Quote Originally Posted by Justwade View Post
Woody, thank you for asking many questions on my mind and many others. As you may have noticed, there is over 10,400 page views on this thread.

I too would like to see the instant download feature that is built into Zen Cart utilized.

I can only assume there is a large group still holding back from installing this mod. I know I am. But for those who have a working set up, or just those in the know, could you tell me (us) if our Terms and Conditions, or a Privacy statement can be regulated in this Google Checkout system? Maybe on the Google site?
Hi Justwade:

Not sure if I understand. Can you explain what is meant by "regulated"? Are you asking if Google can regulate the language you put into your ZC shops TOS/Priv Stmt? Or are you asking if the mod will be eventually developed to support the current Zen Cart function which can be enabled to "force" buyers to read/agree to your shops TOS/Priv Stmt, before check out? If it is the last question I ssee someone else recently posted this same question but I did not see a response.

I really don't know enough about this mod to explain it's feature support and/or limitations. I'm not a pro developer and have not been as successful as others whom have posted in this thread on getting the most current GCO for ZC mod to work successfully.

Anyone know if this GCO for ZC mod dev effort is Google financed (in whole or in part) or if it is a completely independent 'volunteer' dev project? Whichever it is, I do appreciate the effort of everyone working on developing the mod.

It would be good thing to see the dev group post a 'roadmap', listing the Zen Cart features/functionality the GCO for ZC mod supports in its current form (or is suppose to), which specific feature support is soon planned, and which functions are further off in time, and which features will not likely see the night of day.

I think many Zen Cart store-owners/admins like me may have jumped to quickly to a conclusion that this GCO for ZC mod will eventually (sooner) support most of the same functionality/feature set supported by the PayPal IPN mod code bundled with Zen Cart. But now I'm finding that conclusion circumspect.

Regards if the GCO TOS disallows the combination of checkout methods, the reason for this limitation is not understood. If the GCO mod developers are Google financed then I presume they have to develop the mod in such a way that it will not support any potential violation of the GCO TOS (kind of like Google Search in China cannot violate Chinese government edict). However I would think other developers can do what they want, in developing a GCO mod for ZC, allowing it to be used with the standard zen cart checkout system. Or does the license bundled with the GCO mod code base provided Google which the mod developers are building upon, contain limitations on how the code can be further 'enhanced'. At any rate beware that it will possibly come back on the store-owner if the mod is being 'utilized' in such a way that violates the GCO TOS.

Myself I don't understand the reason behind the GCO mod checkout limitation. (I suspect once the GCO service matures, the faster Google can get your customers to the Goggle site the more Google Ads will be observed by your customers). But GCO not supportiing the standard Zen cart checkout system will likely decrease the adoption of Google Checkout by small volume Zen Cart storeowners, once the limitations are publicly espoused upon. However as suggested it may be that Google has a much bigger goal in mind in regards to the fundamentals behind GCO service, and satisfying the needs of little ol shopowners like us is not a high priority. But I hope that I am wrong as it was it my wish that GCO would become a viable competitor to PayPal, in the mom and pop shop cart online payments system industry.

With all the effort thats going in to the GCO PR campaign, it's amazing the amount of vagueness/ambiguity that still exists surrounding the GSO service.

As qhome previously stated in this thread, the current version of the GCO for ZC mod needs more time in the oven. And Isaac stated the mod is still very much beta. I think it should be promoted upfront as such. Ropu reported above he is now lead on the mod dev project and for us all to expect a new version soon (I presume the update will be an upgrade of current v1.04.). With that I suggest holding off installing the mod, until it is more reliable/functional, until more complete Zen Cart support is implemented, and a more thorough report of the pros and cons of both the GCO for ZC mod, and the GCO service in general, are reported on. That is unless you want to be a beta tester ;-)

To sum up I'm certain most ZC shop-owners, before signing up for a GCO merchant account and before installing the GCO for ZC mod, would appreciate a report of what the GCO for ZC mod will and will not do. Just a little communication could prevent much frustration for ZC shopowners.

But look at me, I missed reading the readme ;-)

Woody