Google to Test PayPal Rival 268
Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Google is set to introduce a test version of its GBuy online-payment service as early as this week, presaging a shake-up in the online-payments market now dominated by eBay's PayPal, the Wall Street Journal reports. From the article: 'Here is how the service will work: Consumers who search for items like "shoes" or "strollers" on Google's search site will see text ads with a symbol or icon designating advertisers that accept GBuy payments. Shoppers normally would have clicked on an ad and been linked to that merchant's Web site. Now, while they will still be linked to the merchant's site, they will go through a different checkout process integrated with Google if they choose GBuy for their transaction. Details of the service could still change before Google's official GBuy announcement.'"
I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Funny)
So that would make Yahoo the Tribbles?
(They're everywhere and cute, but really annoying)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Interesting)
Do not talk for me, as I do not like Google too much, for one they treat their customer pretty bad. To the extent that they prohibit criticism of their AdSense "service" terms and conditions on participating sites.. [kottke.org]
And then some, their search engine is sucking a bit too much lately (personally I think search.yahoo.com returns more relevant results). And as you state, they are focusing in nothing and trying to compete with every technology available. As has been stated before they are a public company and as this they enter into the set named "Corporations" which only target and focus is to get more money for the shareholders. When their usual "ways" (i.e. the initial things they did to get money as Adsense in searches) stops to work they cant help but look for other ways of revenew, or die.
So, behold the new Google Inc. 10 years from now (if not less) Google will be what IBM was 20 years ago, and what Microsoft has been these 10 years.
(go ahead mod my day)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm not sure you can even make a meaningful direct comparison between two different companies in what amounts to two different eras, but I want to know if you think that means that Google will go evil, but then see the light and turn themselves around? That's IBM. Microsoft still hasn't gotten there, of course.
Not that IBM is an angel but for a corporation that size to realize the truth, embrace open source (to whatever extent, obviously it's not complete) and change direction from "all the code you write on your computers belongs to us" to "we now sell computers where all the code including the OS belongs to you" is truly awe-inspiring.
If Microsoft tried to make a turn like that, their lil' blogger bus would roll right over.
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Interesting)
then see the light and turn themselves around? That's IBM.
They aren't all the way there yet, they still do some sleazy stuff. For example, they have spammed Wikipedia with their AlphaWorks/DeveloperWorks articles (as in: added links themselves to lots of different articles as part of an instituted policy and been placed on the blacklist as a result).
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Insightful)
IBM is only not-evil to the extent that their business doesn't conflict with your zealotry.
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:3, Insightful)
Any shareholder owned company will become evil. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Interesting)
I keep seeing people say that, but no matter what I search for, I can't make spam sites appear on the first pages of results.
I just tried again with the following search terms, "tuna", "the community solution", "honda", "viagra" and despite having a fair few spammy or vague keywords there I couldn't see any non relevant results. What are you searching for?
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Insightful)
What you get are sites that return their own search results + ads.
These sites are hella weak!
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:3, Insightful)
This argument of "sticking with pure search and nothing else", though, has some other significant problems that whiners out here don't seem to realize. You see, in the past 2-2.5 years, the web has made som
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:4, Funny)
(http://www.theonion.com/content/node/40076)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:3)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:3, Interesting)
"The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it."
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:3)
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:2)
My question is; is it possible for a piece of information to be completely destroyed?
Of course. In fact, the laws of thermodynamics say that every piece of information (in a closed system) will eventually be destroyed, as entropy reaches maximum.
Re:I like google as much as the next /.er, (Score:3, Funny)
Well, sometimes Wikipedia seems to have a very good try.
I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal. (Score:5, Interesting)
I hope GBuy will be less evil, and that it will catch on so I can buy used PC and car parts from forum members again.
Re:I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal (Score:2)
I don't think you can enter the payment market without upsetting some percent of the customers. Put yourself in Paypal's shoes: you've got a huge number of he-said-she-said arguments over amounts of money small enough not to warrant an investigation, but big enough to infuriate people. As the arbiter of payment, you could try to be nice and absorb the losses as a cost of doing business, but that would quickly become a free-for-all. It's sort of like the insurance industry, wher
Re:I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal (Score:5, Interesting)
It's not just firearms... (Score:5, Interesting)
and last year, during the Xbox360 shortage, and people were postings 360 scams on ebay, left and right. Paypal was freezing first, asking questions later, for people selling 360s. Unfortunatly, the general public probably approves of this, judging by the number of people who paid $600 for an Xbox that never arrived, and were demanding more oversight from ebay.
Re:I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal (Score:4, Insightful)
Oh, and the fact that if you DON'T pay Google, you'll get zero visitors. Becasue of course, ads and fake sites are the first 3 pages.
