Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Ecommerce Hosting & Discussion : Time to accept credit cards... need help

[mainarea]

Right now, we're looking to accept credit cards outside of PayPal, even though we're getting the best rate from them right now with cashback from the debit card that is used to pay for server (finally, it's about time that we got something else). Right now, I'm looking at GeoTrust:

http://www.ev1servers.net/english/se...ckpayments.asp
Set-up: $59.00
Monthly Fee: $29.95
• Discount Rate: 2.35%
• Per Authorization: $0.32
• Monthly Statement Fee: $0
Bad thing - • Monthly Processing Fee Minimum: $25.00

We're not expecting to have $1,100 worth of transactions going through that account, at least for a number of months since we like to handle things through PayPal & don't want mass confusion if clients want to switch over. That means that we won't hit our $25/month processing fee minimum, and we'll lose money on that. Can somebody recommend another processor (merchant account & gateway bundle) with a good rate, and the following features?

- Virtual POS
- Recurring billing every month on certain days
- Online management system (for us to check)
- Fraud protection
- Web-based, remotely hosted order form (such as what can be found at https://secure.quickpayments.com/secure/process.asp )
- Rate under 3% & $0.35 per transaction
- Low setup fee (under $60)
- Low monthly fee (less than $30, preferably much less, but we'll work with what we can get)
- Low/no monthly processing fee minimum
- No software required on our server

Something that uses Skipjack would be great, since I've already tested out that interface & like the features.


Thanks!

- Matt

[Matt]

Are you US based or International?

[mainarea]

US Based.

- Matt

[Matt]

You might look at CDG Commerce's CDG Gateway. It is seperate from the authnet they offer. Chris could give you more info as I am not using that side of their offering, I use authnet, but according to the site it supports:

Real-Time Authorization/Processing
Virtual Terminal
Recurring Billing
$15/monthly gateway
$10/statement fee
No Setup Fee

Since you don't want to integrate the processor with a billing system, I believe it would function as you need.

Chris would be the guy to get definitive answers from though. He goes by cdgcommerce here.

[cartika-andrew]

We have used and resold various Internet Merchants Accounts over the last couple of years and settled on e-online data/authorize.net.

They also have a minimum monthly fee, but most good providers will have this. The rates are comparable with what youre looking at.

There are various others that will offer a $0 monthly fee, but we havent found their service sufficient for our business or our customers.

Not sure if this helps, but my advise would be to accept the minimum fee as a business expense and move on (if youre in a position to do so)

[michaelfoo]

Dear Matt,
We have been using 2Checkout and so far it is reliable to us.

Set-up: $49.00
Monthly Fee: NONE
• Processing Fee: 5.5%
• Per Authorization: $0.45
• Additional Fee: None for receiving payment via cheque. Needed for wire transfer.

Pros -
• No monthly fee for the account
• They have fraud department to review the order. Therefore, you need not worry much about fraud orders.
• Recurring bill

Cons -
• Processing fee can be expensive: 5.5%
• No monthly statement

Hope that helps.

[cdgcommerce]

They also have a minimum monthly fee, but most good providers will have this. The rates are comparable with what youre looking at.

I'd like to respectfully point out that a monthly minimum fee - whether it is charged or not - doesn't have anything to do with the quality of service from the provider.

Simply because a company charges a monthly minimum does not mean that you are going to get better service from that company.

All that it means is that you WILL pay more if you don't process above the specific discount rate threshold (around $1,000-1,100 per month in most cases).

A monthly minimum is often required by many ISO's and processors and thus their resellers/marketing partners are forced to charge this fee to their customers in turn.

That being said, I would agree that some of the "no monthly fee" programs are not all that they are cracked up to be. Many of them charge % rates that are right on the level of third party processors but also have cancellation fees, minimum contract commitments, etc.

Most U.S. merchants are best served if they sign up for a merchant account that provides them with:
- Either a free or discounted setup cost
- No monthly minimum (or a very low monthly minimum)
- No cancellation/termination fee (otherwise, you may have difficulty if you ever switch or no longer need the account at a later date and pay a hefty fee)
- Competitive per transactional costs

Your best bet is to check out various companies, check out their references and what other merchants have to say about them, and then make a decision as to which company you feel best meets your needs.

Best of luck with your search for the best merchant processor for your needs!

[Corey Bryant]

Most will have a minimum fee & sometimes - they can be waived. It does not hurt to ask.