Interesting research on PayPal

[Handster]

We added PayPal payment as an option to our website.
Website sells Windows Mobile software

Before, we used just credit cards processing, using Payflow Pro. With addition of PayPal sales increased by 30%!

Another interesting thing is that when we added "PayPal seal" on every page - sales dropped by 20%.
Just magic - we kept it for a week and whole week sales were 20% lower.
After removing "PayPal seal" sales climbed again to 130% from "before paypal" level.
The reason could be, that people without PayPal account were simply leaving website, when they saw "PayPal seal".

Now thinking about adding "Google checkout" - is it popular among consumers? Anybody has experience, how it can increase sales?

[edited by: bakedjake at 4:00 pm (utc) on Mar. 19, 2009]
[edit reason] no URLs, but welcome to WebmasterWorld [/edit]

[TowerOfPower]

The terms of service state that if you use the Direct API you also have to offer the express checkout *option* to the buyer, on your checkout page.

So the buyer can either...

1. Stay on your website during *the entire checkout process.*

2. Or if he chooses to, he can also just click the paypal express checkout button and use that option.

And no, the buyer does not need a paypal account when using the Direct API way... He only needs a paypal account if he goes to your checkout page and clicks the paypal express checkout option.

[edited by: TowerOfPower at 2:29 am (utc) on April 25, 2009]

[Digmen1]

Yes I am a bit confused by all the options Paypal has.
Their pages to set up a Website Standard account and Merchant services is about as friendly as Google Adwords !

They say purchasers can use their credit card or Paypal. But that is not strictly true ! If the purchaser has a credit card that is linked to Paypal - they have to use the Paypal option.

Regards

[SmartHID]

Well the first thing you said sounds great...
Having a direct pay api or whatever, where the entire checkout process is on my page, with no paypal involved, just accept credit cards as payment just like a normal merchant, no paypal required... and if they choose to use paypal, also having the OPTION of paypal there as well...

But then at the end of your post, you kind of contradicted that statement... So im confused. What do i need, or how do i set up, what i mentioned above? Please anyone, help is much appreciated!

[edited by: SmartHID at 6:53 am (utc) on April 25, 2009]

[SmartHID]

Anyone?

[SmartHID]

I already have a shopping cart that is compatable with paypals services, so would that make it easier for me to integrate a way to accept credit cards on my website and have the money drop into my paypal account instead of my bank account, without my customers needing a paypal account or knowing paypal is processing the transaction?

[TowerOfPower]

If you sign up for Payapl Direct API your buyers will have two options:

Option A) Stay on your site and have you process their orders via Direct API in the background. You take the CC info and process it with Direct API.

Option B) Click the "paypal express checkout" button and leave your site momentarily... User pays with his paypal account and then gets redirected back to you.

Both options will deposit the money into your paypal account.

[edited by: TowerOfPower at 8:16 pm (utc) on April 27, 2009]

[SmartHID]

Ok, so if i want to use the Paypal Direct API on my website, do i need to code it myself? Or is there a place that tells me exactly what code to add to my site? Also keep in mind that i have a shopping cart with cartmanager, which is supposedly paypal compatable, so am i able to integrate it into my cart? Or what would i need to do exactly? Im so close to getting all the answers i need i can taste it! Thanks everybody who has replied so far.. And thanks in advance to anyone who replies to this one. Its the last question i have.

Thanks guys, hope to see a reply soon!

[SmartHID]

Anyone?

[homeless]

The *integrate* link on PayPal's home page may be the best resource for how to tie all this together. The previous posts directed you toward the PayPal flavor you are seeking.

Unless your cart works out of the box (with this flavor of PayPal), you will need to do some coding. There is doco and other resources at that link.

[WolfLover]

Handster, in my opinion, the worst payment system available is PayPal. It's just not worth it, especially in a niche such as yours.

PayPal always (at least 99% of the time) sides with the buyer. Let's say that you send your software to your customer. Your customer gets the software, then claims (many times falsely) that they did not receive it, or it was not as described, etc. PayPal will hold that money while they ask you for proof, and most times even with proof (such as a delivery confirmation number), they will side with the customer and refund them the money. You are out shipping, costs of product you sent out, time, etc. Does not matter whether the customer is a liar or a thief, you the merchant are out.

Trust me, I've dealt with PayPal for many years, but as of the end of last year (2008), I will not EVER EVER use them again.

Have you ever called them and talked to a person there? I have, numerous times, I've been cussed at, I've been laughed at, I've been hung up on, etc. etc. When I used to work in the customer service industry, I would have been fired on the spot had I treated my customers they way PayPal employees have treated me.

I don't care if my sales increased by putting PayPal back on my sites, it is NOT worth the loss of money, the headaches, the aggravation, or the stolen merchandise.

I could write a book (I just might do that), on the sorry company that both eBay AND PayPal are.