All hail our search Mafia overlords.
Re:I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal (Score:4, Insightful)
Even if you do accept the ad prices as being "evil", it's still not something over which Google has any control, so it seems problematic to use that as an predictor of future evilness.
Re:I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal (Score:2)
Oh, as if Google had found a way to nullify the traditional power of Slashdot and word-of-mouth...
Re:I wonder if they will be less shady than PayPal (Score:5, Insightful)
On the other hand, let's say I set up a flea market on my land. I need to lay down at least some basic rules, both to protect the customers and the merchants, and above all my own reputation. Even if the owner isn't doing any fraud himself, who wants to visit a flea market that's ridden with pickpockets?
The major factor that switched me over to online bill-pay from checks-and-stamps was learning that my bill-pay service would agree to go to bat for me in case of any issues. Just having someone agree in a contract to stand in my corner is a powerful incentive to trust.
Right now, you've got to jump through way too many hoops with eBay to convince them that a fraud has actually happened before they'll even consider opening up an investigation. If GBuy takes a more customer-oriented approach, I see two results:
1) Success for GBuy, as the demand for a safe online marketplace shifts their way
2) Fiscal pressure for eBay to actually deal with the issue, or lose their customer base. In its own way, I'd say this is probably better pressure than any lawsuit threats, or outcries from consumer protection experts.
If they're more concerned with covering their own butts than covering their customers, it'll be just the same old same old. If, on the other hand, they put time and energy into protecting their customers, they'll find themselves pretty well protected.
Again?? (Score:5, Insightful)
Jeez, is there anything these guys won't get there fingers in? Don't get me wrong, I like what they've done so far, but is it possible for a company to expand beyond a certain critical mass and still stick to the operating principle "Don't Be Evil"?
I just hope the Geegees aren't going to turn nasty and suddenly warrant a big anti-monopoly order or somesuch. I just couldn't take the smug look on Bill's face...
Re:Again?? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Again?? (Score:2)
Re:Again?? (Score:3, Informative)
Monopolistic practices require that you leverage your pricing power in one market, where you have a monopoly, to compete unfairly in another market. It's perfectly legal to have a monopoly in a market, as long as you don't use that to abuse a different market.
Many companie
Re:Again?? (Score:5, Insightful)
The problem is that as Google grows and grows off the back of low-key ads and simplicity, the rest of the industry isn't taking the hint. So Google is pretty much alone in filling this gap in each area of the web.
Don't worry though. If they really start to take over, the bean counters will catch on, and companies might actually start to compete with Google on their terms. I think this might have already happened at Yahoo, but even then most of of that page is taken up by an irrelevant photo [yahoo.com].
Re:Again?? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Again?? (Score:2)
Google made money... Evil!
Google is expanding their business... Evil!
Google returned unfavorable search results for my name... Evil!
Re:Again?? (Score:2)
It's not. That was my point.
Re:Again?? (Score:2)
This place is becoming a big "7 degrees from evil" game against Google lately... Google made a web-site, which became popular, on which they sold ads, which make them money, money can buy guns, guns kill people, killing is evil!
Re:Again?? (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, depends... Do you believe the average human is good or evil? And does a good person have what it takes to recognize evil when he sees it? And if people at Google are above average and already good, can they continue to hire and be able to only hire "good" people.
I just hope the Geegees aren't going to turn nasty and suddenly warrant a big anti-monopoly order or somesuch. I just couldn't take the smug look on Bill's face...
I doubt it would be smug because if anyone gets taken to court over monopoly issues it means Microsoft is fair game or that Microsoft is no longer a monopoly (aka moot point).
Re:Again?? (Score:2)
Neither. The average human is selfish, and self-interested. "Good" people are often ones who have been trained to achieve satisfaction and gratification by being less selfish, and "Bad" ones are often people who do nothing but indulge in their selfishness -- but I don't think that there's a direct correlation. If you get your jollies by helping old ladies across the street, and you spend all of your time indulging this fetish, then I'd be reluctant to c
ah bollocks (Score:3, Insightful)
"Don't Be Evil" (Score:2)
Re:Again?? (Score:2)
Maaaan, just put your bets, buy pop-corns and watch the fight...
Re:Again?? (Score:3, Informative)
There's two things you need to realise. The first is that "Don't be evil" was coined as a short way to sum up stuff like "don't fuck the interns" and "don't file fraudulent accounts", it doesn't mean "work in the best interest of the customer". You can find a commentary on how it came to exist here: http://en.wikipedia.org/ [wikipedia.org]
Good (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Good (Score:3, Insightful)
Not exactly (Score:2)
Re:Good (Score:2)
Re:Good (Score:2)
this really suits their other plans ;) (Score:5, Interesting)
This would nicely prevent frauds, as the payments will go thru google, a advertiser cannor report 0 sales even if sales was made. This would remove one cheating possibility, where as AdSense currently is plagued with click fraud, there won't be such a problem with this type of advertising.
