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Jlvazquez825
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setting up an oline store... - 4/11/2008 11:16:53
I need to setup an online store.....what is the easiest way to do it?
thanks
< Message edited by Spooky -- 4/30/2008 3:56:00 >
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coreybryant
Posts: 2422
Joined: 3/17/2002
From: Castle Rock CO USA
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RE: setting up an oline store... - 4/11/2008 13:58:55
There are so many answers to this question - but there is so much more we need to know. For example - are you wanting to host the site yourself or have someone else offer a hosted solution (i.e. Yahoo!)?
If you host it yourself, you will also need an SSL. And then you might want to use an Internet Payment Service Provider (IPSP) (like (some versions of) PayPal / 2CO, or consider using an electronic payment gatewat (LinkPoint / YourPay / Integrated Internet Payments (IIP), Yahoo!, Payflow, Authorize.net / Cybersource, etc) with your own merchant account. And this is also dependent on where you are.
If you are in the United States, you have hundreds of processors to choose from and scores of electronic payment gateways.
Most of these gateways (Quantum, LinkPoint / YourPay, Authorize.net / Cybersource, Payflow, Yahoo!®, etc) that will connect to a transaction processor (First Data, Nova, etc). Some of the transaction processors that have a relationship with the issuing bank and acquiring bank can complete the transaction instead of sending it to the card associations (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, etc). You might even remember the lawsuit that Visa was suing First Data because Visa was getting cut out of a lot of the transactions because First Data was completing the transaction. Fortunately, that was settled.
The transaction can be broken down into about seven steps
- Authorization
- Merchant Balancing
- Capture
- Capture
- Interchange (V/MC Only)
- Interchange (V/MC Only)
- Merchant ACH
The electronic payment gateway will virtually connect your website to a transaction processor.
If you are in the United States, you have a number of options. Getting a merchant account is pretty good if you are doing more than $1,000 a month. One of the bigger reasons is getting your money. Some think this is not important but I have to object. Getting your money is usually the best thing, right? And with a merchant account, your money is deposited into your bank account within 48-72 hours usually after the batch is completed. If you do the math and look at what you might earn if the money if in your interest bearing account you might make money with your money.
The IPSP (Internet Payment Service Provider) like (some versions of) PayPal are relying on your money to earn interest. Some of them will send your money weekly or twice a month, while some will send it only when you request it.
The electronic payment gateways will also offer you an API to process the transaction on your website. This helps with the flow of the checkout process. The user is never directed to another website. You can get a test store from most of the electronic payment gateways but some of the skilled developers think this is unnecessary. And others think it is a great option to have. Now, even some members of Paypal can get this as well.
Now, if you are in the United States, there are some very important pieces of information must be on an ISO / MSP / Agent's website. Let's take a look at CDG Commerce's web site and look at their footer: quote:
CDGcommerce is a registered ISO/MSP for First National Bank of Omaha, 1620 Dodge St., Omaha, NE
and Merrick Bank, Salt Lake City, UT - Members FDIC.
This tells you CDG is a registered ISO/MSP and what bank he is with. An agent will have something like "independent agent office" with a certain ISO.
If you are a member of Sam's Club or Costco, you might check their programs to see if they are suitable. Just make sure to read the fine print and all the legalease.
The electronic payment gateways might charge you a transaction fee - some based on a fixed fee and some a percentage. Some gateways will give you XXXX number of transactions free per month and then charge you. And some gateways will just charge a flat fee (similar to AOL giving away their software so you will use service). It is the gateway that is really important. When the gateway is down - your ecommerce site is basically shut down. Although some gateways offer a way for you to still send the transaction and once the gateway is back up, the transaction will be processed.
_____________________________
Corey R. Bryant
Merchant Accounts | Toll Free Numbers | My Blog | Expression Web Blog
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Jlvazquez825
Posts: 50
Joined: 12/27/2005
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RE: setting up an oline store... - 4/14/2008 0:59:42
sorry for my late reply....wow, thanks for all that info, I'm new to the e-commerce experience, but I'll try to do a bit more of reading to answer some of your question, yes I'm in the US, and I have an account with paypal, although is not a merchant account... besides the merchant account with paypal, would I need a gateway also?.... and do they charge you a fix rated or they only charge a percentage of every transaction you make on your website?....do you know if they offer you like a template for your store, or would I have to build it from scratch?.. hope that's not too many questions, then again thanks all for the help
http://www.pcteckonline.org
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coreybryant
Posts: 2422
Joined: 3/17/2002
From: Castle Rock CO USA
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RE: setting up an oline store... - 4/28/2008 16:57:20
Well a merchant account works in conjunction with an electronic payment gateway.
Usually a merchant account / gateway (company) are separate from your ecommerce website. Some electronic payment gateways provide a shopping cart.
_____________________________
Corey R. Bryant
Merchant Accounts | Toll Free Numbers | My Blog | Expression Web Blog
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DebSpecs
Posts: 107
Joined: 1/4/2007
From: NY
Status: offline
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RE: setting up an oline store... - 5/13/2008 17:06:33
Another important question before you set up the store is, at what point will you be billing the customer? As soon as they place the internet order, meaning your site is configured to "bill" their cards? Or sometime later, when you're certain you have the merchandise in stock? In this case, you'd have to have a separate accounting program, like Peachtree, which is "configured" to bill their cards right from your computer.
I'm in internet retail, and my duties are many. I don't have the time (even if i DID have the knowledge) to program the backbone of our store, so we use outside programmers at web2market.com. They basically built our shopping cart, and now it's easy for me to add info/pics and even video on all of our products.
I figured i'd share my own experience so you can better pinpoint your needs.
:)
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