As for why to buy from merchants, if you’re buying, say, a $200 custom something-or-other, compare the Paypal vs Google Checkout fees for them. I don’t remember the exact percentages, but it’s about $3 difference, if I recall correctly. That’s a lotta money being saved over the entire internet… and it’ll be “saved” away from Paypal.

As a teeny-tiny blogger about to offer my first standing inventory online (as opposed to Ebay sales, and direct boardgame trades), I’m already hip deep in Google for email and AdSense, so why not jump in? I know Google knows how to produce a well-engineered signup and startup experience, and my one question so far that wasn’t in the FAQ was answered quickly via email.

Paypal’s okay, and I have some money in their money-market account; nevertheless, their fees are just enough higher to be perceived as pain.