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Any way to add convenience fee for Paypal payment?


JoeWoodworker

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I'd like to offer payment via Paypal on my site but since I sell only marginally over cost, the Paypal fee eats up much of my profit. Is there a way to charge a fee (a percentage) to the customer when they select the Paypal payment?

 

Thanks

Joe

Evil will always triumph over good...

Because good is dumb.

- D.H.

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Although I haven't gone over the entire new policies in detail, that used to be a sure-fire way to get your Paypal account shut down. Unless they've changed it, they strictly forbid charging a 'surcharge' to cover their fees....

 

There have been threads talking about this same scenario in regards to charging surcharges for credit cards (which is also a no-no) - I think folks have said that you can offer a *discount* for paying cash, but you cannot add a surcharge...

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It is illegal in lots of states in the US to upcharge for using a CC, which is what you would be doing. Do a search in the forum archives, this was thoroughly discussed last week.

 

deb

[no external urls in signatures please, kthanks]

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I totally forgot about the legal issue. :oops:

I guess the next best thing is to offer a discount on payments by money order.

 

Any ideas on how this would be done?

 

Thanks

Joe

Evil will always triumph over good...

Because good is dumb.

- D.H.

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Search the forum. search the forum......

 

Whenever you have a question repeat the above sentence to yourself as you click on the search button in the upper right corner. Much, much good information is contained behind that cute little button.

 

Your question was asked,, discussed and answered last week.

 

Really, I promise it's there.

 

deb

[no external urls in signatures please, kthanks]

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Ummm...why not do what any self-respecting business owner does and charge enough for your products to actually make a profit? :?

 

here we go again

 

1> In many Industries Comptition has gottne so feirce that unles you have HUGE buying power you will never be able to competite, Computers is a good Example of this, Places like Best Buy and Circuit City (if you in the US) sell Computers right at cost most of the time just to get people in the store to buy the cables, software and other acceriors that are marked up.. so a small shop (which I have seen many many times) is forced to sell cheaper or not sell at all, and this often drives the smaller shop out of biz, call it the price of doing business if you wish, but often people sacrific personalized service for the lowest price, and many industies are pure price driven, that being the case the extra 3% can often price you right out of business.....

 

2> Why should Cash Customers be Burdened by paying for a service they are not using?

Michael

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It seems your simple solution is to not use PayPal at all... but rather get a real secure CC ordering system so you can have a flat rate markup system. This would be your simplest solution, cause less burden to the developer and customer, and keep your mind in a line.

 

I'd really be dissappointed if I had a discout via prefered payment method. Quite honestly, I run my business with a flat rate markup. If I use a Credit Card (which happens to be 90% of my bussiness), then I eat the cost, because it drives in more customers for the convience. Since the restructuring of my domain, and new providers, I have to search for a new method to support my Credit Card customers. I will do it the same as always, flat rate markup, and you develop an honest, trustworthy business. Some people don't mind ordering online even if it means it's $0.50 more than Amazon, because they're supporting their local businesses.

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Ummm...why not do what any self-respecting business owner does and charge enough for your products to actually make a profit? :?

 

here we go again

 

1> In many Industries Comptition has gottne so feirce that unles you have HUGE buying power you will never be able to competite, Computers is a good Example of this, Places like Best Buy and Circuit City (if you in the US) sell Computers right at cost most of the time just to get people in the store to buy the cables, software and other acceriors that are marked up.. so a small shop (which I have seen many many times) is forced to sell cheaper or not sell at all, and this often drives the smaller shop out of biz, call it the price of doing business if you wish, but often people sacrific personalized service for the lowest price, and many industies are pure price driven, that being the case the extra 3% can often price you right out of business.....

 

2> Why should Cash Customers be Burdened by paying for a service they are not using?

 

Here what goes again? What is that supposed to mean?

 

Somehow I doubt someone posting as Joe Woodworker is selling computers (although I could be wrong). Believe it or not (and I'm sure this will be hard for you to digest) you may not always be right Michael. Thanks for the business wisdom though. I guess 20 years in my own business and I still haven't learned what you make sound soooo simple. :roll:

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Ummm...why not do what any self-respecting business owner does and charge enough for your products to actually make a profit? :?

 

here we go again

 

1> In many Industries Comptition has gottne so feirce that unles you have HUGE buying power you will never be able to competite, Computers is a good Example of this, Places like Best Buy and Circuit City (if you in the US) sell Computers right at cost most of the time just to get people in the store to buy the cables, software and other acceriors that are marked up.. so a small shop (which I have seen many many times) is forced to sell cheaper or not sell at all, and this often drives the smaller shop out of biz, call it the price of doing business if you wish, but often people sacrific personalized service for the lowest price, and many industies are pure price driven, that being the case the extra 3% can often price you right out of business.....

 

2> Why should Cash Customers be Burdened by paying for a service they are not using?

 

Here what goes again? What is that supposed to mean?

 

Somehow I doubt someone posting as Joe Woodworker is selling computers (although I could be wrong). Believe it or not (and I'm sure this will be hard for you to digest) you may not always be right Michael. Thanks for the business wisdom though. I guess 20 years in my own business and I still haven't learned what you make sound soooo simple. :roll:

 

1> This topic, and line of posting was just discussed a few days ago, thus "here we go again"

 

2> I was using Computers as a example, many industries have follwed this patteren, I dont know what he sells so i can not comment to his spefic industry

 

3> I know I am not Always right, but 99% of the time I am :P

 

4> I am happy for you and your success, If you learned what I have stated, great.. but I just just making a point

Michael

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