14 DAY TRIAL // Google is debuting an interesting program for online store, albeit in a very limited beta. With Google Trusted Stores, shoppers will have Google's guarantee that the store they're browsing will deliver their purchases with no issues and on time.
If the store fails to deliver, Google will work to fix the problem and even offers a $1,000 purchase protection guarantee.
"Today we’re announcing the launch of Google Trusted Stores, a new pilot program that helps shoppers identify online merchants that offer a great shopping experience," Tom Fallows, Group Product Manager in the Google Commerce Team, announced.
The project is still in the very early stages, so Google is only working with a handful of online stores. It's also testing to see what works and what doesn't, so there could be bugs or things changing during this phase.
"The Google Trusted Store badge is awarded to e-commerce sites that demonstrate a track record of on-time shipping and excellent customer service," Google explained.
"When visiting a qualifying store, shoppers can hover over the Google Trusted Store badge and see metrics on the store’s shipping and customer service performance," it said.
Stores that want to participate in the program can apply with Google, but the test is very limited for the time being. The ones that do get accepted will have to supply Google with shipping information.
Customers, when facing a problem, then have the choice of contacting Google, if contacting the store fails, and ask for help. Google will use the data it gathers along with its direct connections to the store to try to resolve the issue.
It's unclear what is Google's gain in all of this. The program is linked to its payments business, Google Checkout, but there's no direct integration. However, Google says it's too early to know how it will tie in Trusted Stores with its other products, especially advertising, or whether it will do it.
