[hackerspaces] Merchant Service Account Reccomendations

Tue Nov 1 23:08:45 CET 2011

PayPal definitely has a bad track record (including freezing GNU project
funds several years ago), and their API makes my skin crawl.  However, it
seems to have all the features you'd need, and the rates are about as low
as you're going to find.  Is there any functional or practical requirement
that PayPal doesn't meet?

-Ed
--
Edward L. Platt
i3 Detroit: i3detroit.com
Cell: 248.320.5061

On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 6:04 PM, Tim Saylor <tim.saylor at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Chris Hardee
>>>>>>> 10BitWorks
>>>>>>> San Antonio Hackerspace
>>>>>>> 10bitworks at gmail.com
>>>>>>> http://10bitworks.com/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Chris Hardee
>>> 10BitWorks
>>> San Antonio Hackerspace
>>> 10bitworks at gmail.com
>>> http://10bitworks.com/
>>>
>>>
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