Paypal

[Hedgehog Toys]

Just curious about checkout sytems.

Do you consider Nochex and Paypal to be as 'trustworthy' as say Protx and Worldpay. I mean if you are a web designer or ecommerce owner then maybe you would be concerned but if you are just the man in the street would you really have any idea if one ws better than the other as long as you got your stuff at the end of the day?

[Toon]

I have more chargeback claims through payments taken via Protx than I do through Paypal!

[leemason]

We use paypal and I was thinking of changing it but speaking to some of our customers I don't think that it makes that much difference to them. In fact with some people because they probably already know the name from ebay they seem happier with it than with something they've never heard of. I think it's only people in the know who see it as a bit tacky...

[Hedgehog Toys]

Yeah, that was my point. It only seems to matter if you are fully aware of payment processors.

[DuaneJackson]

I've always said "don't use paypal, it looks unprofessional!" in every situation.

But my opinion has changed recently as I've realised that what you say is true - it's mainly only those "in the know" that think like this. With paypal being well know because of eBay, I don't think it's such a bad option.

Duane

[Hedgehog Toys]

They also have a pro merchant version now which seems to be much more business looking.

[Coding Monkey]

You can use PayPal to be integrated onto your website so that it's not actually obvious you're using it. And their rates are cheap.

I remember a study that found if offered the opportunity to pay onsite or using PayPal, 12% of people chose PayPal, whereas everyone else paid on the site. I'd never say people don't trust PayPal, but it looks a lot less professional to have logos everywhere, such as with WorldPay, when you go to purchase something. To keep consistency with the purchasing experience, you need to make sure your site complies to their standards, rather than the other way around.

[mattk]

As a consumer I would try PayPal more than any other system, basically because I have used it so much and never had any problems.

[.Spiralling.]

If given a choice between two companies selling the same thing, one of which takes pay Paypal whilst the other doesn't, I will usually choose the one with Paypal. I find it more convenient, especially because I usually have some cash in my paypal account.

I take paypal on my site, have taken it on ebay for a few years. I have never had a chargeback, or any problem with them, either as a seller or a buyer.

On the otherhand, I had a Nochex account quite a time ago. I'd used it for selling and there was about £10 in it. When I logged back in to use the money (after a substantial period of time) I found that Noches had taken the money for themselves, stating that I had been charged for being inactive. Bloody cheek!

[weddingcrafter]

I've found that PayPal is becoming more and more popular on our website.

When we started out it was our only option and I planned to drop it when I got the merchant account. That was 2 years ago and I have kept PayPal going as we have a significant number of regular customers who like to use it.

I also noted that a number of other sites were adding it as an option. I wouldn't recommend it as the only option, but it is becoming more and more acceptable.

[asonda]

PayPal is a winner. They're a huge company, aimed at the masses, which means smaller rates/transaction fees.

PayPal doesn't look unprofessional as everybody I speak to, day in and day out, always KNOW that PayPal is secure.

It speaks for itself, I deal with a certain supplier that uses PayPal, When people pay Via PayPal, I can instantly use that money to buy from the supplier!!

It is the future!

[Eagle]

PayPal = Win! :cool:

[Boutique To You]

We offer both Paypal and Worldpay.

We had Worldpay first and then my web guy suggested we add Paypal as so many people already had accounts because of eBay.

I'm glad we did .. some days all our sales are paid for using it .. and you can get your hands on your money a lot quicker !

Sharon

[puresilva]

Just some thoughts here....a lot I've learnt along the way, the hard way!

As awkward and troublesome as this might be to a lot of website owners: give your customers a choice. For example, give them a choice to use PayPal, Protx - and even offline methods such as by Cheque/BACS etc.

Most people go by familiarity, so providers like PayPal score highly there. Others don't like the free providers and want something that would require a merchant account like Protx. Others won't even use a credit card online (yes, they are a sizable minority). A lot of shopping baskets are abandoned because there may be only one method of payment, and the shopper is put off because it's not something they're comfortable with.

Also, don't ask your shoppers for their details before letting them know how they can pay. Alot of people won't bother giving their address, phone number etc just to find out how to pay for their items.

[DuaneJackson]

We've recently dropped cheque payments as an option from one of our sites. Last year 67% of people that elected to pay by cheque never got around to sending it.

[Hedgehog Toys]

I think cheque payments are a pain, there is obviously the time taken for it to clear and the time taken to send it back to the customer is anything is wrong with the cheque etc.
I have noticed most petrol stations now refuse payment by cheque.

