Why I Use a Merchant Account and PayPal

This article contains older information. Go here for newer information on shopping carts and transactions.

Though I've been using PayPal here and there for a couple of years, for the last couple of months I have included PayPal as a payment option for my Web Commerce Today newsletter, and more recently for my e-books. The reasons is simple. I believe for some potential customers, PayPal is easier to use that credit cards. I have noticed that many of the PayPal orders for Web Commerce Today have come from European subscribers. Yes, it's a hassle to set up dual systems (which are required because my shopping card doesn't offer PayPal's Instant Payment Notification, IPN, as yet). But I believe it will result in an increase in orders.

Other alternative payment systems that may merit installation by merchants looking for additional markets to sell in include Cyphermint PayCash (See the product brief on Cyphermint in this issue. http://www.wilsonweb.com/wct6/altpay_cyphermint.cfm). I think they may open up markets in Eastern Europe as well as young teenagers and micropayments. I'll be setting up a PayCash system soon, and will report on progress in months to come.