This FAQ details how Americart works with Google Checkout. If setting up Google Checkout, be sure to read this entire page!

SETUP INSTRUCTIONS FOR GOOGLE CHECKOUT ARE FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE.

Q:
What is Google Checkout and what can it do for me?

A:
Google Checkout^tm is a checkout process integrated with Americart, and thus your website, enabling your customers to buy from you quickly and securely, using a single username and password. And once they do, you can use Checkout to charge their credit cards, process their orders, and receive payment in your bank account. You as a merchant do not need to acquire a Merchant Credit Card account for direct credit card acceptance.

Q:
Is there an extra charge for using Google Checkout?

A:
We charge nothing extra, but you must have an account with Google Checkout, and they do charge a fee for each transaction. As of this writing, the fee seems on par with what a regular credit card charge would be.

Let us stress that if you already have a merchant account and a method you prefer to run charges, you can continue to use that account/method with Americart, and ALSO offer Google checkout to those shoppers who would choose it.

Q:
I've got my Google Checkout account. How do I make it work with Americart?

A:
We use the Google Level 2 Integration, the most secure and robust method they offer.

Setup at Google:

1) Login to your Google Checkout Account: https://checkout.google.com/

2) Select the "Settings" Tab.

3) Find and click the "Integration" link on the left.

4) Under "Account information", find the "Google merchant ID" Field. You will need to copy/paste this into your Americart Settings (see below)

5) Under "Account information", find the "Google merchant key" Field. You will need to copy/paste this into your Americart Settings (see below)

6) Find the "API callback URL" textbox, and enter the following: https://www.cartserver.com/google

IMPORTANT: Failure to set the API Callback URL will cause a failure in finished orders registering back through the cart.

7) Click "Save".

Setup at Americart:

1) In a separate window, load the Americart account configuration form.

2) In the "Mode Select" section of the configuration form, select "RECONFIGURE EXISTING CART", enter your cart-id and password, and click "Reconfigure My Cart!" to call up your present account settings. (Note that this assumes you have filled out the form once and have an account already).

3) Scroll to the "Checkout/Payment Options" section of the configuration form and check the checkbox for "By GoogleCheckout Online".

4) In the text box to the right of the checkbox in #3 above, enter your "Google Merchant ID" (from Google setup step 4 above). Be careful to make it match EXACTLY between Americart and Google.

5) In the next text box, enter your "Google Merchant Key" (from Google setup step 5 above), which must also match EXACTLY with your Google Key. In the future, if you change your Google Key, be sure to update your Americart configuration as well.

6) Scroll to the bottom of the page and submit the form to commit the changes.

Q:
Is there anything I need to do to my site besides the above steps?. They say on their web page that I need to have some lines of HTML added to my site, is this true if I'm using Americart, or is this an automatic process?

A:
You may disregard their comments about adding html code to your website. Americart handles all the interface to Google. All you need to do is follow the instructions in the question above. You may wish to add some Google "Acceptance" graphics to your website to let shoppers know you accept Google checkout. See this page for more detail: http://checkout.google.com/seller/acceptance_logos.html

Q:
What do you recommend we do as far as direct credit card acceptance and Google Checkout goes?

A:
We think you should offer both, but as Google Checkout becomes more universal, it may end up being the only card accptance solution you need.

Q:
Can I customize my Google checkout form?

A:
Not at this time. Google controls the process pretty tightly, to preserve the shopper's data privacy.