Accepting credit cards

[Baracuda]

I have never needed to be able to accept credit cards on my websites before. I haven't any clue where to begin. Where can I find information on this such as how to set it up and where I could find either the programs and/or companies to deal with? How do I know if the company is any good?

[paulselhi]

paypal is probably the best known, www.paypal.com

[rancher]

Some things to give thought to:
Will you be doing the charges? or do you want someone else
to handle that?
Check with your current bank to see what they have to offer.
Are you going to use a 'shopping cart' system - like Amazon?
How many charges do you estimate per month and the value?

I've had my credit card account for nearly 10 years through my bank. I do the actual charges 'inhouse'. Guess I'm old school, but like having the control and it's a very small business.

Rancher

[Soul-Haven]

I'm curious about this, too, because a local band that I am webmaster/promoter for has been thinking about multiple ways to make it easier for people to purchase CDs/merchandise online.

Any further help that anyone can give on Credit Card transactions, etc. would be very helpful to me.

Thanks! :)

Eric

[paulselhi]

there are many ways to accept credit cards online ,you generally need a merchant account, can be tricky to set up, your bank will advise on this. else use something like paypal it is probably the simplest and quickest way to start

see www.paypal.com

[Trinity]

Originally posted by Baracuda
I have never needed to be able to accept credit cards on my websites before. I haven't any clue where to begin. Where can I find information on this such as how to set it up and where I could find either the programs and/or companies to deal with? How do I know if the company is any good?

HI,

Ok heres what I did.... They are called Merchant Accounts. Any company that lets you process visa will charge a monthly fee. Many are very expensive.

I use this.
http://www.merchantanywhere.com

They charge me $25.00 a month and a percentage on the cards. Each card has to get there cut you know. *snicker*

The store program I use is this.
http://www.turnkeywebtools.com/

Now the reason I use this store is because I had problems with users hitting buttons to much. You can have it so it automatically bills credit card. Instead the store saves the information so I can do it manually. This is the user hits the button to much it stops at my stores and I can fix it.

If you charge a persons credit card like 10 times because they hit the button to many times it is your fault. Also if you get returns you better to cut a check then to credit a card. They get upset with to many returns.

Have any other questions just email me webmaster@northborder.com I can point you in the right direction. Been doing this for a while now. I have down pat.

[KimmiKat]

Baracuda,

Another CC processing outfit to check out would be Pay Systems (http://www.paysystems.com). I have seen it in action a few times and it can be customized to match your site.

[gramps59]

I just got this info from Steve on another thread. I have purused the site and it looks like the best solution for small business. I am going to use PayPal as well.
www.2checkout.com
Gramps59

[Croc Hunter]

These guys are popular, free, and provide a support forum.
http://www.oscommerce.com/

[gramps59]

Hey Croc,
Thanks for the URL. I now have a bunch more reading to do.
Gramps59

[Trinity]

Originally posted by Croc Hunter
These guys are popular, free, and provide a support forum.
http://www.oscommerce.com/

This is just a open source store program correct? They don't take credit cards and process correct?

[gramps59]

Hi Trinity,
After a brief glance I agree that they don't take credit cards.
I think that www.2checkout.com is the best thing I have found so far.
Gramps59

[Trinity]

Originally posted by gramps59
Hi Trinity,
After a brief glance I agree that they don't take credit cards.
I think that www.2checkout.com is the best thing I have found so far.
Gramps59

2checkout is the best way to go but there are draw backs.

For example I am setting up a new site called
http://www.equine-ads.com This site is a horse classifieds. 2 checkout works great for this because I never run out of product. its just ads.

Now my other site northborder.com where I sell Mad Bomber hats I run out of stock all the time. With 2 checkout I would have to remove the urls. Being I enter the customers info by hand with my merchant I can control many things.

1. If I run out of stock I can hold customer order and wait for stock to arrive. If customer cancels I simply delete or being I never did process the order.

2. Many times customer hits the button 30 times. I end up with 30 charges sitting in my store from the same person. Being I enter the sale by hand this did not go thru the merchant. Knock on wood.... they dont like this.

2checkout is perfect if you have the stock all the time. If you run out it can turn into work. Depends on the type of store your running.

[Croc Hunter]

Originally posted by gramps59
Hey Croc,
Thanks for the URL. I now have a bunch more reading to do.
Gramps59
Sorry Gramps, my post was for the thread starter 'Baracuda' I'd agree with Paulselhi the best merchant account is through Paypal.com contact your bank for you'll still have plenty of reading to do don't rush into anything. ;)

[gramps59]

2checkout is perfect if you have the stock all the time. If you run out it can turn into work. Depends on the type of store your running.


__________________
http://www.northborder.com
----- Home Of The Best Prices On Mad Bombers---

Hi Trinity thanks for the heads up on the drawbacks of www.2checkout.com. I think I will give it a go since I don't anticipate having an out of stock problem.

Hey Croc,
I appreciate your help
Gramps59

[stevel]

It seemed to me that 2checkout.com was significantly more expensive than PayPal, but had the advantage that it didn't require buyers to register, as PayPal does.

[gramps59]

Hi Steve,
You are right and with our fickle surfers we don't want them to have to do two functions when one will do.
I have looked for a long time and I think the $9.00 one time fee and the 5.5% charge are reasonable for what we get. I expect toi sign up tonight so I will see how user friendly they are.
Gramps59