Setting up an offline "auto-delivery" program... anyone else done this?

17 years ago

Hi,

I can only speak for the UK.

Here the easiest way is to ask customers to set up a Bank Standing Order. This is a monthly transfer from their bank account to yours. Customers have full control and can cancel at any time, so the vendor would need to check receipt before delivery.

Other options, both requiring bank approval and/or credit card merchant accounts, are Direct Debits (where the vendor initiates the bank transfer) or of course, credit card charges.

Hope that helps

Kevin

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[911429].message }}

melanied 17 years ago

We have that here, too - it's called EFT and it's what I pay for my tanning with.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

*melanie
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[911641].message }}
- Ashley Gable 17 years ago
  
  Great thanks!
  
  melanied, I assume you are in america? If so, is EFT pretty easy and clear to most people (except me of course!), I mean is it something that can be easily explained to a prospect?
  It sounds exactly like they need.
  
  The other problem I came across is how to get them to "enroll" while at a fair or market or festival! Its not like the owners can stop selling kettle corn to explain to them the charges and options. Do you think that having a sign up sheet, where they put their name, number or email down for further info would do?
  
  Thanks again for the help! I was a little worried I would get yelled at for posting an offline question on an online marketing forum!
  
  Ashley
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912255].message }}

VegasGreg

17 years ago

To get the clients to enroll, if the owners don't want to collect credit card info or voided checks, have them give a customer an "online-coupon" type of flyer/card that directs them to a web site where the customer can then enter their payment details online.

From there you can simply use Paypal subscription payments, or if the owners have their own merchant account they can integrate with Authorize.net.

Or they could also collect payment info (credit cards/ checks) at their booth and have the clients sign a monthly subscription form. The owners would just have to manually input it later.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Greg Schueler - Wordpress Fanatic... Living The Offline Marketing Dream...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912413].message }}

Grabie 17 years ago

Originally Posted by VegasGreg

From there you can simply use Paypal subscription payments

Is PayPal subscription payment same to PayPal recurring payment? I've a PayPal website pro account which I pay $30 per month. I was looking for recurring payment solution at PayPal this afternoon, so that I can take payment from the offline clients. If I understand correctly, it seems like I have to pay another $30 to sign up for their "recurring payments". That is $60 per month in total. Am I correct?
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912478].message }}

rhelaine

17 years ago

giving away coupon to go online after the fact is a sure way to lose money ... people are very interested at the event but after a while the price hit them and they rethink the whole thing.

When i was doing event photography i tried it....for the one event i tried it i had 2 $15 orders....compare to doing 2 to 3000 a day.....

You need a way to take their CC info at the event. hook them when they are ready to buy.
In that case if you can have paypal with their virtual terminal or something like that it would be perfect. the small fee you are paying is well worth it.

Thanks

Signature

Wife is a writer: andreahelaine.com

Web design : http://www.Youcanbetheexpert.com/web-design

Trying to get a series of short movies off the ground: Pieces of Him

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912581].message }}

rhelaine

17 years ago

Vega....

I would avoid getting the client CC info on a piece of paper...

For one it looks really unprofessional and second if you lose the paper and someone use the CC numbers you can be in a lot of trouble

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Wife is a writer: andreahelaine.com

Web design : http://www.Youcanbetheexpert.com/web-design

Trying to get a series of short movies off the ground: Pieces of Him

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912588].message }}

Ashley Gable 17 years ago

Thanks for the help,

yes i had the same concerns that you all bring up. kettle corn is not an absolute must to anyone, but when you are their with the smell around you .. well people get a little obsessed, this is why i think it will work.

However as one of you said, if they have to go to a website later on ... they wont! This is really a hotseat type of thing, you either get em there on never at all.

I also dont think they could write down their info, as one of you pointed out, the consequences of misplacing that info could be horrible!

rhelaine, I think your solution is best, however I have never heard of a "virtual terminal", could you tell me more. It sounds interesting and as of now seems the only possible solution!

Thanks

By the way, i did think of those old school credit card swiper things, you know when they push that thing over it and a receipt ... anyone know what they are called or how to use one lol
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912802].message }}

rhelaine

17 years ago

virtual terminal is a paypal service...30 a month + 3% or something like that.
you basically enter the people card number. you can do it onsite and have recurring payment i think.

when i was doing event i was using a credit card machine. at the time i was one of the only ones doing it and people were impressed and it was easier to sell big orders as people might not have cash but they have CC... anyway i digress .

Credit card swiper is pretty much the same as writing them on paper...plus they had such bad press that i for one would not use one...as a client or a pro

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Wife is a writer: andreahelaine.com

Web design : http://www.Youcanbetheexpert.com/web-design

Trying to get a series of short movies off the ground: Pieces of Him

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912818].message }}

VegasGreg

17 years ago

Originally Posted by Grabie

Is PayPal subscription payment same to PayPal recurring payment? I've a PayPal website pro account which I pay $30 per month. I was looking for recurring payment solution at PayPal this afternoon, so that I can take payment from the offline clients. If I understand correctly, it seems like I have to pay another $30 to sign up for their "recurring payments". That is $60 per month in total. Am I correct?

Paypal subscription is a recurring payment, but it is a free option on my account, but the customers need a Paypal account. I think their "Pro" levl allows for the recurring with just a credit card and can be used on the virtual terminals.

Originally Posted by rhelaine

giving away coupon to go online after the fact is a sure way to lose money ... people are very interested at the event but after a while the price hit them and they rethink the whole thing.