More of a communal shopping cart (Score:5, Interesting)
I can see this fitting in well with their AdWords/AdSense system, but beyond that I don't see this as significant competition for PayPal.
Pay per Action (Score:2)
As an Australian... (Score:5, Funny)
Thanks, I'll be here all week, try the veal!
Google Micropayments (Score:5, Interesting)
The other big question would be whether Ebay will allow people to pay with Gbuy!
Re:Google Micropayments (Score:2)
Are you the guy that puts all those $0.01 items on eBay?
The other big question would be whether Ebay will allow people to pay with Gbuy!
This question will be vital in the Gbuy / Paypal war
Re:Google Micropayments (Score:5, Funny)
No, but Gbay will.
Re:Google Micropayments (Score:2)
eBay owns PayPal. So, no.
But Google Auctions will. Remember, you heard it here first.
Re:Google Micropayments (Score:2)
Western Union's AuctionPay service is allowed as is any other payment method that the seller is willing to accept.
I don't use PayPal anymore. I lost my account info, and PayPal want's $20 to allow me to associate my accounts with a new PayPal account.
Re:Google Micropayments (Score:2)
competition is good! (Score:5, Interesting)
my last horror story re: paypal was when I bought an online ebay item and there was no option to have shipping done (from this vendor) with insurance. the item was mailed 'media mail' which is UNCONFIRMED. the PO considers it confirmed delivery but the postman HIMSELF signs the delivery receipt! what good is that?? so my mailmain supposedly delivered it and signed for it himself. of course I never got the pkg.
I emailed the seller and no reply. he had 'confirmation' from the PO and so ignored me. I filed a case with the PO but they didn't really care (obviously). I tried calling paypal (emailing them, first) and they kept saying 'it was delivered so your claim is rejected'.
problem was: there was NO HUMAN looking at this so-called delivery receipt. the date was wrong (it was the wrong DECADE, too - what a blunder in their database!) and there was no signature online to prove it really did get delivered. it was a losing battle to explain this to them. they didn't care. they are on the side of the 'power sellers' and they know where their money is earned
if they think they can accept delivery confirmations that say "1900" as the year and then close my case, well, I hope they get some cosmic justice for all the scams and abuse from their customers. I hope google eats them alive.
the more powerful google gets, the more I do worry; but paypal needs to have some humble pie fed to them. its about time.
Re:competition is good! (Score:2)
Seriously, why don't mailmen simply take any package that's not insured, then, and blatantly defend the act? "You didn't insure it so I have no responsibility".
Re:competition is good! (Score:3, Interesting)
Because that would be theft, and they'd go to jail. However if they take it and deny all knowledge, good luck getting anyone to look into it. That's the case here in the UK, at least. There was a mailman near where I live, he wasn't even stealing mail, just dumping it instead of delivering it. He got away with that for several months, until someone a
Re:competition is good! (Score:2)
In the colonies, mail is the property of the government while its in their hands. They just about go Storm Saxon on citizens who steal it.
insurance is irrelevent in this case.. (Score:2)
And media mail, 1st class, parcel post, and priority mail don't have built in delivery confirmation, it's an extra service ($.60 for buying it in store, or $.15 buying it online) Signature confirmation is an extra service also, and it costs something li
Re:competition is good! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:competition is good! (Score:2)
1. Not all items are covered by buyer protection.
2. The shipper has proof of shipment, and the post office claims it was delivered. It's really up to the buyer to come up with evidence that it was never delivered.
3. The item was probably shipped with delivery confirmation, which is a cheap way for the seller to prove he shipped it. NO SIGN
I've had a similar issue (Score:2)
Sorry, but delivery means that I received the item. Dropping it on the porch doesn't count, and buyers should be wary of this. I believe the shippe
Re:competition is good! (Score:2)
and they know where their money is earned
You can't frown and wink at the same time! Try it... that's crazy.
Re:competition is good! (Score:2)
Or dishonest neighbors. Delivery confirmation doesn't require a signature.
free as in beer (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:free as in beer (Score:3, Informative)
No, there will still be fees. Now, if google can figure out how to reduce/eliminate the fixed fee portion and/or enable micropayments, paypal is going to have to make some moves to keep thier userbase. Of course, if google could wheedle their way out of the "perks" in your CC, (you know - 3% back at company stores, 1% everywhere else except gpay, no ben
Re:free as in beer (Score:2)
Don't forget what a great big database they could build of your purchasing habits - perfect for targetted advertising which is Google's forte.
