Hi,

When someone wants to sell online, besides the shopping cart software (such as osCommerce), what else is required to actually get funds into your business bank account?

I'm looking for a seamless solution, so that it can be customized into the site and shopping cart software and does not go to a third party site (such as PayPal, 2Checkout, etc.) to process the transaction.

When someone wants to sell online, besides the shopping cart software (such as osCommerce), what else is required to actually get funds into your business bank account?
3rd party merchant account (example: PayPal, 2CO) or merchant account (WorldPay, Authorize.net & others) or alternately using offline system by except bank cheques.

Please correct me if I am mistaken... a "3rd party merchant account" goes to a third party site while processing the transaction so it goes outside the shopping cart on your site at some point.

While "merchant account" is seamlessly integrated to the shopping cart so the customer never leaves the site.

Is my understanding correct?

If yes, then I would need to look for "merchant accounts". I'll check out WorldPay, Authorize.net, any other good ones I should look at?

By the way, I want it to be integrated with osCommerce.

Thanks!

Please correct me if I am mistaken... a "3rd party merchant account" goes to a third party site while processing the transaction so it goes outside the shopping cart on your site at some point.

PayPal can be exception, as with Website Payments Pro your customers can pay for goods or services without leaving your website.

You are correct keko however paypal websites payment pro is more like a real merchant account in the sense customers don't leave your site. If you are looking for a non paypal solution then you will want a merchant account with a payment gateway such as authorize.net or linkpoint. Check you shopping cart software to see which gateways it accepts but almost all shopping carts are already setup to use these 2 gateways. once you get a merchant account, All you will need to do is enter you "userID/API ID" and password/transaction key into the shopping cart and you should be all set.

Thanks for the response.

Is a payment gateway the same as a merchant account, or are these two things different? I'm a little confused.

Also to get an authorize.net payment gate account I need to contact one of their resellers, such as Wells Fargo? Does that mean my bank account needs to be at the same place?

Is there a web site out there that explains e-commerce in simple-to-understand terms, I would very much appreciate a link. My searches are resulting in various articles about what to sell but not how or go on to be very technical.

I just need to get online orders, receive payment, ship product, that easy.

Thanks. :)

Hi keko,
I will try to explain this in easy to understand terms.
A merchant account is the actual account with your merchant provider which allows you to accept credit cards online or in a retail store.

But how do you send the credit card information to your merchant service provider? Usually in a retail store, you use the little ip terminal you swipe your card in. However online you can not use this as your customer is not present. This is were the payment gateway comes in. It is basically taking the place of the ip terminal. Instead of the ip terminal sending the cards information to the banks to approve or decline the transaction to transfer the funds, the gateway dose this online.

You can not get an authorize.net account directly from authorize.net, you get this from the merchant account provider you choose. nearly all (except First Data) merchant providers will offer authorize.net as a payment gateway, a lot of companies will use them as their sole gateway as authorizenet is compatible with what seems like everything. And it is easy and simple for the merchants to use.

I hope this helps explain this, if you need more clarification, shoot me a pm.

Thanks,
Steffan

There is a good list on authorize.net's web site about merchant account providers that sell authorize.net.

Also you can bank anywhere and it would work with a merchant account.

Regards,

Masood
______________________________________________
MXSave
The Leading "Store & Forward" Service Provider

PayPal can be exception, as with Website Payments Pro your customers can pay for goods or services without leaving your website.


Hello,

When a person buy on your website using Paypal Payment Pro. Does their Credit Card bill read your company name or Paypal? Do you know they are using paypal?

I am trying to find the best way to take payments and paypal worried me because so many people are scared of paypal due to all the fishing paypal spam.

I am considering going to my local bank, since I have a corporations account, to see what they can offer me instead of using third party.

Thanks
Kimberly

Hello,

When a person buy on your website using Paypal Payment Pro. Does their Credit Card bill read your company name or Paypal? Do you know they are using paypal?

It show your Company Name. And No, they does not know if you are using Paypal Payment Pro.

Going with your local bank would probably be a better option. It will be cheaper and you will get real customer service and support. When you need support from paypal, more than likely, they wont help you.

Yes I would have to agree with FormPay about going to your local bank.

A lot of startups seem to fall into the trap of believing that a Merchant Account with a bank costs a lot and is difficult to setup. It is not.

We are based in the UK and we got an account setup with Royal Bank of Scotland in under 2 weeks, we use Protx as the processor. We have direct API access for passing card details over as well so the customer can stay on our site.

Best of all we only pay 1.5% on all card transactions and the money hits our bank account within 72 hours after the transaction takes place.

We have used a few 3rd party processors including PayPal and the level of service you get is not even in the same league as a real bank.

Regards

Ben.

I would recommend signing up for a online merchant account if you want the best rates. If you don't care about the rates start out with a local bank. I'm not sure how much help you will get at a local bank either.

Sincerely,
Masood

--------------------------------------------------------
MXSave.com
The Leading Store & Forward Service

I am in the process of signing up for PayPal Payments Pro, do I also need a "gateway" to accept credit card transactions? And if so, where do I find such a gateway that is compatible with PayPal?

This thread has me all confused now.

paypal pro includes a gateway. You will not need anything else.

it is very high risk to use paypa, don't recomment it.

Depending on your business it can be more of a risk to use paypal as they might find a reason to freeze your account. However, depending on your business and sales volume, they may never freeze your account.

I am in the process of signing up for PayPal Payments Pro, do I also need a "gateway" to accept credit card transactions? And if so, where do I find such a gateway that is compatible with PayPal?

This thread has me all confused now.


I am also new to taking online payment. I usually use affilate programs to make money. Anyway, I have been doing a lot of reading and visited my local bank who handles my corp. account. So far paypal pro looks like the best way to go.

No you won't need anything else. Payments pro includes every thing you need.

I am also new to taking online payment. I usually use affilate programs to make money. Anyway, I have been doing a lot of reading and visited my local bank who handles my corp. account. So far paypal pro looks like the best way to go.

Hi Kimberly,

I've been on limited account status with PayPal since registering my business account for near a month now, and it still hasn't been resolved. Their customer service representatives seem very isolated from other departments / representatives. I am told a different thing every time I phone them.

I have been researching also and have found Authorize.net, which, through resellers (also I believe is the only way to make use of Authorize.net's services) offers the very same things PayPal Payments Pro does, but at lower rates, and the customer service is great. Although, that may depend upon the reseller.

Here is a link to one of the resellers I have been looking at that ALSO compares their rates to all the other major merchant services / gateways of other companies. I found that very informative.

Since I do not have 5 posts yet... I cannot use links on the forum. :eek:

Send an e-mail to htperkins AT comcast DOT net and I will provide you the details.


Kind Regards,

Henry

That is paypals only downside. They tend to freeze accounts for no apparent reason. And their customer service reps are trained to give pre-written responses.

I tried paypal and hate it.But there is no alternative for paypal?Tons of sites , yes but paypal is not good ; can we trust others? No.

Actually there are many trustworthy paypal alternatives out there. Bidpay, Neteller, Moneybookers are just a few.