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bigcaat
10-24-2007, 08:41 PM
Hey.

This isn't exactly the place for this, but I'm going to try here because I've posted on the Zen Cart & Google support forums until I'm blue in the face and get absolutely no viable feedback from either.

I am building a small e-commerce site. I have the site, for the most part, completely built and ready to go up, with just one thing holding me up -- my credit card payment method.

I have two things going on. I have my site, and then I have a shopping cart (Zen Cart) which I have modified to match my site. I'm not up and running yet, but here are the urls.

http://www.spiritcaat.com
http://www.spiritcaat.com/zenshopping

Here's the problem. From the start, I had decided to use Google Checkout. We have installed several versions of the module and the beta was working for one thing, but not another. We have now installed the most recent module and it fixed the one problem (free shipping) but now will not consistently calculate proper shipping. (I'm still in Sandbox Mode.)

Furthermore, this new module does not allow for first class or priority USPS shipping. This is a real problem.

The only other similar option is PayPal. I have had problems with PayPal. I detest them, I don't trust them. I was almost frustrated enough into signing up so I could use PayPal Express until I read their policy on chargebacks and read about the crap they pull with them. Okay, that's out.

Next option, my own merchant account. I was really hoping not to go here. It's a minimum of $25/month, and I'm not even up and running yet. I don't even know if I'll make $25/month.

So give me some input. I've spent the last 8 months building this website. I would like to put it up online, but I am so frustrated with this shipping problem, I'm ready to chuck the whole thing.

Do I have other options? If I have to go with a merchant account -- who? I looked at Charge.com but they use securepay.com as their gateway, who has just announce they are dropping support for Zen Cart.

There are some out there that use authorize.net without fees over and above the gateway fees, but who? And do they have these same types of chargeback policies that PayPal has? I'm told Google provides protection for that.

Who do you use? How does it work? Do any of you use Google Checkout? How stable and consistent is it? Any input you can give me on any of these matters would be greatly appreciated. If Google would just fix these latest problems, it would be a non-issue, but there just seem to be no answers anywhere.

Thanks.
Caat

bobdog
10-25-2007, 11:01 AM
PayPal express is an option.

I just set up a couple of Zen cart sites with this. The paypal express is available in the latest version of Zen, v1.3.7

Works smooth, has USPS options you want.

Yes, banks will charge you a minimum per month, and probably bind you in a 2 year contract. So before you do that, give paypal a chance to see if your business can afford the monthly bank fee.

Sonny
10-25-2007, 01:10 PM
I agree with bobdog. I also have a Zen Cart site utilizing PayPal. I've been with paypal for a few years with no major glitches so far.

chiactivate
04-15-2008, 10:40 AM
I agree, Pay Pal sucks. Some credit card cannot be processed, because the card number of the customer might is connected with their paypal account.

Pay pal pop up screens is even worse. It's provides you the credit card option with a tiny link "don't have paypal account?" click here.

Most customer can't see that link, they keep asking. Do I need a paypal account to complete the payment?

I am trying to find a payment gateway. Which one should I use?

Authorize.net seems to be the most trusted gateway in US, but needs to have physical location in US. I am located in Canada.

Is there another trusted payment gateway for Canadian businesses, besides Authorize.net?

felgall
04-15-2008, 01:49 PM
The only difference I found between Paypal and what local banks quoted me is that while the transactions fees are about the same, the banks also charge a monthly fee for using their service and do not provide the same hooks into their service as Paypal does for running your own processing once the payment goes through. So the banks wanted to charge more and provide less.