I just wonder... (Score:5, Interesting)
I mean, currently there's no way I could sell stuff from Poland to other countries. The item mailing fee is okay. But any payments from outside, no matter how small, are associated with money transfer fee like $40-60. Or $200 if you pay when you get the item. Nobody's gonna buy $10 item and pat $60 for sending the $10 to me. They could send it in envelope... almost assuring some bastard in the polish mail service stealing it. Or they could send me some gift I don't need instead.
Paypal is present in Poland, of course. But it works one-way. I can pay through Paypal, but I can't receive money. I really hope Google kicks in and I finally can sell stuff outside Poland.
Re:I just wonder... (Score:5, Funny)
Well, that is usually the first step
Backend Security Software... (Score:4, Insightful)
Just great... Now Google will track purchases. (Score:3, Insightful)
On the earth, all your lives belong to Google...
Database? Oh no, not at all. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Just great... Now Google will track purchases. (Score:2)
Ca. until 1999/2000 max.
Re:Just great... Now Google will track purchases. (Score:2)
Of course they are. But the real question is, when do we find out they're really a front for the CIA/NSA. or worse yet.... Major League Baseball.
*shudder*
So how will it rival Paypal? (Score:4, Insightful)
GBuy sounds like it'll be a rival for Amazon zShops and other style system, except less centralized.
In other news (Score:2)
Seriously, competition is good and all, but why? It's success hinges on EVERYONE using it, and EVERYONE already uses Paypal. Even if it's just a little better, is it worth the trouble of switching? Methinks it would have to be revolutionary to replace an existing system, and even then, I'm banking on a lot of laziness and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" type of mentalities.
Compete with the dollar - private money. (Score:2)
http://www.mises.org/money.asp [mises.org]
Money, like everything else is a commodity, you trade for it in exactly the same way you do everything else.
The only real reason that the government mandates that it holds a monopoly on money is so that it can print more itself to pay for stuff it hasn't taxed you on already. It prints more money, buys goods and services with it, the overall supply of money increases and the value of an individual dollar decreases, your bank balance loses worth jus
In related news... (Score:4, Funny)
I remember when Google just did a great search engine.
Re:In related news... (Score:2)
More international efforts? (Score:3)
Google could make a real boom if it supported more countries and made itself a more diverse market. I know it's a problem with banking and tax laws but there's money to be made with it :)
Why Can Google Make This Work? (Score:2)
Re:Why Can Google Make This Work? (Score:2)
The article DOES tell about pricing. (Score:3, Informative)
"Google plans to charge merchants a 2.2% commission on a sale, plus 30 cents per transaction using its payment service...That is higher than Pay-Pal's lowest published rate of a 1.9% commission plus 30 cents per transaction.
"Google's rate doesn't include the discount pricing that the company will give to merchants participating in its AdWords advertising program...Merchants who spend money on Google's ad program could get the cost of payment processing through Google dropped to nothing...
"To attract consumers, Google plans to offer an unspecified rebate to people who complete online purchases using GBuy."
Why pay more than paypal? (Score:2)
I'm surprised to see that they're charging a higher rate than Paypal.
How many actually get 1.9%? (Score:2)
Why should I care? (Score:2)
Not the first paypal rival (Score:3, Informative)
Ok so plimus is a complete software registration service, not just a payment provider, but there has been massive consolidation in this area, with RegNow buying up everyone except Plimus one by one. The last thing we need is for someone like Google to come swallow up the small companies in that area.
I give it maybe a year before you cannot use adwords or adsense if your website sells through a different payment provider. Regnow already do this, they wont give you the good commission rate unless you use them exclusively. I kinda thought that was anti-competitive and maybe not even legal, but apparently not
Anyway, I digress.
I like a free and open market with good competition. Google are welcome as a competitor, not a monopoly.
Re:God for bid it be regulated (Score:5, Informative)
PayPal doesn't WANT to be a bank, and unless they apply to become one, they won't be held to the same standards as one. They WANT to be an "online payment processing service", which exempts them from FDIC (in the current unlikely chance they fold, you lose any money stored there rather than getting up to $100k back like a bank) and from lots of rules and oversight that they don't want to do, because this way they can go on shafting those who use the service. As long as they're the only game in town, you get to play by their rules.
There's a reason I no longer take PayPal on Ebay: see http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2006/3/6/8326
Re:God for bid it be regulated (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:God for bid it be regulated (Score:2)
Be afraid, be very afraid (Score:2)