Best merchant account for ecommerce store?

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As far as setting up a ecommerce store goes, it doesn't seem hard to actually build the site, even for people like me thanks to wordpress. But what merchant accounts are generally lenient? I called one the other day but they are hesitant to let me sell my product(supplement). All applications go through a underwriter before getting accepted and Im sure they watch you carefully the first couple of months.

The reasons they probably don't want me selling my product is because many other sellers of similar products received complaints from using tricky marketing methods(such as fake news sites). The chargeback rate on these merchant accounts is only allowed to reach 1-2% which seems low especially for any health product since people love to blame the product for their own laziness. Being able to put customers on a automated shipping program is the ultimate goal, I would be sure to make canceling as easy as possible to reduce the rate of chargebacks.

Anyways, did anyone else try and get accepted with a "redflagged" product? What would be a good solution to jump over this mess? I was thinking of buying an established site or creating a simple ecommerce website and generating some sales to get the merchant account then after some time introduce my supplement product onto the site. Bad idea?

I have a LLC but that doesn't even give credibility these days, they want sales history. Why are chargebacks so prevelant? Are other merchants just being stingy and not refunding or is there a high chargeback rate among the health industry customers?
#account #ecommerce #merchant #store
  • Profile picture of the author Solid Commerce
    Can you tell us which merchant services you've already tried out and have been refused by? That'll help us give you some better recommendations.
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  • Profile picture of the author kjamesnv
    You definitely want to apply with processors who specialize in "High Risk" merchants. Regular merchant accounts and banks freak out when they see CB rates over 1% and they can freeze your $$$ and cause all kinds of nasty problems.

    Also be TOTALLY transparent about all aspects of your business including your lack of sales and the kind of products you sell. And make sure you get authorized for recurring billing if that's what you want.

    Google "High Risk Merchant Accounts" and you will find dozens of companies that work in this area. One I worked with several years ago was ccbill.com.
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  • Profile picture of the author serryjw
    You may want to try off shore merchant processors that work with online gambling.
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  • Profile picture of the author ErinChatham
    I also have a question about merchant accounts.
    I work for a smallish company that sells a mix of physical and digital products and some live training events/programs to customers around the world (though concentrated mostly in North America, Europe and Australia). Some of our customers call in to place orders, and others place orders through our online store. We currently use Infusionsoft as our payment gateway, and PayPal as our merchant processor.
    We average about $120,000 per month in sales, and the average fee per transaction from PayPal comes to 2.9%, keeping in mind that they charge a 1.0% cross-border fee and/or a 2.5% currency conversion fee on all international sales.
    My question is, do any of you know a company that offers merchant account services and has lower fees than PayPal? They would need to be able to process payments from abroad as well.
    Thanks!
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    • Profile picture of the author serryjw
      ANYBODY!...PayPal is not a processor...they are a 3rd party. You have good volume. How long have you been in business? Do you have any charge backs from unsatisfied customers? What is your average sale? It is costing you more money for phone orders. Your future processor may want ALL orders to go through the gateway.
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    • Profile picture of the author LABEShops
      Originally Posted by ErinChatham View Post

      I also have a question about merchant accounts.
      I work for a smallish company that sells a mix of physical and digital products and some live training events/programs to customers around the world (though concentrated mostly in North America, Europe and Australia). Some of our customers call in to place orders, and others place orders through our online store. We currently use Infusionsoft as our payment gateway, and PayPal as our merchant processor.
      We average about $120,000 per month in sales, and the average fee per transaction from PayPal comes to 2.9%, keeping in mind that they charge a 1.0% cross-border fee and/or a 2.5% currency conversion fee on all international sales.
      My question is, do any of you know a company that offers merchant account services and has lower fees than PayPal? They would need to be able to process payments from abroad as well.
      Thanks!
      If you are doing that volume, I'd go to your local bank and talk to them about opening a merchant account. They can often give you better rates (at least in the US. Not sure where you are located?)
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      Owner of LABEShops.com & 20+ Niche Online Stores as well as Scifispace.com and other sites. Recommended Host: Evolve

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  • Profile picture of the author christinamikki
    Yes, i agree with LABEShops thoughts.
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    • Profile picture of the author BeauExpiTrans
      Hello ,

      I am an executive account manager for a company called ExpiTrans. We specialize in high risk merchant accounts and ecommerce. We have the best rates and I would love to help you out. Please email me at bcaouette@expitrans.com or skype me at BeauCaouette. I look forward to doing business with you!

      Sincerely,

      Beau Caouette
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