[hackerspaces] Merchant Service Account Reccomendations

Tue Nov 1 23:12:42 CET 2011

Has anyone used Wepay?  Their fees seem to be less than PayPal..
https://www.wepay.com/about/fees_stores

On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 6:08 PM, Edward L Platt <elplatt at i3detroit.com>wrote:

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