Regarding Google not handling human interaction very well..
I used Google Checkout to buy something after Black Friday with their $20 off special from Buy.com. The process went fine, and then I realized something - I hadn't gotten an order confirmation email. I went to sign into Google Checkout, and was rebuffed multiple times. Confused, I went through Google's help pages and sent them a message via their contact form. I received a reply within 24 hours explaining that I had been one letter off when I keyed in my email address, and that they had corrected it.
I think that's pretty decent for customer service from an online company. No boilerplate responses, no excessive wait, no hassle.