posted on October 7, 2000 10:37:51 AM new
Are there *ANY* services out there anyplace - short of opening a merchant account - that offer a credit card shopping cart arrangement?
Please don't suggest I wait for Paypal...based on recent events, I'm through with them!
posted on October 7, 2000 01:04:37 PM new
Option #1
www.ccnow.com
They do have a full shopping cart feature, accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. The downside to their service is the service charge: a whopping 9% (8% in Novenber and December). The shopping cart is nice, however. And you can sell internationally if you choose. You can even integrate their shopping cart with the affiliate programs, etc. But then again, you could wait for paypal!!! Just kidding.
Regarding the 9% fee, here are my thoughts: In the age of "free forever" services, any percentage seems outrageous. BUT---the cost of a real merchant account, secure site for order entry, etc. can get pretty steep as a percentage of sales if you don't do a tremendous volume. Monthly statement fees start to really add up if you don't watch out. I had calculated that CCNOW was better for me as long as I was under $1500 or so in monthly sales. Anything greater and I would have bitten the bullet and gone with a true merchant account.
Option #2
www.propay.com integrated with freemerchant.com or bigstep.com
ProPay carries a smaller fee, 3.5% + $0.35 per transaction, but is more work to set up, in my opinion. The upside with ProPay is that they allow you to process credit cards in a variety of ways. You could, for example, accept credit cards at a trade show, or a garage sale. With CCNOW, they require that the customer enter the credit card info personally. You get in big trouble if they find that you are doing it! ProPay has no such restrictions. By setting up a shopping cart with BigStep.com or FreeMerchant.com, you can capture credit card information securely and process it through ProPay. I'd be happy to answer any other questions that you might have about this subject...as I am in the middle of writing a book about e-commerce for very small businesses. I have done a fair amount of research, so ask away!
posted on October 7, 2000 01:33:16 PM new
I've been with ccnow for about a year or so and I really like the shopping cart feature.
I find it quite easy to use, set up and modify (if needed)
I too have been looking around for alternatives with 9% quite a profit eater. But you know free & low percentage cc sites just have me sitting at the computer most of the day wondering what's next. I'm not getting anything done.
I got hooked up with wecharge...(ACK yes have pity Big mistake) If you're not familar don't ask! Your better off.
Then I went to ccnow. Paypal looked great after paying 9% all the time. But now I'm thinking that old saying "you get what you pay for...." I don't need to be in limbo with the holidays coming.
posted on October 7, 2000 05:37:14 PM new
myoffice free web site that offers a shopping cart and lot more they even pay you money to sign up and pay you referal fees as well.
down fall is to activate many of there best features you must call them during normal business hours to activate the best features includeing shopping cart and free ISP .
WWW.dman-n-company.com
Big mistake) If you're not familar don't ask! Your better off.