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Which merchant account do you use and why?

by substance
9 replies
I am not looking for PayPal alternatives. I just want to know what payment processors / merchant accounts or gateway each of you are using for selling and why do you choose it.

The reason I am asking is I am offering websites services and thinking of going with a merchant account but finding it so hard to choose one so your response might help me.

I have just signed up skrill but they want business registrations number. Another one CCnow does not host website services. And I have just signed up for charge.com but they want credit cards and bank informations on the application process itself. Isn't that weird? Also I heard 2checout is not a good merchant account as some WF members have stated..

And also my online business is not registered so I want a quick easy approval merchant account which can start really soon which should should be reliable. I know there are some instant merchant approval but I have forgotten their names. :-)

I do have paypal account but I know how they deal with charge backs.. etc so I am not going with them this time.
Thank You.
PS: Also the list for 46 PayPal alternative is not so reliable for my case.
#account #merchant
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    I don't think there is such a thing, these days, as a "quick, easy-approval" merchant account. Merchant accounts are - for understandable reasons - slow and difficult and far from a formality, to get.

    (You do appreciate the differences between merchant accounts, payments gateways and credit-card processors?).

    There are masses of "PayPal alternatives", though whether you'll find one as well-known, popular and widely recognised is another matter. I'd think that not offering your customers a PayPal facility would be a major handicap, in your line of business?

    In these days of increased regulation and increasing demands made on online processors by their own upline financial service providers, there's comparatively little to choose between them on the specific front about which you've expressed concerns, and there are reasons for that, and they tend to apply more or less across the board - and where they don't, that's often only temporary. It isn't usually PayPal that's the problem, with chargebacks: it's credit-card companies, and you're not going to improve that situation by using a PayPal alternative. There's a limit to what PayPal can do about those, when the customer's paid them by credit card, and it's a fairly low limit, too.

    The thread might fill (as they often do) with very brief posts making suggestions like "Try Payza" and "Try 2Checkout" but none of those is going to be a solution to the problem that's worrying you - and there are reasons for that, too. In credit-card chargeback situations, they all operate under exactly the same constraints, and they have to. I'm "just saying".

    Don't lose sight of the "bigger picture".
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    • Profile picture of the author substance
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      I don't think there is such a thing, these days, as a "quick, easy-approval" merchant account. Merchant accounts are - for understandable reasons - slow and difficult and far from a formality, to get.

      (You do appreciate the differences between merchant accounts, payments gateways and credit-card processors?).

      There are masses of "PayPal alternatives", though whether you'll find one as well-known, popular and widely recognised is another matter. I'd think that not offering your customers a PayPal facility would be a major handicap, in your line of business?

      In these days of increased regulation and increasing demands made on online processors by their own upline financial service providers, there's comparatively little to choose between them on the specific front about which you've expressed concerns, and there are reasons for that, and they tend to apply more or less across the board - and where they don't, that's often only temporary. It isn't usually PayPal that's the problem, with chargebacks: it's credit-card companies, and you're not going to improve that situation by using a PayPal alternative. There's a limit to what PayPal can do about those, when the customer's paid them by credit card, and it's a fairly low limit, too.

      The thread might fill (as they often do) with very brief posts making suggestions like "Try Payza" and "Try 2Checkout" but none of those is going to be a solution to the problem that's worrying you - and there are reasons for that, too. In credit-card chargeback situations, they all operate under exactly the same constraints, and they have to. I'm "just saying".

      Don't lose sight of the "bigger picture".
      But you did not respond to my original question. Some merchant accounts also provide PayPal as optional payments.. please name some..
      Signature
      When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
      --- Khalil Gibran
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by substance View Post

        But you did not respond my original question.
        No - I was trying to suggest that you might find it helpful to look at a rather "bigger picture" than the one you're currently looking at, because your original statement about not wanting to use PayPal "because of the way they handle chargebacks" isn't actually too valid, and isn't one you're likely to improve elsewhere, which I thought might be useful information for you. Apologies if my post - intended helpfully - was unwelcome.

