Accepting Credit Cards - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/19/2007 08:56:56 PM · #1

Hi everyone,

Other than paypal, what are some trusted companies that people use to sell products? My photos are up at DPCprints; but, I also sell jewelry and I have some ideas for photo-jewelry, and want to accept credit cards. I have a personal paypal account, and don't want to upgrade to a Merch account due to personal reasons with family money transfers. Also, I don't have a 2nd bank account (which you need in order to have 2 paypal accounts: one merch and one personal). My jewelry business is VERY small, and I don't want to open a 2nd bank account for it. Yet, I am ready to start selling online.

So, who do you all use or recommend for a credit card company to accept your customers funds and transfer money to your checking account or send you checks?

Thanks,
Arie

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

04/19/2007 09:14:58 PM · #2

Cardservice International is partnered with Zencart. Together a pretty functional package.

04/19/2007 10:44:29 PM · #3

Thanks TechnoShroom! Do you use them personally? Do they have good customer service? Is it easy to hook up their service to your site? I think my host (BlueHost.com) has zencart, but I'll have to check. I know php, but not terribly well. This is a new adventure, that's for sure! :)

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

04/19/2007 11:48:50 PM · #4

I have a free business checking account at a local bank.
A paypal account, even a merchant one, is free.
Their are free shopping carts on line that use paypal as well.

To run cards you need paypal's virtual terminal, $20/month. It works just fine.

You pay the same 2.9%+25c that any paypal transaction costs.

My bank will set me up - for more a month, and $300-$800 for the machinery (used, new, w or w/o a printer). Add in a phone line if needed and this gets pricey unless you have a lot of transactions. To take Discover or Amex I need to set something up directly with them - more hassle, more time. I think they quoted me 1.5% for a swiped card and 2.5% for a typed in transaction and 30c/transaction - I need to do a lot of business to make spending $700 worth it as more than 1/2 my transactions are typed in and I don't see that changing (although i have seen cell phones with charge card readers built in)

I hear costco has a way to do this - I couldn't get any info without joining at $50/year. If anyone does this thru costco I'd be interested in hearing how it works.

asimchoudhri

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

04/19/2007 11:52:51 PM · #5

prof fate... here's the info for costco (click on "office" then "services for your business" and then "merchant credit card processing")

teto

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 35-80mm f/4.0-5.6 III

04/20/2007 12:06:21 AM · #6

You can use Google checkout I haven't use it because I use paypal for mmy business, but it looks quite simple.

04/20/2007 12:39:22 PM · #7

I don't want a monthly cost / fee. My jewelry sells for $10 to $50 and I usually just sell one to two pieces at holidays and birthdays. I just want a way to sell it without having to make people mail me checks or do a quasi-cash transaction via paypal. I'm hoping to get some clients who are 'strangers' not just friends and family; therefore, I want to accept credit cards. I just don't want to have to pay a monthly fee because I'll severely lose money.

I set up zencart and I sent an inquiry to Cardservice International. I can do the programming on zencart myself (after extensive research and reading), and then my hope is to just pay the 2.9% per transaction to the cardservice place. If they charge a monthly fee, then I can't use them. I really just need a way to do this without a monthly fee, just a transaction-based fee. My business is just too new and too small. I hate selling on ebay. I want my own interface (that's why I am building my own site). Any advice?

04/20/2007 12:41:33 PM · #8

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I have a free business checking account at a local bank.

What type of bank is it? I wonder if I can get a free business account with a local bank! :)

04/20/2007 01:35:36 PM · #9

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
I have a free business checking account at a local bank.

What type of bank is it? I wonder if I can get a free business account with a local bank! :)

Sky Bank/Financial - I'm in PA but they're an ohio based bank. My main personal bank is a credit union and they offer a business acct - free too, but they don't have any offices locally and with a business I sometimes need cash for events to make change, or have cash to deposit so being able to walk in is convenient.
I too was surprised they offered free business checking.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/20/2007 01:38:34 PM · #10

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

breezebrowser pro - $69 and it is for photo processing - BUT it has a built in cart (some minor HTML programming needed for prices, descritpions but it's not too hard). see my katie and chris at //www.viewandchoose.com - it would be no problem to replace a pic of them with a pic of a ring, and change "4x6 print" to "Ring". Uses the paypal cart (free - no monthly fees).

nsoroma79

Nikon Coolpix P7000

04/20/2007 01:39:07 PM · #11

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
I have a free business checking account at a local bank.

