Why Paypal??

That's true but I guess I just prefer to get their CC info and process myself instead of invoicing. So I can process and get paid and not have to worry about when they will pay the invoice.


To your first point I am not talking about people paying you online I am talking about you processing payment for offline customers like local businesses. I don't tell them to go to a website and pay me I take their CC information and process the payment myself.

Okay fine, I should have specified in my post I was talking about Americans. Yes I know for everyone in other countries it's difficult but American's doing offline consulting for small businesses it just makes sense they would not use paypal. Unless of course you want a solution bob Ross was talking about and really want to invoice and let them pay.

My whole point with this thread is American's are being told "paypal, paypal!" when they ask about CC processing but there is a ton of other safer virtual terminal merchant accounts with lower fees that don't always side with the buyer in disputes.

It's as simple as talking to your banker about it when you set up a business account. The bank has reps that aren't trying to rip you off like CCP sales organization and work with huge companies like First Data and Global Payments directly.

They charge 3.1% + 30cents per transaction for all virtual terminal processing and $30 per month.

I pay about 2.2% through BOA with no monthly payment as long as processing fees are above $16 per month.

But don't you work for a merchant services company?

Overall paypal is pretty much the most expensive, and very biased to the consumer when dealing with disputes. They are not like a bank that has your interests in mind. I've never used them but everyone I know that has ever had chargeback problems with paypal has said that they almost always take your money first and then ask questions later.

1. Convenience- Go to your bank and tell your business banker you need a merchant account...why is that not convenience for more than a third less fees?

2. Buyer security? What for? Your processing the payments yourself not sending them to an ecommerce page. I'm talking about offline consultants here.

3. Lack of better options - sounds like you don't know any other options:rolleyes:

Paypal is the standard and what I'm used to and it seems to have everything I need especially with invoices and currency exchanges. But I am looking into something new solely for the reason I don't like how paypal always sides with the buyer.

Here's a PayPal alternative;

Hike on down to a Staples. Tell a clerk you are looking for a software program that "Prints Checks".

She/He will take you to a program (I forgot the name but it's $49...one time) Install the program and...you have your customer hand (or Fax or Mail) their check to you. You then enter the info off the check (heck, I've even had them simply READ the info to, on a phone call)

The program prints out a Check (on the signature line it says, "Signature On File") You stamp the back, "For Deposit Only" and deposit into your business bank account. No Fees...No wondering if PayPal is going to do something to your account for whatever reason.

I started out doing this in 1992 with a software program called "Checks-By-Fax".

I went to each of the 4 banks in my town and asked if they would accept my "Checks By Fax". 3 of them said they "needed an Actual Signature". One said they were familiar with the new "Banking Procedure" and..."Yes! They would gladly accept my checks!"

That's the bank I put ALL my accounts in and I'm still with them.

Don Alm