Comments for IMA Voices http://imamerchant.org/blog Internet Merchants Association Blog - Thoughts and ideas from our IMA members for online sellers. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:07:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 Comment on Too MANY Payment Options? by Cyn http://imamerchant.org/blog/too-many-payment-options/#comment-86 Cyn Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:50:28 +0000 http://imamerchant.org/blog/too-many-payment-options/#comment-86 I think as long as you have a merchant account for customers to pay with their credit card you're going to lose very little business. Most people don't expect to find Paypal or Google Checkout or Amazon Checkout on a website not related some way to that payment method. Sure, it might be convenient for the customer to pay with their Paypal account, but I doubt most folks would NOT buy something they wanted because you didn't offer Paypal. Now I have had customers NOT buy something because ALL I offered was Paypal. The Merchant Account is what people expect to find, any additional payment methods are just gravy. Cyn I think as long as you have a merchant account for customers to pay with their credit card you’re going to lose very little business. Most people don’t expect to find Paypal or Google Checkout or Amazon Checkout on a website not related some way to that payment method. Sure, it might be convenient for the customer to pay with their Paypal account, but I doubt most folks would NOT buy something they wanted because you didn’t offer Paypal. Now I have had customers NOT buy something because ALL I offered was Paypal. The Merchant Account is what people expect to find, any additional payment methods are just gravy.

Cyn

]]> Comment on Too MANY Payment Options? by Cathy http://imamerchant.org/blog/too-many-payment-options/#comment-85 Cathy Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:51:21 +0000 http://imamerchant.org/blog/too-many-payment-options/#comment-85 I dont know if I agree. I find that customers are loyal to "their" payment method. If you cut one payment option out, you might find you could lose 25% of your business. I am going to give Amazon checkout a try but it could be awhile before my shopping cart offers this option. I dont know if I agree. I find that customers are loyal to “their” payment method. If you cut one payment option out, you might find you could lose 25% of your business. I am going to give Amazon checkout a try but it could be awhile before my shopping cart offers this option.

]]> Comment on Too MANY Payment Options? by Sun http://imamerchant.org/blog/too-many-payment-options/#comment-84 Sun Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:49:51 +0000 http://imamerchant.org/blog/too-many-payment-options/#comment-84 I only see benefit in offering additional payment methods. Its about removing the barriers between you and the customer, not adding barriers that reduce the possibility of a sale. If you're teetering between the next fee discount tier and the current, it might make sense to exclude a specific payment option. I haven't reached $100,000 a month on Paypal yet, but maybe some day. Until, I don't mind spreading it out across various payment methods. I only see benefit in offering additional payment methods. Its about removing the barriers between you and the customer, not adding barriers that reduce the possibility of a sale. If you’re teetering between the next fee discount tier and the current, it might make sense to exclude a specific payment option. I haven’t reached $100,000 a month on Paypal yet, but maybe some day. Until, I don’t mind spreading it out across various payment methods.

]]> Comment on Looking at eBays DSR (Detailed Seller Ratings) - I am concerned by Becky http://imamerchant.org/blog/looking-at-ebays-dsrs-i-am-concerned/#comment-82 Becky Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:25:37 +0000 http://imamerchant.org/blog/looking-at-ebays-dsrs-i-am-concerned/#comment-82 I have been reading a lot of opinions from sellers on eBay about the 5 star DSR ratings. I have been trying to think of a way to let buyers know exactly what the 5 star system is and how rating below 4 stars penalizes sellers. I don't like the 5 star system at all. You can mail the same item the same way same communication to 5 customers and have 5 different ratings. Most customers do not give 5 stars on anything no matter how pleased they are with their purchase. They feel a 4 star is a great rating. How can we come up with a letter for our buyers explain this 5 star system . I have composed a letter and have been sending it out after I ship their item for the past week. I don’t know if it has helped or not. Most of my sales are international so my shipping time as far as the customer concerns will never be satisfactory. I would like to hear any ideas others might have in educating buyers what this 5 star system is and how it works. The following is a letter that I email after I ship a customers item. Hi, Want to thank you again for your purchase. I have mailed your item out today First Class Air Mail. When you receive your item and are happy with your purchase. It would be appreciated so very much if you could give me a 5 star rating with positive feedback. If you feel you can not give me a 5 star rating. Please email me with any problems or questions you might have with your purchase. Thank you again and have a great week. I have been reading a lot of opinions from sellers on eBay about the 5 star DSR ratings. I have been trying to think of a way to let buyers know exactly what the 5 star system is and how rating below 4 stars penalizes sellers. I don’t like the 5 star system at all. You can mail the same item the same way same communication to 5 customers and have 5 different ratings. Most customers do not give 5 stars on anything no matter how pleased they are with their purchase. They feel a 4 star is a great rating. How can we come up with a letter for our buyers explain this 5 star system . I have composed a letter and have been sending it out after I ship their item for the past week. I don’t know if it has helped or not. Most of my sales are international so my shipping time as far as the customer concerns will never be satisfactory. I would like to hear any ideas others might have in educating buyers what this 5 star system is and how it works. The following is a letter that I email after I ship a customers item.

Hi, Want to thank you again for your purchase. I have mailed your item out today First Class Air Mail. When you receive your item and are happy with your purchase. It would be appreciated so very much if you could give me a 5 star rating with positive feedback. If you feel you can not give me a 5 star rating. Please email me with any problems or questions you might have with your purchase. Thank you again and have a great week.

]]> Comment on Too MANY Payment Options? by Charlie http://imamerchant.org/blog/too-many-payment-options/#comment-81 Charlie Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:50:01 +0000 http://imamerchant.org/blog/too-many-payment-options/#comment-81 That is a point I had not considered. By having an incentive for all payments to be made through one service and ultimately receiving compensation for that through reduced fees you may be better off only using one payment processor. Food for thought indeed! Charlie That is a point I had not considered. By having an incentive for all payments to be made through one service and ultimately receiving compensation for that through reduced fees you may be better off only using one payment processor.

Food for thought indeed!

Charlie

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