When i was doing event photography i tried it....for the one event i tried it i had 2 $15 orders....compare to doing 2 to 3000 a day.....

You need a way to take their CC info at the event. hook them when they are ready to buy.
In that case if you can have paypal with their virtual terminal or something like that it would be perfect. the small fee you are paying is well worth it.

Agreed, the immediate sale is the best, I was just throwing out all options I could think of.

Originally Posted by rhelaine

Vega....

I would avoid getting the client CC info on a piece of paper...

For one it looks really unprofessional and second if you lose the paper and someone use the CC numbers you can be in a lot of trouble

Yes, I didn't really mean a "piece of paper" literally

, I was referring to an actual credit card order form type of thing. The security factor though is not that great and not the best way to go about things.

If the owners are "out in the field", so to speak, and they don't have access to internet service, this may be an only option though. They would need their own merchant account and one of those credit card swipers too.

The best option though sounds like the virtual terminal or some sort of online portal to collect orders. That can be accomplished with Paypal or their own merchant account and maybe Authorize.net to integrate.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Greg Schueler - Wordpress Fanatic... Living The Offline Marketing Dream...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912914].message }}

Grabie

17 years ago

Originally Posted by VegasGreg

Paypal subscription is a recurring payment, but it is a free option on my account, but the customers need a Paypal account. I think their "Pro" levl allows for the recurring with just a credit card and can be used on the virtual terminals.

Thanks Vegas! Now I know the difference...I think majority of offline clients don't have PayPal account, so the free PayPal subscription option may not work

. Seem like signing up the "Pro" level is the only option.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[912933].message }}

Ashley Gable 17 years ago

Thanks,

yes unfortunately they would not have internet access, except for maybe a few shows out of the year.

Do any of you see any problems with charging "yearly" subscriptions? So they would pay 1 year in advance, so $6 per month at 12 months, so they pay $72 upfront.

Anyone think this wont work, customers not liking it, problems with keeping track??

Thanks again for all the help
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[913844].message }}
- bobsstuff 17 years ago
  
  LOL
  I read the headline and thought it meant AUTO delivery.
  I had a friend who delivered Automobiles for Enterprise car rentals.
  He returned cars dropped off far from the original rental point.
  
  I guess "auto-delivery" is in the eye of the beholder.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  Bob Hale
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[913928].message }}

rhelaine

17 years ago

$72 upfront will stop some people from buying that's for sure....$72 is not the same as $6 a month.

plus people would feel trapped by the yearly subscription and that can create resentment.

Ok so...no internet, no paper CC....

Why not make them sign a paper, they say ok i want that once a month and once a month the thing is shipped with an invoice. Usually people will pay the product if they sign the form and receive something. You can send them online to pay and set up the recurring payment or call and do it with a virtual terminal.

Just an idea

Thanks

Signature

Wife is a writer: andreahelaine.com

Web design : http://www.Youcanbetheexpert.com/web-design

Trying to get a series of short movies off the ground: Pieces of Him

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[913949].message }}

INFOSEEKER-2009

17 years ago

Sometimes, we need to get out and smell the Fresh Air ... lol ...

In any Bizness, there is a thing called accounting practices and principles ...

Any accounting package will do your monthly billing and collections work ...

Hope this Helps ... and ... Turn Your Computer off every Now and Then ...

Have a Great Summer Everyone !

Originally Posted by AshleyAA

Hi, I am setting up an auto-delivery program for some friends of mine. They sell kettle corn at local events and have quite a following. I suggested to them to setup an auto-delivery monthly charge type program.

Something like, " Have your kettle corn delivered to your door, each and every month" , they would get a discount of $2 off each $8 bag. So it is a good deal, and I am confident it will go down well.

But I came into problem, its easy enough to setup a monthly billing online, but how would you setup a monthly billing offline?

If anyone here has done something similar or knows of an easy solution, please post.

Also if anyone has suggestions, tips or cautionary advice ... I would really appreciate it!

Thanks

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[913971].message }}

AmyBrown

17 years ago

I think the forms required to authorize an EFT or automatic CC charge are too extensive to explain and fill out in the context of purchasing a snack at the fair. Also, you'd need to account for shipping charges in your price.

Another approach is to collect names and emails for a contest to win free kettlecorn for a year and build a list from which you could market. If you go this route you would want to research any legalities in holding the giveaway.

Thanks

Signature

"Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast."
Tom Peters

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[914093].message }}

LADWebDesign

17 years ago

In addition to my web site design business, I also sell credit card processing equipment to local businesses. There is a mobile device much like what FedEx and UPS drivers use - where a credit card can be scanned in to a wireless handheld device and downloaded onto the credit card processing site at the end of the day.

There are no slips of paper to be lost. The customer signs the machine and ok's the amount charged to their card. It is all digital. The machine can even print out a receipt.

You can search on "wireless credit card processing" in Google to learn more, or feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Linda

Thanks

Signature

LAD Web Design

Follow me on Twitter

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[914194].message }}

Setting up an offline "auto-delivery" program... anyone else done this?

Trending Topics

Brand NEW Warrior Forum Show With Eric Louviere

Zero Backlinks Website Ranking in the First Page of Google without Best SEO Practices.

Hi, I'm new

Charging High-Ticket Fees Of 10k Or More

New CEO Of The Warrior Forum (Let's Get Cracking!)