Would like all "real world" opinions on online checkout systems.

social_entrepreneur

I'd like to know, just what all your opinions are on the various forms of payment checkouts available online.
I have Paypal and Google checkout on my auction site, I'd be very interested to hear all thoughts as to the pros and cons of the aforementioned, as well as a recommendations you may have for other online checkout systems.

frivolous_fay

I understand paypal but I haven't used google and don't know what protection it affords a buyer.

I'm guessing a CC merchant account is out of the question?

social_entrepreneur

frivolous_fay wrote: »

I understand paypal but I haven't used google and don't know what protection it affords a buyer.

I'm guessing a CC merchant account is out of the question?

I think someone with hard-nosed, real world experience, should produce an exposay on the relative merits of all the checkout merchants.

ArmitageShanks

social_entrepreneur wrote: »

I think someone with hard-nosed, real world experience, should produce an exposay on the relative merits of all the checkout merchants.

I don't think an expose would really be necessary, the relative merits and demerits are well exposed as it is.

So you're starting an auction site? If so I see we're starting at the very bottom.....

social_entrepreneur

ArmitageShanks wrote: »

I don't think an expose would really be necessary, the relative merits and demerits are well exposed as it is.

So you're starting an auction site? If so I see we're starting at the very bottom.....

My auction site has been 18 months in the design and making, goes live this month, it has been online for testing for just 8 weeks,and had over 250,000 visits.
I've done a lot of homework regarding payment gateways. You find people do not like change, hence the use of Paypal. Google checkout are good, if you take up the free adwords percentages than come with its use.
I only joined this forum today.I've found the threads to be most useful.
Thought I'd ask for a few opinions on here.

frivolous_fay

Oh... Amazon have a good system. Get that one

soolin

So what is your niche market?

No one is going to enter the market and take on ebay, ebid have been trying for years with no real success and if they can't do it no one can. Or look at Tazbar, they even paid for National TV advertising yet who is actually still using them?

Only small specialist auctions with a small niche market that appeals to a dedicated set of buyers and sellers is likely to suceed in this climate. We get maybe 2 or 3 new auction sites advertised here every month, which are removed of course as MSE does not allow advertising for personal gain, most of those auctions struggle on for a month or two and then are never heard of again. What will make yours stand out from all the rest, why will you be better than ebay or even comparable? You can't do it on fees alone, ebid have proved that, so what is your unique point that makes you different? I think there is room for some other good auction sites, I can see a potential for instance on a dedicated parent and baby type model as informal selling on various mother and baby groups is quite well established. Also look at Amazon, they are pretty much the place to buy and sell books now with ebay I fear falling behind.

social_entrepreneur

soolin wrote: »

So what is your niche market?

No one is going to enter the market and take on ebay, ebid have been trying for years with no real success and if they can't do it no one can. Or look at Tazbar, they even paid for National TV advertising yet who is actually still using them?

Only small specialist auctions with a small niche market that appeals to a dedicated set of buyers and sellers is likely to suceed in this climate. We get maybe 2 or 3 new auction sites advertised here every month, which are removed of course as MSE does not allow advertising for personal gain, most of those auctions struggle on for a month or two and then are never heard of again. What will make yours stand out from all the rest, why will you be better than ebay or even comparable? You can't do it on fees alone, ebid have proved that, so what is you runique point that makes you different? I think there is room for some other good auction sites, I can see a potential for instance on a dedicated parent and baby type model as informal selling on various mother and baby groups is quite well established.

I sent you a P.M. a few hours ago.

soolin

To answer your specific question though as a seller I would probably prefer to use Paypal or if buyers would agree, a bank transfer. As a buyer I woul donly ever use paypal.

I wouldn't touch google checkout at all any more as I used it once and found to my cost that there is no buyer protection at all, and that is not for me.

social_entrepreneur

soolin wrote: »

So what is your niche market?

No one is going to enter the market and take on ebay, ebid have been trying for years with no real success and if they can't do it no one can. Or look at Tazbar, they even paid for National TV advertising yet who is actually still using them?

Only small specialist auctions with a small niche market that appeals to a dedicated set of buyers and sellers is likely to suceed in this climate. We get maybe 2 or 3 new auction sites advertised here every month, which are removed of course as MSE does not allow advertising for personal gain, most of those auctions struggle on for a month or two and then are never heard of again. What will make yours stand out from all the rest, why will you be better than ebay or even comparable? You can't do it on fees alone, ebid have proved that, so what is your unique point that makes you different? I think there is room for some other good auction sites, I can see a potential for instance on a dedicated parent and baby type model as informal selling on various mother and baby groups is quite well established. Also look at Amazon, they are pretty much the place to buy and sell books now with ebay I fear falling behind.

I've read the above.
First and foremost I do not wish to take on eBay.I couldn't care less about them. What I do care about is social change. I have designed my site to hopefully produce social change for both seller and buyer.Soolin, I did P.M. you today regarding this.

soolin

social_entrepreneur wrote: »

I've read the above.
First and foremost I do not wish to take on eBay.I couldn't care less about them. What I do care about is social change. I have designed my site to hopefully produce social change for both seller and buyer.Soolin, I did P.M. you today regarding this.

As it was a private message I have responded privately, for public messages and for general thoughts I respond on here.

I'm not sure though that I fully understand the concept behind an auction being termed 'social change'?