What type of bank is it? I wonder if I can get a free business account with a local bank! :)

I get free business checking through Sovereign Bank as well! :)

04/20/2007 01:43:30 PM · #12

Originally posted by asimchoudhri:

prof fate... here's the info for costco (click on "office" then "services for your business" and then "merchant credit card processing")

Thanks!
I'll have to read up on that - looks to be about 1% cheaper for V/MC and probably more expensive or the same for Disc and Amex (so says the small print). Not sure what an 'executive member' is, but that waves the monthly fee.

there is a minimum per month of $20...is that sales or fees? If it's like others, it's the fee part - so you pay $20 one way or another. Still would be a bit cheaper.

'rewards' cards cost more too. that is ANY credit card that pays airline miles, cash back,etc. This probably saves little over paypal.

Maybe later in the year...i'll have to see what my charge cards are 'costing' me in fees.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM II

04/20/2007 03:08:38 PM · #13

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

breezebrowser pro - $69 and it is for photo processing - BUT it has a built in cart (some minor HTML programming needed for prices, descritpions but it's not too hard).

I have started to build my site already and want a cart that I can integrate into it. Breezebrowser seems to be more of a site on it's own. It seems pretty cool, but it's not exactly what I am looking for). Also, I can't use paypal unless I get a merch account (which I can't do until I get a free business account). I am going to look into that!

So, paypal requires virtual terminal at $20/mth to allow people to pay with cards? I thought paypal had a free merch account where you just pay per transaction?

Alicia

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

04/20/2007 03:36:48 PM · #14

I've been using ProPay for a few years for my business.

For $60 a year you can process the four major CCs online and on the phone. You can send email receipts and email invoices. You get a yearly statement for your taxes. The CC fees are tax deductible. The processing fee is around 3%. There are no monthly statement fees or other costs involved. And you don't need a machine. I love the service; their help is good, too.

With the account I've been talking about, you can also get a MC debit card and pay right out of your merchant account, which is handy. That way you don't have to wait to transfer funds into your checking account.

Message edited by author 2007-04-20 15:37:25.

04/20/2007 03:46:11 PM · #15

Originally posted by Redjulep:

Oh this sounds great! I'm going to look into this for sure! Is it easy to integrate with your shopping cart? What shopping cart do you use online? I'm going to try zencart, but I need to learn how to modify it for my site, not the other way around. :)

04/20/2007 03:46:42 PM · #16

Oh, I called WaMu (my bank for personal checking / savings) and their business account is 100% free!!! I am going to open one next week!

04/20/2007 03:51:36 PM · #17

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

[quote=Redjulep] I've been using ProPay for a few years for my business.

I just read through propay's site and they charge $400 first year and $200 each additional year for using xml interfacing with your website. Otherwise, you have to enter each transaction yourself. Sadly, I wouldn't know how to get the credit card numbers of my clients securely on the internet other than using an automated system. I don't want to lose clients because they are uncomfortable calling me with their credit card info. Most people just like to plug in the numbers on an https (securely) and pay right then and there. Hmmm. Phooey, that sounded so good too!

04/20/2007 04:02:43 PM · #18

Paypal lets you use Website Payments Standard with ZenCart for free. I think, since WaMu lets me sign up for a free business account, that I may end up going the paypal route after all. It looks to be the cheapest. Now, the questions will be: how to use zencart and how to accept payment via phone (for free). Heehee

vdevary

Nikon D70s

04/20/2007 10:23:15 PM · #19

I use Exposuremanager for my photo sales. They accept CC online and use can use pro lab printing OR "self-fulfillement" which means anything you want it to. You could use it to host your products (gallery-style) and people could purchase them right there. you would get a notice that someone has purchased something and then you ship it to them. It's only around $6 per month and it includes unlimited image hosting. If you haven't seen or used this service it's AWESOME!

//www.Vanessadevary.com

vdevary

Nikon D70s

04/20/2007 10:24:36 PM · #20

Also, my local bank is offering a new business tool that's a 'phone' which swipes CC's. I am not sure of the cost, but you could research the process online.