[puresilva]

No doubt that payment by cheque suits only a small minority, but if you have a policy of "no cleared funds, no goods sent out / services called into action" then you can't lose. Once a cheque clears, you change the status of the order to paid, and it can be actioned. Some of our customers (i.e. e-commerce website owners) enable payment by cheque, some don't. Some enable BACS payment too, some don't. The point is to give customers a choice of payment - even if these choices are all online payments like WorldPay and PayPal.

I realise appropriate methods of payment do depend on the goods/services for sale.

[thegateways]

Yea paypal is one of the best choice, I think for better catering you may wish to use one more processor including paypal, check this archive of payment processor with their real time solution price;
http://www.litecommerce.com/payment_gateways.html

[She Says]

I think Paypal is iimproving its reputation even amongst 'those in the know'. Big sites like Napster, Ebuyer, Allposters and more are now offering paypal. You have to assume they know a thing or two...

[Carl-CSNM]

Boots now accept PayPal along with ebuyer.com

If it's good enough for Boots it's good enough for anyone. ;)

[Hedgehog Toys]

Apart from me.....I'm sticking with Nochex :)

[Carl-CSNM]

Apart from me.....I'm sticking with Nochex :)

Do any of your products exceed £100?

[Afaia]

This is interesting.
I've used Paypal for quite a few years but always intended to upgrade to a 'proper' credit card system eventually.
Now, from what's been said, it looks as if maybe I'm as well to stick to Paypal.
Most of our customers pay by EFT but those in the US like to use their cards.

[Eagle]

Boots now accept PayPal along with ebuyer.com

If it's good enough for Boots it's good enough for anyone. ;)
Not doubting you but is there a link to that? I couldn't find it anywhere on the Boots' site. :)

[Carl-CSNM]

Not doubting you but is there a link to that? I couldn't find it anywhere on the Boots' site. :)

There is an advert inside PayPal when you login
https://securepics.ebaystatic.com/paypal/site/uk/bigb_boots_150x100.gif

When you go to the Boots checkout it's there. :)

[Eagle]

Thanks, Carl.

Oh well, all the big brands together. ;)

[Carl-CSNM]

It won't belong for the likes of Tesco, Sainsburys start accepting it. ;)

[puresilva]

Just wait til Boots get their account frozen because one of their customers tried to buy something with a stolen card :D

I wonder if this has happened to larger companies? I've heard a lot of horror stories on PayPalSucks.com.

I still recommend PayPal to everyone simply because so many people use it - I'd still have an alternative payment method alongside it though. Here's hoping Google Checkout takes a bite out of their market in the future (competition is always good!).

[sophiegong]

Is that really a good way for pay?

[Hedgehog Toys]

Yes Carl alot of my products exceed £100 but I am in the process of upgrading to the merchant account :)

[coultog]

I state all payments under £100 should go through NOCHEX, all payments over £100 and international payments should go through PayPal and we also accept cheque's.

We still get the odd person paying with PayPal for items below £100, but that's fine.

PayPal is definitely changing, if you check rewardsonline.co.uk you'll see an impressive list of large high street name's taking PayPal such as, Tesco's, John Lewis, Toys R Us, HMV, Woolworths and Dixons.

[Eagle]

Do they accept PayPal directly though - or just through rewardsonline?...

[coultog]

I would imagine they accept PayPal... Why would PayPal offer rewards for a company not taking PayPal?

[CottageCooks]

I've always used paypal as well as taking cheques. I agree that some cheques never arrive but customers still want that option.
I did have a customer complain last year that he didn't want to be forced into using his paypal account to pay for goods but now people often have multiple e mail addresses, they can go through the paypal system (providing they're not using their paypal log in e mail) and pay by credit or debit card.
With the payments pro system, it's all integrated and seems to work really well. They even offer a virtual swipe system which for a small business like mine, with no physical shop, is great. I can still take card payments over the phone (on the rare occasion I'm asked) and don't have to pay the expense to my bank.....I did initially want to set card processing through my bank but they took so long sending out the paperwork, that I decided to stick with paypal!
There can be problems though over the weekends when the world and his wife are on e bay - the system can get clogged but this hasn't happened for ages now.
Dani

[Carl-CSNM]

Do they accept PayPal directly though - or just through rewardsonline?...

