Is PayPal Really that Bad?

Posted on January 8, 2008 
Filed Under Controversy, Getting Paid

I want a better online shopping cart, and I want it nowThis picture represents the usefulness of my online shopping cart. I didn’t like it when I installed it, and in today’s market, I like it even less.

So guess what? I’ve just added a PayPal option in an attempt to make the order experience more friendly. It:

A payment system that’s kind to customers is always better for business.

But there’s the other side to the story. Colleagues have told me that some of their customers don’t want to use PayPal for orders. Here’s what I’ve heard.

I remember when “reputable store owners” wouldn’t dare put PayPal on their sites, but time seems to have been on PayPal’s side. I easily added my product roster into the system and am ready to roll. Many customers have used this option in my traditional cart, so why not set it up as a separate store?

What type of payment collector works best for you? Is PayPal one of your payment options, or do you think you’ll be branded as an “unsavvy business owner” if you paste their logo on your site?

[tags]gift baskets, PayPal, payment processors, payment options[/tags]

Comments

6 Responses to “Is PayPal Really that Bad?”

  1. Jamie on January 9th, 2008 2:25 pm

    I use paypal for some things but never tried it for my baskets. How doo i find out how to used it?

  2. Shirley George Frazier on January 9th, 2008 4:31 pm

    Jamie,

    Go to http://www.PayPal.com and look for the merchant services information.

    That’s where you’ll find many options for adding PayPal to your Web site or wherever you sell your gift baskets.

  3. Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. on January 28th, 2008 11:25 am

    Like many others I was hesitant to use PayPal on my website. But after mounting costs and poor service from another shopping cart service, I decided to give PayPal a try.

    I have been very pleased. It cost me nothing to set it up, it’s easy to send and receive money and they handle complaints quickly and efficiently. I especially like the fact that my customers can pay by check, money order, etc. if they’re uneasy about using a credit card online.

    There are a few who have difficulty using PayPal for some reason. For those customers I can still process their credit cards the old fashioned way.

  4. Shirley George Frazier on January 31st, 2008 9:04 am

    My results with customers ordering with PayPal versus the shopping cart is split so far.

    Some order with one, and others stick with the non-PayPal cart.

    Glad to read, Flora, that PayPal has been beneficial in terms of set up and service. Thanks also for sharing information about check and money orders through PayPal. That’s something many many not know.

  5. Rex Harris on March 19th, 2008 4:29 pm

    I’ve been a member in good standing with PayPal since June of 2001. PayPal is pefect for product and service based businesses offering legitimate products and services!

    Great article! Thanks!

  6. Shirley George Frazier on March 19th, 2008 5:00 pm

    Hello Rex,

    I’m also very pleased with PayPal’s functionality. As I add more PayPal links to my sites, it’s becoming clear that clients also appreciate the system.

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