We REALLY appreciate that Kyle Harrison, Google Product Manager for Checkout, worked on a solution to the Google Checkout Affiliate Tracking problem and also thank him for taking the time to post about it to let us know over in this thread at the 5 Star forum. I saw the tracking solution posted on Matt Cutts blog earlier today too and also wanted to thank Matt for getting involved to help push for a resolution to this issue.

Matt Cutts: Pixel tracking in Google Checkout. Also from the Official Google Checkout Blog:

Merchant affiliate tracking features now live
Posted by Kyle Harrison, Product Manager

“Starting today, merchants will be able to use existing affiliate tracking and analytics tools for sales through Google Checkout. You can now include a pixel URL with parameters in the cart post and it will be included on the Checkout Thank You page. You’ll also be able to include placeholders for dynamic variables that will be populated before calling the URL.

For more details, refer to third-party conversion tracking in the Google Checkout API documentation.”

Thanks to all that helped make this happen in time for affiliates to capture some Holiday commissions through Checkout merchants!