Anyone use PayPal for paying via website?

[neighborhoodlawn]

I am located in Atlanta. I have had many customers ask about paying online. Also, I have a HOA, and a few commerical accounts, that would probably pay online. I put on my invoices last season, "Credit Cards Accepted...Coming Soon!"

Well, I checked into Pay Pal, but it has a checkout cart, and doesn't look like it's designed for "services". Looks like it's more for people online selling and mailing stuff.

Does anyone accept credit cards without the credit card machine? You know in case the people aren't at home?

I was hoping that someone here could give me some insight as to how you all handle this. Any bad experiences, good ones, whatever. Don't accept credit cards, do accept them. Let me know your advice. I really need to accept credit cards, debit card, whatever.


Paul

[scagguy]

I have been using pay pal for the last year. It's a useful tool for getting work that I might not see because of money issues. If I know going into the deal where the customer is going to use pay pal I boost the price by 5% to cover the fees.

[JakobHarper]

Paypal is awesome! I have never thought of using it for my business but I use it through eBay all the time. Yes someone can send you money for a service through paypal. All they need from you is your email address that you have stored in paypal and they just log into their Paypal account and go to "send money" and type in your email address to send the funds too. You will then get a confirmation from Paypal saying the funds have been delivered into your account and your set. I've been using Paypal for 4 years now and it's very efficient. And yes Paypal does get 2-3% commission off of every transaction and the receiver of funds gets to pay that so mark up your prices accordingly.

[jagmagic]

I am located in Atlanta. I have had many customers ask about paying online. Also, I have a HOA, and a few commerical accounts, that would probably pay online. I put on my invoices last season, "Credit Cards Accepted...Coming Soon!"

Well, I checked into Pay Pal, but it has a checkout cart, and doesn't look like it's designed for "services". Looks like it's more for people online selling and mailing stuff.

Does anyone accept credit cards without the credit card machine? You know in case the people aren't at home?

I was hoping that someone here could give me some insight as to how you all handle this. Any bad experiences, good ones, whatever. Don't accept credit cards, do accept them. Let me know your advice. I really need to accept credit cards, debit card, whatever.


Paul

Actually, it's funny you asked. I just downloaded their "virtual credit card machine" It is AWESOME...

No machines to go down, no phone connection to worry about. I love it. I have 12 customers that have all ready decided to go on auto pay.

The "bookwork" is always something I've HATED, if I can get all my customers using this, it will keep track of all my payments for me. The nice thing about it is it let's you take check payments over the phone as well, so your customers can just give you one voided check when they sign up, and you can take a payment from them whenever they authorize it.

This is one of the most exciting advancements I have made for my company and I am looking forward to a much more streamlined billing, and customer service aspect of my business now.

[Bulldog26]

I used the paypal virtual this past season and it was great. I have a number of customers that just gave me thier credit card number at the start of the season, then on the first of the month I just charged thier card for what they owed. One small draw back is it takes about 3-4 days to transfer from paypal to your checking account. It worked really well for me!
bt

[kahzmoe]

Also if you use paypal. You can sign up for the paypal money market. Earn money on your account balance. Currently at 5.02%.

[Blake]

Paypal is awesome! I have never thought of using it for my business but I use it through eBay all the time. Yes someone can send you money for a service through paypal. All they need from you is your email address that you have stored in paypal and they just log into their Paypal account and go to "send money" and type in your email address to send the funds too. You will then get a confirmation from Paypal saying the funds have been delivered into your account and your set. I've been using Paypal for 4 years now and it's very efficient. And yes Paypal does get 2-3% commission off of every transaction and the receiver of funds gets to pay that so mark up your prices accordingly.

I 2nd that.

[60miles2tahoe]

Does anyone accept credit cards without the credit card machine? You know in case the people aren't at home?

You can get set up to accept cc's and call in for approval from your cell. Or you could just call from home/office and charge all your accounts from there when it is time to bill.I don't know why you would go through all that trouble unless you are doing a one time job from someone you don't trust??? IF you want to do this, call around to your local banks and ask about merchant account rates and charges.

I never used paypal but never heard complaints about the service and it is cheaper than merchant rates.

[rustyt22]

Been using paypal for over a year. Check it out at www.themasterslawncare.com and go to payments. What I dont know about is the "virtual payments", calling checks in, or calling credit cards in. I thought paypal was a web only thing....

[Dr.Bizzaro]

I would never make a purchase w/ paypal- for the simple reason that I have such a high credit score that my credit card DOUBLE'S any warranty on anything I buy- NOT the case with paydirt.

[rustyt22]

just read about virtual terminal on the paypal website, but how can you get voided checks and have themoney authorized to be takn out every month. It didnt mention anything about that....

[Kimber Landscapes]

Many people will not use Pay-Pal. Some older people can't use computers. I use a regular CC processer. Unless your customers do not trust you to give you their credit card.