[hackerspaces] Merchant Service Account Reccomendations

Tue Nov 1 23:04:33 CET 2011

It's on the roadmap for the school factory for sure.

Amazon jerked Pumping Station: One around regarding our non-profit status
so we switched to Paypal.  I'd tend to avoid Amazon for your hackerspace.

On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 3:10 PM, Will Bradley <will at heatsynclabs.org> wrote:

> I wonder if Space Federation has a way to make this less painless? Seems
> like something we'd all benefit from if we pooled our resources and bought
> in bulk, or at least standardized so we each weren't reinventing the
> recurring-membership-billing wheel. HeatSync uses PayPal right now but it's
> definitely not ideal.
>
>
> On Nov 1, 2011, at 1:06 PM, Carlyn maw <carlynorama at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Yeah, we looked at freshbooks a while back - I can't remember why they
> didn't stick, i'll poke my nose there again, too.
>
> That is good to know that while Auth.net might work with the cart, the
> recurring billing might not. I'll keep my eye on that in module
> descriptions.
>
> I'll keep people posted as we go. We might do Amazon as a stop gap for
> now, for the shopping cart part of what we do, since google checkout
> doesn't work with Zen cart and that is what we are actively using to sell
> classes right now. Do they work internationally?
>
> I just got a note from google check out about the Dontaions thing, too. We
> aren't frozen though. Apparently you can't even use the word in
> relationship to the button - not just the type of button, heads up.
>
> Best,
> --Carlyn
>
> On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 10:54 AM, Chris Hardee <shazzner at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Auth.net has a recurring billing option, but it didn't work for us
>> (requires to write your own interface with their api or have a processor
>> that uses it). Initially we tried to tie our sign up with a webstore, but
>> it wouldn't up being more work and maintenance then we wanted. We use
>> Freshbooks for recurring billing and they're a pretty slick outfit and
>> haven't had an issue with them at all. Your mileage may vary.
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 12:13 PM, Carlyn maw <carlynorama at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Google Checkout's Recurring payments seem to *still* only be in beta,
>>> sadly, nor do they have a ZenCart plugin that works, but for single payment
>>> stuff we're using them. Anyone already using the beta recurring stuff?
>>>
>>> Amazon's payments does support recurring already - and works with Zen
>>> Cart (where we are), doesn't work with Drupal Commerce yet (where we are
>>> likely going, but I could try to help with that I guess), does work with
>>> Drupal Ubercart (still an option).  I guess maybe, but for some reason I'm
>>> skeptical of it.  Not sure why. Think it will make more of our member balk
>>> than google checkout or just a merchant account. I guess I'll just ask at
>>> the meeting tonight. Thoughts?
>>>
>>> Yeah, If I'm gonna trail-blaze, I'm not sure why, but I'd rather use
>>> Google Commerce than Amazon Payments but that may not be based on any
>>> actual facts.  Anyone have any. I'm prepared to be wrong.
>>>
>>> I was honestly looking for something where what vendor we are using to
>>> process our payments was one where they didn't have to have an account with
>>> someone other than just us, mostly because once we get the paypal thing
>>> resolved, we'll probably still use them, pathetic I know.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> -- Carlyn
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 8:23 AM, Will Bradley <will at heatsynclabs.org>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Alternatives to PayPal include Google Checkout and Amazon Payments btw,
>>>> you can check those out too for something quick.
>>>>  On Nov 1, 2011 4:24 AM, "Neil" <hackspc at narwani.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>> New to this list and still lurking, until I get around to an intro.
>>>>>  However, some quick notes re: merchant accounts...
>>>>>
>>>>> Beware: there are 2 general rates you get charged at -- the base rate
>>>>> and the corp/rewards/int'l rate.  The latter is higher and applies to any
>>>>> international CC, corporate CC, and any CC where the card-holder gets any
>>>>> form or reward (cash back, miles, points, etc).  And the catchy low rate is
>>>>> if you physically swipe the card vs. keying it in via a virtual terminal
>>>>> (website such as authorize.net).
>>>>>
>>>>> In theory, I was supposed to be paying 2.9% base rate and a bit higher
>>>>> for the corp/int'l/rewards cards, but in practice (from bank statements) it
>>>>> seems that in the past year over 95% of my transactions are charged at the
>>>>> higher rate, and that works out to be ~5.9% (!!!).  Remember there's a flat
>>>>> per-transaction charge also.
>>>>>
>>>>> Most will accept MC/Visa/Disc, and Amex is usually separate/higher.
>>>>>
>>>>> Don't forget to ask about monthly fees, annual fees (yes, some have
>>>>> both), chargeback fees, refund fees (yes, some charge a percentage to issue
>>>>> a refund), statement fees, batch fees (daily for sending the money to you
>>>>> account), and minimums.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've been shopping for a new processor again, and so far Chase seems
>>>>> to be one of the better ones, at 2.25% + $0.20 for either base or
>>>>> corp/int'l/rewards cards.  I have a list of different rates/fees/etc from a
>>>>> handful of other companies and can get it for you when I get back.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>> -Neil.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Quoting Chris Hardee <shazzner at gmail.com>:
>>>>>
>>>>>  We use our bank's merchant services along with Auth.net to process
>>>>>> payments, which in turn we use freshbooks to handle reoccuring
>>>>>> billing and
>>>>>> keep track of accounts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 9:27 PM, Carlyn maw <carlynorama at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  So CRASH Space just tried to get a merchant services account via
>>>>>>> dharmamerchantservices.com and they were cool, but their under
>>>>>>> writing
>>>>>>> bank (Moneris) was freaked out by the fact that we, gasp, taught lock
>>>>>>> picking and associated with "hackers." I think it is kinda funny.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> They are going to put us in touch with someone else, although it is
>>>>>>> likely
>>>>>>> we'll just go with our bank and sign up with authorize.netdirectly, but
>>>>>>> anyone have a credit card processing group they like? Anyone know
>>>>>>> anything
>>>>>>> about http://beanstream.com/ ? I'm probably going to call them
>>>>>>> tomorrow
>>>>>>> just to get a feel for them.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Happy Halloween...
>>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>> -- Carlyn
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>>>>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>>>>>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Chris Hardee
>>>>>> 10BitWorks
>>>>>> San Antonio Hackerspace
>>>>>> 10bitworks at gmail.com
>>>>>> http://10bitworks.com/
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Chris Hardee
>> 10BitWorks
>> San Antonio Hackerspace
>> 10bitworks at gmail.com
>> http://10bitworks.com/
>>
>>
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