This may not be an issue for most webhosts since CCNow is dealing with tangible products. But I was thinking maybe some hosts out there can acknowledge their clients who are unaware. Or to update your "future advice" to clients on 3rd party merchant choosing.

Truly CCNow has proven to be a reliable merchant (or they'd like to be called authorized retailer) for long. And most people feel very happy with the "zero" joining cost/montly fees, especially the small business runners. But recently they have undergone a few "server upgrades", most probably this has something to do with the new joining costs they introduced.

For the new costs introduced by CCNow, please refer:
http://www.ccnow.com/details.html

The new costs introduced may bother some current clients, mostly the small business runners. To larger clients (revenue more than few hundreds/thousands or above) the monthly cost is in the range of 11%-12% (previously 9%), this is OK for them as it remains a 'reasonable charge' comparing to the others 3rd party merchant rates out there. But what if the clients generate less than $100 sales a month? And this is even worse to the international clients.

I think this time CCNow isn't smart enough, they might drive away some potential/current clients to using other merchants. But who knows maybe they just planning to give up the small business runners market. Personally, the main reason I joined CCNow was their zero monthly costs.

p.s.: I still don't get what it means by "30-day free promotional trial period" or "ramp up period" while they're charging flat 9% (11% to international) retail margin (??).