Just for you Eagle... ;)

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5415/bootshd5.jpg

[Eagle]

Excellent, thanks.

Just as soon as Amazon accept it, they'll be sorted too.

Now, where's my 'Told You So' t-shirt?... ;)

[Carl-CSNM]

Excellent, thanks.

Just as soon as Amazon accept it, they'll be sorted too.

Now, where's my 'Told You So' t-shirt?... ;)

See Sharon at SheSaysHeSays :D

I've always agreed with you about PayPal :)

[Bev]

Hi Hedgehog
We use paypal and have no problems.

[gilesmay]

PayPal is expensive, why does no one register this? Who pays less than 1.1% with paypal? None of my clients do, so why would anyone use PayPal.

Please let me know your thoughts so I can present a more balanced view to my clients.

thanks

[gilesmay]

PayPal is expensive, why does no one register this? Who pays less than 1.1% with paypal? Not one of my clients with a merchant account pay anymore, so why would anyone use PayPal.

Please let me know your thoughts so I can present a more balanced view to my clients.

thanks

[Peach]

I've just changed my payment system on my website away from Paypal because customers were having problems. AND
I've just paid my membership today, here at UKBF. The payment system is Paypal. I didn't want to use my Paypal account but because it recognised my email addresses as having one (I tried 2) it didn't want to let me just pay without using my account. I blanked the email address out and it let me enter my card details but because Paypal requires an email address at the end anyway it wouldn't let me complete my transaction using one of these email addresses (a problem I had with one of my customers when she phoned me up trying to get her payment through). I had to use my husbands email address to proceed. Exactly my point why I moved away from Paypal. It's ok if you want to use Paypal but if you really don't want to open an account it's not very straight forward. I give it the thumbs down I'm afraid.

[markpadam]

Our site currently accepts PayPal, Nochex, Credit Card, Telephone Orders & Cheque\Postal Orders. I find it helps to offer the customer as many ways to pay as possible. Most orders come through using Paypal or Credit Card.

I've just applied for a PayPro account so hope to have setup and running soon.

[kimmrunner]

This hasnt happened to me: but there is a lot of anecdotal stuff about PAYPAL accounts being frozen for months pending investigation.

Even the legends bill myers www.bmyers.com (http://www.bmyers.com) and gary halbert have had problems - which drove bill myers away from paypal altogether.

One of the problems can be if you ever get a sudden massive influx of cash.

There is also a consensus that if you ever do have problems, communication with paypal is a nightmare, where ringing up your own merchant a/c is easy

The other thing that annoys me about paypal, is despite the fact that I have owned at times 3 or four separate companies , paypal do not like 3 or four accounts registered from the same address - so I have had at times to funnel several companies through one account.

And once you ever link a credit card to an account, even if you deregister it it is still banned for use instead of the paypal a/c it was linked to.

[starsgazing]

On the otherhand, I had a Nochex account quite a time ago. I'd used it for selling and there was about £10 in it. When I logged back in to use the money (after a substantial period of time) I found that Noches had taken the money for themselves, stating that I had been charged for being inactive. Bloody cheek!

I found Nochex to be extremely unprofessional and like you say very cheeky. Yet, still better than Paypal who are awful. I do wonder whether the reason some people have a better time with Paypal is due to the nature of items they are selling.

[RayB]

Interesting thread.

We have only offered credit card payment using HSBC for online sales and later this week we will be switching to PayPal Pro. The reasoning is that it offers one interface to pay by PayPal or credit card - so hopefully less cart abandonment.

HSBC has been a bit tempramental!

Do you think I am doing the right thing?

[fhassan]

my country isnt listed in paypal.so we r accept only credit card as a payment option

[sirearl]

have been using paypal for 4 years .no problems

Earl

[SpeedyExpressCouriers]

A good point about Nochex is that they guarantee you in getting your money, nobody can file for a chargeback against you. They did a while back any.

Bad point is that there is a limit to what you can receive.

I think you should offer as many payment options as you can.

[starsgazing]

A good point about Nochex is that they guarantee you in getting your money, nobody can file for a chargeback against you.

Yes, they do guarantee you getting the money but no they cannot protect you from chargebacks. In fact if you do get one; they stop your account from receiving payments and ask that you refund the money to the buyer immediately before they call the police on **you** (the recipient!). Nochex is a joke.

As for online payment processors GoogleCheckout seems a way forward... and they're free for 07!