Any other "free" ways to accept credit cards other than PayPal?

[Dexx]

Hey Gang,

Just starting up a new website for local businesses and I'd like to collect credit card payments...

is there any other options than PayPal that would allow me to accept payments by credit card etc?

I don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for a merchant account setup etc. until I am actually seeing a profit...which makes paypal-style services a great option!

Any suggestions for similar services?

[SeanSupplee]

2checkout.com is a good service

[Aaron Moser]

Go with 2checkout

[Janus]

I've with PayPal for both the simplicity and the payment security. Never have to worry about financial details being compromised and the related liability. Once I do more volume and more knowledge then I plan to pick up an additional credit card system so I'm not totally dependent on them.

Pat

[SeanSupplee]

Because 2checkout will cost you under $100 to set up and will accept all types of credit cards. Other wise if you want free with a little less security then paypay I would say Alertpay

[Lisa Copen]

Two other options:
1. Google Checkout - works very similar to PayPal - one of my clients is using this and seems to like it.
2. Amazon Payments - just looking into this one myself, but it looks like you can integrate Amazon payment buttons into your website, and anyone with an Amazon account (which is anyone who has ever bought something from Amazon.com) is already signed up to use it.

Lisa

[Dexx]

Two reasons I want to avoid using PayPal:

1) Many many many horror stories of PayPal freezing accounts without warning due to too much money coming in etc. and it takes 6 months+ to ACCESS that money afterwards (that could bankrupt someone who has to pay bills!)

2) I don't like how when customers go to pay, the first screen shows the option to enter your paypal login information and you basically have to search the screen for the "Don't have paypal? Click here to continue?" and THEN goes to the screen for credit card info

I would rather a payment processor that when the customer goes to pay, it brings them directly to the secure form to enter their payment details...

if 2CheckOut does this, then I could handle paying $50 or so for it...

I just don't want to pay $400+ to setup a merchant account with my bank or anyone right now

[Dexx]

Ooo just found the CNNMoney.com list of 5 paypal alternatives:

5 PayPal alternatives - Digital River (1) - FORTUNE Small Business

[Janus]

I think you always want PayPal as an option due to the trust factor they have with a huge consumer base. Without them I think you miss a lot of potential sales. Also go with 2CO eventhough their rates are about twice PayPals but then you'll always have the option of dropping them if needed.

Pat

[Dexx]

Originally Posted by Janus

I think you always want PayPal as an option due to the trust factor they have with a huge consumer base. Without them I think you miss a lot of potential sales. Also go with 2CO eventhough their rates are about twice PayPals but then you'll always have the option of dropping them if needed.

Pat

2CO allows PayPal as an option along with credit cards...if that helps

[Dexx]

hrmmm I'm actually starting to learn towards AlertPay over 2CheckOut...


Anyone have thoughts on either of these two?

[Janus]

Another consideration is what you're selling, customer complaints, your refund policy, the CC co refund policy, fraudlent card ativity, etc. Now would be the time to answer those questions as you research potential choices. Don't know if they're basically the same or considerably different. Good Luck.

[kdsm100]

Originally Posted by Dexx

Hey Gang,

Just starting up a new website for local businesses and I'd like to collect credit card payments...

is there any other options than PayPal that would allow me to accept payments by credit card etc?

I don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for a merchant account setup etc. until I am actually seeing a profit...which makes paypal-style services a great option!

Any suggestions for similar services?

There are merchant account providers that don't charge a set-up fee or monthly fees - they may be the exception but they do exist. Setting up a merchant account does require that you have good credit but it will be cheaper than PayPal (obviously they add a profit onto the actual credit card fees). I process over $1.5 million a year in credit cards in my main business so I've done lots of research over the years and unless you can't qualify for a merchant account I would say get your own.