea of the badge - but recent analysis shows that it is an expensive and I am getting good organic response now. [Colin - using Google checkout will have zilch effect on SEO].
 
I am also now getting an increased source of leads from Yahoo with whom I also advertise. Just see the competition grow between Google, Yahoo and MSN!! We should be the winners at this time if we select carefully?
 
Now that PayPal has dramatically improved with its PRO version I am happy to stick there. They even phoned me recently to ask how I felt about PayPal - it was a very useful conversation (and I am NOT a big customer).
 
I have almost 2,000 products on site and another 20,000 to add sometime so my choice of checkout us crucial. I cannot forsee using Google now.
 
. . . and the "java thingy or is it swf". Do you mean drop down box? It's javascript - http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex17/amazondrop.htm.
 
Zoomify works well for your products - it is now all about shopping experience. My current site malikonline.co.uk was going in the direction of the enhanced experience when I found Viart.
Once I have my current catalogue loaded I will work on the enhancement of each category. I also use another site "myafroshop.info" as a feed - haven't touched for a whil - will build on this again when I have time.
 
It's good to share ideas and info - Viart - will you add a sharing forum? I think you will find a lot of happy customers using it
 
Chris
 
btw - love the idea of a cat that cannot distinguish between real and pc mice!!!