[Love Calm Quiet]

A search didn't show me anything, so I'm wondering:

• What banks (etc) offer good MC/Visa solutions for someone who would like to take their sales one line eventually?

• I'd like to experiment with my own E-commerce in a little way so that I have experience and can make experienced recommendations to clients for whom I do web design.

• Seems like a lot of people I speak with are annoyed with idea of having to do PayPal (I don't know why), and of course they'll take a 4-5% hit from me as a Merchant.

1) About the banks. To become a "Merchant Services" customer at bank (and have them take "2.0 - 2.5%" acc. to bus. bankingn VP) also means getting hit with monthly charges ($25 min. + commonly another $5-$10/mo for miscellaney) according to another small business owner who banked with my (national name) bank. That's several hundred dollars a year even before I do any MC/Visa business.
Know any banks that really support the TECH side of their merchant customers? (make suggestions about eCommerce solutions, equipment - the electronic card-swipe stuff is expensive)

2) About the E-commerce: What's friendliest setup for really small, low-tech mom-n-pop stores that would like to start selling their little goodies online.

Your stories appreciated! (or links to helpful specialized forums?)

[mania]

I always like authorize.net cause they just give you a PHP script you can modify to make it work for your situation. it should work with most banks (wells fargo is one).

give me a ring sometime seeing as how you are a fellow coloradan - I am doing all this stuff you want to do for my clients and my two businesses (I also own a rafting company of all things).

[mr_friendly]

I worked on one site that used Verisign, and its affiliated partner e-merchantsolutions. I've been happy with the service. Even though they may be regarded as the "enterprise solution" or "large guy", I like knowing that the security and trust of the customers' information is in well-funded hands.

Yes, you pay to the bank a percentage of each charge, but it is taken out of the monthly fee. For example, if you only sell $10 worth of items, then you'll pay $25. Once your sales exceed the amount whose percentage equals the month fee, then you'll pay more. DOes that make sense? Basically, the bank will take the monthly fee, or the percentage, whichever is worth more. It lets them be promised a certain amount each month even from the small vendors.

oh, by the way, the people that I've spoken with have regarded PayPal as a "low class" solution that a "true" store wouldn't deal with. That is not my opinion. I think paypal is fine and dandy for their services. Just wanted to let you know that I've gotten the sense that it is not regarded as a commercial quality solution...that may be why your clients are hestitant of using them.

good luck!

[mr_friendly]

I worked on one site that used Verisign, and its affiliated partner e-merchantsolutions. I've been happy with the service. Even though they may be regarded as the "enterprise solution" or "large guy", I like knowing that the security and trust of the customers' information is in well-funded hands.

Yes, you pay to the bank a percentage of each charge, but it is taken out of the monthly fee. For example, if you only sell $10 worth of items, then you'll pay $25. Once your sales exceed the amount whose percentage equals the month fee, then you'll pay more. DOes that make sense? Basically, the bank will take the monthly fee, or the percentage, whichever is worth more. It lets them be promised a certain amount each month even from the small vendors.

oh, by the way, the people that I've spoken with have regarded PayPal as a "low class" solution that a "true" store wouldn't deal with. That is not my opinion. I think paypal is fine and dandy for their services. Just wanted to let you know that I've gotten the sense that it is not regarded as a commercial quality solution...that may be why your clients are hestitant of using them.

good luck!