What is the best merchant processing solution?

**smookedtrout** · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2010, 17:08

If you want to take credit card orders (or pre-orders), what is the best merchant processing solution?
I've heard the PayPal and Google Checkout will freeze your funds if even a single person complains about your service to them.

Rock · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2010, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by smookedtrout

If you want to take credit card orders (or pre-orders), what is the best merchant processing solution?
I've heard the PayPal and Google Checkout will freeze your funds if even a single person complains about your service to them.

I'd vote for Google Checkout (GC), from the way they've performed so far (9/10). Paypal is good too, but fraudsters are more attracted towards it whereas GC is best from keeping such pranksters at bay..

**Catherine** · #3 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 00:32

Payments via Google Checkout are verified thoroughly due to which only the payments from genuine customers are able to come through. However, you will find that the payments are delayed due to the verification process which is not the case if you consider Paypal as payments via Paypal are cleared within a few minutes

**Merrick** · #4 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 07:23

Well, I think what Rock said is right. PayPal may be a bit faster, however, it is sometimes difficult to catch a fraudulent in short time. The time taken by GC is considerable, however, the declining of payment assures you to get genuine clients. For a long-term business, I think GC is more secure than Paypal, isn't it?

**paul** · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 07:28

Both are reputed and reliable payment processor however they may freeze your account when they believe that there might be some fraudulent activities happening in your account. PayPal is currently not working properly in India, most of people reported it's reversing payments due to some issues. techcrunch.com/2010/02/05/paypal-halts-india/

**Adrian** · #6 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 00:55

Both the payment gateways are good, however, they are supported in different Countries and hence you should make sure that you select the one which supports the Countries from which you will be accepting payments.

**Kim-C** · #7 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 09:28

This is a Google era

I would go with

Google Checkout , if you need a secured and verified transactions you know where to go now..

**paul** · #8 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim-C

This is a Google era

I would go with

Google Checkout , if you need a secured and verified transactions you know where to go now..

Why would you like to use only Google checkout? I don't think a business owner will leave PayPal out because they've such a huge market share. There is no offense for accepting multiple payment system, on the contrary your customers will have multiple option for making payments.

**paul** · #9 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 14:13

Edit: PayPal is restoring withdrawal amount of Indian users and hopefully it will resolve the issues shortly.

**smithmiller6** · #10 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 19:32

If you don't care about the customer leaving your site:
Amazon Payments (underrated in my opinion)
PayPal
Google Checkout
If you need to seamlessly integrate a payment form in your site:
-PayPal Payments Pro ($30/month for a virtual terminal and API integration, no contracts, 2.9% transaction, it's really hard to find a merchant company that can beat this unless you're talking in volumes).
-Authorize.net coupled with the merchant company of your choice.
When evaluating a merchant company, beware of contract stipulations, transaction fees, and monthly fees. My first provider was Cardservice International (one of the largest) and I used LinkPoint for the online gateway. I was paying $60-80/month just for the service! (transaction fees excluded) AND I was locked in a 2-year contract with an insanely high cancellation fee. One of their fees was a mandatory $20 "customer service fee" for access to their 24/7 customer service team. (WTF?)
Just be careful when evaluating merchant companies. Try starting at your bank (as long as it's not Chase, BoA, or Wells Fargo). Generally, local community banks or credit unions will have fair pricing and good customer service for merchants.Try to check all Honest Merchant Report here.

**Catherine** · #11 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 01:57

As far as I know, there is no limit on the number of payment gateways you can have on your website. Hence, you can have multiple payment gateways like Paypal, Google Checkout, Moneybookers, Amazon etc. on your website in order to make sure that your customers have options to select the payment gateway for making the payment.

However, yo should also make sure that you have only limited of them which are actually beneficial to you otherwise, you may land up paying bills of these payment gateways and ruin your business.

**Christopher** · #12 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 11:07

Having multiple payment gateway is a good option as you never know what will your client demand or you may just miss a client because not having a desired payment option online..

You can have at least 2 to 3 three options available which can be Google checkout, Money bookers.

**shane** · #13 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 18:25

I personally prefer Authorize.net and Paypal if we speak on the best merchant processing solution.

Rock · #14 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane

I personally prefer Authorize.net and Paypal if we speak on the best merchant processing solution.

Have you tried Google Checkout anytime recently, Shane?

**paul** · #15 (**permalink**) 11-02-2010, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithmiller6

If you don't care about the customer leaving your site:
Amazon Payments (underrated in my opinion)

I don't think Amazon is underrated however IMO, it was wrongly projected to come out as rivals of PayPal and others, it's mostly used by the developers who are already using Amazon’s S3 web services/EC2 and those who are using Amazon credentials to buy goods or services.

**lailei** · #16 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 17:45

I think paypal works really well with me.

**Merrick** · #17 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 05:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock

Have you tried Google Checkout anytime recently, Shane?

Is it worth using Google CheckOut rather than PayPal or Authorize.Net, if we speak on the best merchant processing solution, Rock?

**Catherine** · #18 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrick

Is it worth using Google CheckOut rather than PayPal or Authorize.Net, if we speak on the best merchant processing solution, Rock?

If you ask me, I would say Yes

Charges per transaction are low when you consider Google Checkout in comparison to Paypal or Authorize.net (as far as I know

). Alongwith this, Google Checkout verifies the payments exceptionally well which helps in keeping fraudsters away which is an added advantage

**Merrick** · #19 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 06:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catherine

If you ask me, I would say Yes

Charges per transaction are low when you consider Google Checkout in comparison to Paypal or Authorize.net (as far as I know

). Alongwith this, Google Checkout verifies the payments exceptionally well which helps in keeping fraudsters away which is an added advantage

Thank you, Catherine!

Yes, Google CheckOut's verification process isextremely perfect. But, on few occasions, it makes us frustrated as it takes long time to clear the transaction and the service that we are paying for, is needed on urgent basis, aint't it?

**phoenix65** · #20 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrick

Thank you, Catherine!

Yes, Google CheckOut's verification process isextremely perfect. But, on few occasions, it makes us frustrated as it takes long time to clear the transaction and the service that we are paying for, is needed on urgent basis, aint't it?

Google Checkout's verification is undoubtedly one of the best as compared with other payment gateways. But as stated by Merrick, it takes longer time to process the payment into the merchants account, hence delaying the delivery time of the product or service to the customer. Now, this might be a bit frustrating to the customer, since most of them are not aware of these facts, they simply want to product at least waste of time.