credit card processing online

Status
Not open for further replies.
wildflowerschicago

wildflowerschicago

New Member
Mar 30, 2008
1,964
1,031
0
Palos Heights
www.wildflowerschicago.com
State / Prov
Illinois
I have been working with a website developer and am in the middle of building my website (I recently liberated myself from the wire services and their webhosting...perhaps a little too soon!). The new site will be an ecommerce site (like the old one). Through my research, I am blown away by what a huge ripoff it is to have credit cards processed through your site. The application fee alone seems crazy, given that I get no less than 3 calls per week (at my actual store) from companies wanting to get my credit card business. I have signed up for a Payapl merchant account, which sounds like a much better deal, but the web hosting company does not appear to want to work with them. Does anyone have any tips or advice?????:boggles: Thanks!
 
Has nothing to do with your hosting company--it's the programming on your site. All major shopping carts available can integrate with PayPal. I hope you're not planning on writing your own cart...
 
No, No, No...I started this whole venture looking at an ecommerce template saying "how hard could this be". I quickly found out that it was WAY over my head! I hired someone to do the writing. I am merely in charge of the images and the text (which are daunting enough!!). Thanks for your advice!
 
Our Florist 2.0 platform integrates seamlessly with PayPal (a very popular choice) and Authorize.net. You might also want to look into 2CheckOut.com, a solid option for low-volume clearing online.

Another option is to look into website platforms that integrate with your POS system. MAS, FloristWare, FTD Mercury, RTI, FAS are all options (probably more that I can't think of). This way you don't need to have a separate account for clearing CC online.

Ryan
 
As I understand it, you don't even have to have your CC transactions cleared online. If you have a low volume and don't want to pay the extra, you can simply log into the server where the CC info is stored (your host) and retrieve it. This is acceptable if your host server meets the CC security guidelines.

By doing this, you can save the monthly fees and the extra transaction charges.

That's how I understand it.
 
It gets more complicated if cc is processed online. Especially if your customer makes mistake, then they end up charging multiple charge and that costs you more, beause you just processed the charge twice, not to mention you'll have to give them a refund, which will charge you another fee. Why not just let them type the CC in the system and when it comes into your system, you can process it then? It's the best option really.
 
Thanks for all your input! I am getting the impression that my hosting company gets a cut from the processors...again putting my profit margins on the chopping block, just like the TF overlords that I just walked away from! This whole website building experience has been more overwhelming than I ever thought it would be. It has left me second guessing myself and forgetting that I am the customer here, @@@@it!! I just needed a moment to get back in the mindset of a consumer...not a florist desperate to get a cool site up & running by Mom's Day.
 
Amy,

Don't feel boxed into any decisions. If you need more input, you're welcome to call our office: 800-314-8895. If I'm not available, just leave a message I'll call right back.

Ryan
 
I don't know how tied up with your developer you are but, I chose Media99 to develop my site for me, it turned out great. They take the CC information from the customer and fax it to me (perfect for my low volume shop). IT only took a month or so.
 
twiggy said:
I don't know how tied up with your developer you are but, I chose Media99 to develop my site for me, it turned out great. They take the CC information from the customer and fax it to me (perfect for my low volume shop). IT only took a month or so.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY! That's the best way to do it. :ryan:
 
OK do that, and while you're at it, ask them what I suggested earlier, that if a customer accidently presses refresh and charges their credit card twice, how much will they charge you and to give them refund, how much they'll charge you? If you keep getting charged for little mistakes done by customers online then you may end up paying alot which just isn't worth the trouble. You rather have your website tied to your fax machine where you will get your orders faxed in and only then you can charge the credit card. Good luck.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back