        Originally Posted by substance View Post

        Some merchant accounts also provide PayPal as optional payments.. please name some..
        Respectfully, I suspect you may be a little confused about what a "merchant account" is. ("Google is your friend!").

        There are online payment processors who accept PayPal, yes. They include Fastspring, 2Checkout, ClickBank and BlueSnap (formerly known as Plimus). Probably none of them will be any better than PayPal over the specific problem about which you expressed concern (indeed, most of them will be rather worse, I think).
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        • Profile picture of the author substance
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          No - I was trying to suggest that you might find it helpful to look at a rather "bigger picture" than the one you're currently looking at, because your original statement about not wanting to use PayPal "because of the way they handle chargebacks" isn't actually too valid, and isn't one you're likely to improve elsewhere, which I thought might be useful information for you. Apologies if my post - intended helpfully - was unwelcome.



          Respectfully, I suspect you may be a little confused about what a "merchant account" is. ("Google is your friend!").

          There are online payment processors who accept PayPal, yes. They include Fastspring, 2Checkout, ClickBank and BlueSnap (formerly known as Plimus). Probably none of them will be any better than PayPal over the specific problem about which you expressed concern (indeed, most of them will be rather worse, I think).
          I have used PayPal extensively and like them very much for many years without a single refund or charge-back. But last year, it was a different case and I had a number of charge backs which was not PayPal's fault ( or mine) obviously so lesson learned.

          And With that, I have found out that if you are selling a service, it is better to go for merchant accounts so here I am with my "thread":p

          Thanks.
          Signature
          When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
          --- Khalil Gibran
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
            Banned
            Originally Posted by substance View Post

            I have found out that if you are selling a service, it is better to go for merchant accounts so here I am with my "thread"
            Again, you're confusing "merchant accounts" with "payment processors".
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  • Profile picture of the author run
    I agree with all of above comments. PayPal is majority of online payment nowadays.

    I'd use PayPal for my primary payment processor if I could. But my case that I can't receive money through PayPal directly because of my country only available for sending money not receiving, I'm currently using FastSpring.

    They're are more likely worse in term of processing fees. Alexa had given the point on chargeback issue.
    Signature
    I just wanna tell you that most of the links in the signature are trash and/or a trap to make you pay!
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    • Profile picture of the author substance
      Originally Posted by run View Post

      I agree with all of above comments. PayPal is majority of online payment nowadays.

      I'd use PayPal for my primary payment processor if I could. But my case that I can't receive money through PayPal directly because of my country only available for sending money not receiving, I'm currently using FastSpring.

      They're are more likely worse in term of processing fees. Alexa had given the point on chargeback issue.
      Thank you/ Let me take a look at fastspring!!
      Signature
      When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
      --- Khalil Gibran
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  • Profile picture of the author swiftronics
    Yes, some credit card processors like 'PaySimple' have credit card and PayPal processing in one. "ccnow does not host website services" - not true at all, in fact with the new acquisition ccnow is even coming with an App for your phone to process cards online, the API for your website is there for use, you can even find ccnow on most shipping carts now. 2CO I was told is major pain, personally, PayPal itself it's okay with by me. This is what I tell people, you want to pay for a merchant account? Why don't you go with PayPal Payments Pro? or Go to your local bank and BOA, RBS (Citizens) which ever, get an merchant account, go to PayPal and and get PayFlow link to your merchant account and process both cards and credit cards in as little as 24 hours settlements. PayPal Payments Pro also process credit cards like a merchant account, and you have other options, like Accepting cards w/o leaving your website and is well accepted anywhere now on major carts online. PaySimple - from my understanding charges too much, and they loose merchant's application (unorganized), very bad reviews online now.
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  • Profile picture of the author planbpayments
    Selecting the right payment processor for your online business depends on a lot of factors.
    I would love to give you some suggestions if you can be more specific with your business profile.
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