Power Sellers Unite

Lightingguy · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 145

I was looking down the list in the forum:
Power Sellers Unite Forum Index » Payment Processors » Web Payment Services (WPS)

Almost every topic was something negative to do with Paypal.
Not many topics about Google Checkout.

I personally stopped using Paypal for any sales last Dec.
I use Google Checkout for all my sales (including eBay)
The only problem I have ever had was with the Google "Buy It" buttons the one time I tried to use them.

Do any other sellers use them exclusively?
Do people use GC and PP?
Or just PP exclusively?

Just wondering.

Edit-----------
Is the poll not working correctly or did I do something wrong when I set it up?

EleganzaJewels · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 519

95% of payments on my site come in via direct credit card payments through PP Pro (buyers don't know that PP is the processor). The rest are scattered GCO and straight PP payments. People are leery of payment processors, although I can't count the number of them who have offered to update CC info via email - I always tell them NOT GOOD!

herbsrfine4u · Joined: 24 Aug 2006 Posts: 50

I use Paypal and havn't had a problem with it. They already have my information and I hesitate to put that info out again on another checkout.

Also, more people use Paypal so it isn't an issue for most buyers. At least they can check their invoice before paying. When I'm confronted with Google checkout as a buyer, information needs to be given them before I can even check the seller invoice. I would rather send a money order.

Now I check to see if a seller accepts Paypal before I buy. I will admit I don't like the fees, but it is the lesser of the evils for me.

Barb

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4035 Location: Wi

I use a mix of PP and GC.

I prefer GC right now because it's free, but even after it's not the fees will be less than PP.

I have both listed on some of the alt sites I'm on. I have my whole site set-up with GC and part of it set up with PP (duplicate site). Never had the time to get the PP part totally set-up.

Personally because of my eBay problems I've tried to stay away from PP as much as possible. I'm afraid that about the time I have a decent amount in PP, they will freeze the account. Right now that would about kill me as the farm is our only income right now. Hubby lost his job in Aug.

Carol

psunite · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 6213 Location: Columbus OH

I do the same as Carol I use paypal and Google Checkout. I prefer when I get payments with Google Checkout because there are no fees right now and because I think it has better fraud prevention and I like there backend interface more.

2BOYSandTOYS · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 10095 Location: Kansas

I offer both to customers, as well as MO and CC. I would prefer customers use GCO - as PSUAdmin points out - no fees for sellers. I try to 'push' this by offering a slight discount when I can (some of my shipping did not get updated when USPS did their magic this year).

angelsolutions · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject: Re: Google Checkout vs. Paypal.

I'm getting about 1/3 of my store payments via GC now and gaining.

The size of the GC orders are all over the place, while the Paypal credit card payments still average $30-50. Paypal funds payments are all over the place in size.

I don't offer discounts or even push it much as I want to see how much Google gains on its own. MHO...it's doing REAL well!

Of the two orders I received this morning - one was Paypal & one was GC. LOL

I will likely keep both payment methods and am watching BidPay's new offer of payment processing for ecommerce stores.

Fees are a cost of doing business. However, I believe I'm getting a better deal on fees using PP and GC than a merchant processor.

sylvia

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4035 Location: Wi

Quote: › docWrite("quote")I believe I'm getting a better deal on fees using PP and GC than a merchant processor.

Exactly !!!

My own site only does good to great business for 3-4 months of the year. I would be paying the outraegeous minimum fees the rest of the year if I had my own merchant account.

If someday I do better the rest of the year, maybe I'll concider an account, but right now I can't afford one. I also don't really need one. The only advantage I see to having my own account is you can take phone orders. But I only get maybe 2 calls / year from people that are interested in placing their order over the phone. Those I usually get to send a MO.

Carol

joflora · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 1760

My website is GC, check or money order. Paypal is not an option.

I do take paypal for my ebay sales.

Got rid of the merchant account when I finally got GC all set up. No need for it at this time.

Jo

techsp · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 105

[quote="knappschiles";p="128422"]Quote: › docWrite("quote")The only advantage I see to having my own account is you can take phone orders.
Carol
It's no problem to take phone orders with Google Checkout, as long as the customer is agreeing, just go to the Settings menu and use the invoicing function. Just got a customer yesterday to pay this way for a high end microscope.
I use this option all the time. Results in significant savings, especially on out of country orders where card processing is sometimes at 6% and above or PayPal is close to 5% etc.
Additionally I try to convert customers to GC when they supply their card data through the shopping cart.
But for some customers you need to have a merchant account, they will not go to a Google or PayPal site. Then the cost is higher but there is a 24 hour turnaround on MC/VISA, even Amex is somewhat quicker with the current provider.
Another good payment option to push is Moneybookers, especially for countries where the banks refuse address verification like Australia or Switzerland. You can leave that to MB and avoid all the hassle.
BidPay is another option with cost below PayPal. Unfortunately quite lot of requests get denied. But no problem on using another payment meythod.
Then I get on higher ticket items bank transfers. Unfortunately most customers want a Swift # and then I am forced to use a major bank with relatively higher cost. And if there is a currency conversion then US banks are up to Paypal level (6.5 - 7.5%). Then I persuade the customer to convert on their end or to use another payment method.

joflora · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 1760

Bidpay has recently lowered their fees too.

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4035 Location: Wi

techsp,

I never thought of using the GC invoice feature quite that way, but yes that could work for phone orders if the customer has an email.

Thanks for the tip.

Carol

techsp · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 105

knappschiles wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")techsp,

I never thought of using the GC invoice feature quite that way, but yes that could work for phone orders if the customer has an email.

Thanks for the tip.

Carol
Virtually everyone has email.
nd yes, i created some $500 additional margin in the last 2 month since out of country orders result in high fees by payment processors.
Additionally GC acts as a filter on fraudulent card orders. Fraudsters are much more reluctant to go through GC then to have their stolen card data processed by a small seller. And likely Google has some additional ways to evaluate a card.
Unfortunately the free ride will be over pretty soon. But if GC fees can be credited towards adwords then total cost will be still quite low.

techsp · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 105

angelsolutions wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")
Fees are a cost of doing business. However, I believe I'm getting a better deal on fees using PP and GC than a merchant processor.

sylvia

On low margin products PayPal fees are a big factor, on offshore sales they are quite high, on sales with currency conversion they are prohibitive. Most of my websites use two shopping carts for local currency (Euro, GBP, AUD, Rs) and US$.
So PayPal is disallowed outside the US, gives me a chance to convert the customer to another payment method or to do some prequalification.
The main problem with PayPal is the high percentage of unconfirmed addresses from outside the US. The UK and Canada got a lot better lately but in countries like France or Italy they mostly don't understand the problem. And there is nearly zero information, no phone in most cases. Then I try to push them to Moneybookers, saves some work, too.

On the cost side rates on qualified VISA/MC cards beat PayPal, on non qualified PayPal is lower. But 24 hours to have the funds on a bank account is an advantage, can't pay vendors with Payal. GC is quite slow, too. Amex cost is about the same as PayPal and you get verification world wide, if not automatically then with a low effort 800 call on any account details.