Are you a merchant? Are you using Google Checkout? If you are, you have every reason to be happy with Google this holiday season.

Google is offering free processing of all of its merchants' Google Checkout sales during the holidays. As the holiday is on, all Google Checkout merchants will be receiving free processing for all of their Checkout sales, regardless of whether or not they use AdWords from November 8 through December 31, 2006.

It means that for every $1 you spend on AdWords, you can process $10 of Google Checkout sales for free. The free processing offer is available to all the merchants using Google Checkout through the end of 2006. If you don't currently use Checkout, don't worry— the new Checkout merchants are also eligible for this offer as well. You can sign up now.

Here are the glimpses of benefits that you’ll get from the offer.

• Google will process all of your Checkout transactions for free, even if you aren't an AdWords advertiser. If you're already an AdWords advertiser, we'll process your Checkout transactions for free regardless of what you spend on AdWords.
• Valid Checkout orders you receive during the promotion will automatically qualify.
• There's no limit: Google will be processing all of your Checkout sales for free.
• You can take full advantage of this promotion by encouraging your buyers to use Google Checkout on your site.

It’s important to note here that the standard transaction fee will apply again on January 1, 2007 onwards.