posted on January 8, 2002 02:42:07 PM new
I'm stuck in the seemingly endless dilemma of what to do with accepting credit card payments. I haven't started to sell yet, but will be offering med/hi-end antique items ($400-600 range). I hear 6 of one, half a dozen of pro/cons for each company. In my price range, what will work best? I'm worried about charge backs, having my bank account raided, etc....take only checks/MOs? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!
posted on January 8, 2002 03:04:16 PM new
nanbug, you will hear horror stories about all of the payment methods but if you are an honest seller with great descriptions you will be fine.
I used billpoint and enjoyed it until Ebay decided to make it the only online payment option in the check out process - don't like being told what I have to use, so I cancelled my account with them. They didn't seem to notice.
Paypal is my favorite and contrary to what you hear, they have mega satisfied customers. You only hear a one sided story from a small minority of users - at least in my experience CS at Paypal has always helped iron out the small wrinkles I've come across.
C2it, is not my choice because I don't like Citibank because of an issue I had with them years ago - I hold a grudge
You are afraid of getting your bank account raided? No one can raid your bank account but if you are afraid of a chargeback coming out of that account, set up a different account to accept your CC payments.
Large ticket items should have some form of CC payment available. Charge backs are don't occur often and you do get a chance to defend yourself.
Many say offer all the choices out there - and there is nothing wrong with that either.
posted on January 8, 2002 05:28:30 PM new
i hope you know your antiques,400 and up prices,you would be selling to collectors as well as dealers.
misrepresentation can get you in hot water with these guys,they would be looking for some kind of protection,if not credit card then escrow.
posted on January 8, 2002 07:13:44 PM new
Remember the customer likes convenience, and if you want bidding and good prices, you must have as many people as possible participating. Not including Billpoint or Paypal will discourage a goodly percentage of bidders, both for the reasons previously mentioned, and because they enable buyers to be impulsive.
Being in business has risks and expenses whether you are a dollar store or a high priced specialist. At minimum I would use one of them, and probably Billpoint so you can take advantage of Checkout. Lately Billpoint has been growing, while Paypal has been stagnant as a percentage of my sales.
It is a good question you have asked, you will sure get a lot of different experiences and opinions to base your decisions on.
posted on January 9, 2002 02:40:58 AM new
I have been using Paypal since it started and I think it is great. I use it exclusivly to get my 1.5% rebate on fees.
posted on January 9, 2002 07:03:57 AM new
nanbug, I use Billpoint and Paypal and never had a problem. I'll probably start taking C2it if I feel it's getting used by enough people, but for now I think two options to pay by credit card are enough - but at least one credit card payment method should be offered.
BidPay is a different type of service entirely - buyers pay $5 to have a Western Union money order sent to them, there's no charge to the seller. This is used mostly by foreign buyers, and I've noticed much fewer people using it since PP and BP have gone international.
bestattic - Billpoint is not the only payment option offered through Checkout, at least not anymore. I get a lot of customers that use the checkout feature, but then get an email telling me that they will be paying through the mail or with another payment option (meaning Paypal). Checkout may be a tool to get buyers to use Billpoint, but I haven't noticed any overall increase in my Billpoint sales since offering Checkout, even though a lot of buyers use it.
posted on January 9, 2002 01:59:41 PM new
Thank you all so much for the great advice! This message center has been an enormous help to me, and I really appreciate you all taking the time to reply!
posted on January 10, 2002 10:10:20 AM new
One thing about c2it: You don't get an email telling you that someone has sent you money. I had one customer use it and he emailed about a week later wondering if his item had been shipped. I went to the c2it website and there was his payment. So now I have to check periodically to see if I have money.
