Accepting payment online

Amatheya81

Hi,
I'm about to start selling greetings cards on my website again. Previously I've used Paypal shopping cart to accept payments but I was wondering if anyone knows of a cheaper alternative.
Tanks

chalkie99

I don't think there is much cheaper than PayPal if you are selling only a small amount. Google Checkout started off cheaper but quickly raised their prices to match PayPal.

The only alternative I can think of is NoChex which seems to be charging 2.9$ + 20p as opposed to 3.4% + 20p for the others. Our experience though is that our customers never used NoChex!

patman99

If you offer Nochex along with Paypal, try giving a 0.5% discount for paying with Nochex.
Having been a customer of both services for a few years, I can safely say Nochex attitude to customer service and security is lightyears ahead of Paypal, but due to Paypal's tie-in to Ebay, nearly everyone uses it as it is familiar to them.
Even services such as RBSWorldpay or NatWest Slipstream have a charging structure.

texranger

chalkie99 wrote: »

I don't think there is much cheaper than PayPal if you are selling only a small amount. Google Checkout started off cheaper but quickly raised their prices to match PayPal.

The only alternative I can think of is NoChex which seems to be charging 2.9$ + 20p as opposed to 3.4% + 20p for the others. Our experience though is that our customers never used NoChex!

one problem i found with nochex when i offered then as a payment provider is that if no one uses them in a certain period then they will close your account. I am not sure if they have changed this, but not used them since.

soolin

If these are low cost items then open a paypal micro account as the fees are much lower.

chunkychocky

From current experience whichever option you select make sure it is one where customers will be entering their card details on say PayPal's website and not on yours. The PCI Compliance Self-Assessment Questionnaire C which you have to complete if you have them entering card details on your own site is quite lengthy and unless you are a tech freak then totally incomprehensible. The SAQ A which you'd have to complete if they enter the card details on the card processor's site is only one page so much, much simpler. You will require a scan of your site anyway regardless to check that it isn't open to fraudsters.

gazfocus

We use Nochex over PayPal because customers don't have to register with Nochex to use it. Your customer places an order on your website, goes to checkout and then is directed to Nochex's website to enter card details and that's it. Also, as others have said, their fees are slightly lower than PayPal/Google Checkout.

We're currently looking into setting up a merchant account with our bank though because we want to be able to offer low value transactions (of around £1) so 2.9% +20p would mean we'd lose 23p from every £1 transaction.

chunkychocky

gazfocus wrote: »

We use Nochex over PayPal because customers don't have to register with Nochex to use it. Your customer places an order on your website, goes to checkout and then is directed to Nochex's website to enter card details and that's it. Also, as others have said, their fees are slightly lower than PayPal/Google Checkout.

We're currently looking into setting up a merchant account with our bank though because we want to be able to offer low value transactions (of around £1) so 2.9% +20p would mean we'd lose 23p from every £1 transaction.

Customers don't have to register with PayPal either. You can pay using debit card, credit card or PayPal account. Their fees are higher, but then you don't have to keep a minimum balance in your account and you get your fees reimbursed when you process a refund so it six of one and half a dozen of the other.

VSC

I currently use Paypal and Google Checkout on all my sites. Previously I included Nochex but hardly anyone used them and I found their TOS and customer service ... unhelpful.
I also always offer cheque / postal order options.

Generally Paypal gets used 60%; GC 37%; Cheques 3%.

Al1x

I had both paypal and nochex on our website but after 2 years no one had paid via nochex so i removed it.

oldoakey

Try total solutions they charge £10 per month which includes 300 transactions. There rates are reasonable and i think you can start without the need for a business merchant account.