Payment options with Web-store-buddy
Web-store-buddy includes built-in integration with PayPal, Google Checkout and RBS WorldPay. Each of these options allows you to take credit card payments online, and at the same time they authorize and validate the payment.
Web-store-buddy also makes it possible to accept credit card orders securely for processing off-line in your office. Furthermore you can also choose to take orders by electronic funds transfer, check or by money order.
If you do not already have a PayPal account, you can sign up for a website payments account here. There are no joining or setup fees, and signing up can be completed same day.
PayPal
Web-store-buddy has built-in integration to PayPal's payment system - either "website payments standard" or "website payments pro". The "pro" option requires a monthly fee and allows you to process cardholder-not-present transactions through a virtual terminal. All you need is the "standard" option for Web-store-buddy.
When PayPal first started out, any shopper using PayPal would have been obliged to sign up for a PayPal account. But some time ago PayPal opened up the system, and this means that shoppers can pay you now by PayPal without needing to have a PayPal account.
Google Checkout
The idea behind Google Checkout is that your customers can buy from you quickly and securely using a single username and password. This works beautifully with Web-store-buddy as, unlike most other e-commerce solutions, Web-store-buddy does not oblige your customers to create accounts with yet more user names and passwords. Anything that makes your shoppers' experience easier and hassle-free is bound to help you increase sales and customer loyalty!
WorldPay's web site is here. With WorldPay you pay a sign up fee, a monthly fee and a charge per transaction.
RBS WorldPay
RBS WorldPay "Business Gateway Plus" is a secure and reliable global internet payment processor. With RBS WorldPay you can accept every major card – as well as bank transfers, direct debits and a wide range of local cards.
If you can accept credit card orders by fax or by telephone then you are all set up to handle "cardholder-not-present transactions". On the other hand, if you cannot yet do this, you will need to apply to your bank for a credit card merchant account.
Offline credit card processing
With this option Web-store-buddy will provide you with your shopper's credit card details in a secure way for you to process in your office through your card merchant account. This is usually the cheapest way to process credit cards. It's also the best option if you do not want to debit the card until you are sure that you can fulfill the order. (By contrast, if you take the order via PayPal and then discover there is a problem, you will need to issue a PayPal refund).
At checkout Web-store-buddy provides a secure SSL encrypted form for your shoppers to provide their card details. Whilst you will receive an order alert by email telling you that a new order has been placed, you will need to login to your Web-store-buddy secure interface to retrieve the card details (this is because it is not safe to send you the card details by email).
Payment by electronic funds transfer, check or money order
You can choose whether your store will accept payments by electronic funds transfer, check or money order (or all of these). In each case Web-store-buddy will provide your customer with your customizable instructions as to how to make the payment (your bank details for a funds transfer, who to write the check or money order out to, where to send it, and so forth).