Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Ecommerce Hosting & Discussion : should i use paypal for billing?

[ed-d]

hi all. im just starting out here, and my main concern right now is the billing. i understand that paypal does recurring payments.. but is this feature of paypal very reliable and easy to use? I don't mean is it easy to setup, but is it easy for my clients to view and pay invoices? I'd really like to use paypal if it's possible to get around purchasing a license from Modernbill or AutoPilot.

Eventually I do plan on purchasing an AutoPilot license because I would really like the automatic account creation feature available to people who want to purchase hosting. As for now, the friends I plan to host won't mind a manual setup

[wheimeng]

Yes, WHMautopilot will create subscription automatically. Easily managed.

[DreamHost-MikeS]

Automatic account creation is a BAD idea.

Just today we received an order from someone I suspected to be a fraud. This was later confirmed by 2CheckOut.com's payment e-mail, stating that it was indeed a fraud. Had this account been set up automatically, the person could have used their account for whatever they were planning to use it for, which was most likely spamming. On top of that, the payment would have been flagged by 2CheckOut, the money would have been refunded and they would have had their fun on the server for free.

Things like that can cause bad situations, especially when you may get many sign ups per day, a number of them being fraudulent.

WHMAP is a great billing suite, but you should try to not make use of the automatic account creation feature.

I hope that helped some.

[ed-d]

ok thanks.. so using paypal for billing is looking even better for me to start out with. just need to get some opinions about paypal now?

[DreamHost-MikeS]

I do not really like Paypal. They have given me, and others, some problems in the past.

It also provides spammers, and other people looking to break your TOS, an easy way to get their money back if you cancel their account for a violation. Basically they claim that you never provided services, and can sometimes get Paypal to refund their money. If that happens enough, your account will become suspended.

That does not seem to happen so much any more, so I hope you have a good experience with them.

[cywkevin]

Offer paypal and another merchant account source such as 2checkout. After all 2 payment methods are better than one.

[DreamHost-MikeS]

Originally posted by pixel_fenix
Offer paypal and another merchant account source such as 2checkout. After all 2 payment methods is better than one.

[ed-d]

2checkout works like paypal (% deduction off each sale) but has a $50 setup fee right?

[BF-Gary]

yes they have a $49 set-up fee.

[ed-d]

i was looking around paypal and can't find out if a client decides to upgrade/downgrade hosting plans, how would i edit his or her billing cycle (price)? is it possible with paypal and 2checkout?

[PhotonVPS-Jim]

We used paypal about 3-4 years ago and it was nothing but trouble. Support was hard to contact they keep their numbers hidden. So its really hard to get a hold of them

However, a small company can do well with them but as you grow i suggest obtaining a merchant account.

[CodyC]

I Like Paypal. I have been using it personally for about 4 years. We use it as the primary method of accepting payment as well. Very easy and pretty cheap!

[webideas]

If you plan to use only PayPal then you'll limit the chances of getting business due to following reasons :

1) PayPal requires the other person to be a paypal member.<< Not too sure of it >>

2) PayPal doesn't accepts customers from some countries like Kuwait.

3) If your customers figure that you don't even have a merchant account then they might not trust you. $ 49 in Paysystems/2Checkout is a essential investment for the convenience of your customers and brand image of your co.

4) PayPal does not remits money in a lot of countries..so if you belong to that zone..you'll left with no option then to either settle your money with your DC and other contacts or wait till the time they start sending money to the your country ( This condition implies only when you live in a country where PayPal doesn't sends money)

[CodyC]

Although you have some good points No. 1 is no longer true. You can now pay without signing up. Also, Payment with Paypal can be branded with your image and even be billed with your name on the credit card statement. Although I do plan to signup with 2checkout in the near future, Paypal works well if you are just opening up your business and don't want to spend $49 when you can use Paypal for free.

[LoganNZ]

paypal is not good , i have had experience with them . I had 10 thousand dollars and there was one frauded card of 9.95$ they took the hole 10 thousand dollars and i haven't got it back !

I suggest you go with 2checkout.com , with the software whoiscart i think whois cart is free and it may support 2checkout.com

Good luck