Which online payment service has the best rates and features? I am looking for a possible alternative to PayPal.
Accepting credit card payments?
Miscellaneous Forums/General Discussion/Accepting credit card payments? I think Google has just started something for you guys in the states!
The best rates and the best features won't be found in the same provider. If you want the best rates, get a merchant account and you'll be paying around 5% or less, but you'll be paying monthly flat-fees and handling all the tricky stuff yourself. If you want the best features, get with Plimus or BMT Micro, but you'll be paying 10% for the features, like automatic key handling, fraud-protection, and all the other stuff.
It's hard to say which because you don't say what you want to improve on with PayPal, but largely you get what you pay for. If you want a lot of features, you'll be paying more than PayPal, and if you want lower rates, you'll be getting even less features than with PayPal.
It's hard to say which because you don't say what you want to improve on with PayPal, but largely you get what you pay for. If you want a lot of features, you'll be paying more than PayPal, and if you want lower rates, you'll be getting even less features than with PayPal.
Google checkout is 2% plus $0.20 per transaction. That beats PayPal's 2.9% plus $0.30.
Right, Google Checkout is barely more expensive than a merchant account, but you're not getting many more features than a merchant account either. Google Checkout won't ( or wouldn't last time I looked ) handle tax for you ( neither will PayPal for that matter, so I hope you've been paying tax on all your European purchases ;) )
On the plus side, Google is a name that most people trust, which has to be a good thing. Personally I want all the features, and I don't mind paying for them. I sure as heck don't want to be eating 17.5% on European orders because my payment processor can't handle it for me ( Losing 5% to Plimus seems a lot less paintful than 17.5% ) and having to administrate it all myself. But yeah, if you want all the administration and tax headaches for the lower prices, Google Checkout is probably a good deal, and not much more than a merchant account.
On the plus side, Google is a name that most people trust, which has to be a good thing. Personally I want all the features, and I don't mind paying for them. I sure as heck don't want to be eating 17.5% on European orders because my payment processor can't handle it for me ( Losing 5% to Plimus seems a lot less paintful than 17.5% ) and having to administrate it all myself. But yeah, if you want all the administration and tax headaches for the lower prices, Google Checkout is probably a good deal, and not much more than a merchant account.
I'll do them for you. Just send me all those credit card details as soon as possible - hurry!
Run it yourself?
That still requires a payment processor. That's why there's a dirty great list of them filling almost half of the page ;)
I never said it didn't? I'm sure Josh will figure that out when he reads it anyway.
http://www.2checkout.com/rates.htm
They are listed, and 5.5% isn't bad at all.
http://www.2checkout.com/rates.htm
They are listed, and 5.5% isn't bad at all.
I never said it didn't? I'm sure Josh will figure that out when he reads it anyway.
Oh sorry, I misunderstood. When you said "do it yourself", I didn't realize you mean get someone else to do it.
www.2checkout.com/rates.htm
They are listed, and 5.5% isn't bad at all.
They are listed, and 5.5% isn't bad at all.
What features do they offer over PayPal and Google Checkout, which Josh already identified as being
Google checkout is 2% plus $0.20 per transaction. That beats PayPal's 2.9% plus $0.30.
So let me get this staight paypal and google won't add on 17.5% for people in Europe to cover my VAT liabilities? That stinks...But Plimus will...
I've used Authorize.net for years... just be careful shopping around looking for deals. I ended up with a 2 yr contract that was limited to selling a very specific merchandise and they wouldn't accept other types of goods. Big lesson!
Be sure you spell out everything that you intend on processing in your initial contract.
Be sure you spell out everything that you intend on processing in your initial contract.
I've used both Plimus and BMT Micro, and they're both good and user-friendly.