Top 2 Picks: For Use With eBay
Remember, the list that we had to pick from comes from eBay's own "Accepted Payments Policy" list. That means, we have to find a service that best fits the needs of everybody from the choices they have provided. The choices eBay has provided were carefully designed to NOT fit the needs of everybody or even most persons. eBay's policy has been designed to limit competitors against PayPal and steer more users towards Paypal. Therefore, the question Screw-PayPal had to ask was this: of all the services eBay approves for use on its website, which TWO, is of the most benefit towards the widest possible audience?
Screw-PayPal.com had to make its choice using the following criteria: is the service available for use by a wide audience? Does the service allow a user to send and receive payments? Must a user pay excessive fees to use the service? Is the service easy to use? And finally, are there acceptable customer support options built into the use of the service? Lastly, we have picked a "runner up." The "runner up" was picked NOT because it is a worse service than the top 2, but because of the number of persons who are able to use it.
Based on the list eBay has provided, and based on our own criteria, here are Screw-PayPal.com's TOP 2 PICKS:
Top 2 Picks: For Use With eBay
BidPay.com -- Recommended for ALL
EFFECTIVE December 31, 2007 -- OUT OF BUSINESS
When it comes to auction payments, BidPay is PayPal's closest competitor. This service is allowed on eBay sites all over the world. BidPay has been around a long time. After closing in 2005, they were sold and opened back up for business (CyberSource Corporation owns them now). This service is available only to those who wish to send and receive payments for auctions. Bidpay is accepted on every major auction site in the United States. BidPay allows users to send and receive payments from all over the world.
THE SERVICE: Buyers from the United States and around the world can use their debit cards or credit cards to make their eBay (or other auction) payments. Sellers receive their payment via Western Union Money Order or directly into their checking account (U.S. residents only).
PROS: Very easy to register and use -- users can sign up and be using the service in under ten minutes. Good buyer and seller protection. Unlike PayPal, BidPay will assume all risks for fraud and chargebacks. Terms of service is very customer friendly. Not a whole lot of complaints out there that might raise concerns that this is a bad company. Available to an international audience. A practical way to accept payments on eBay and other auction sites. Seller fees on both international and domestic transactions are very reasonable (comparable with PayPal, lower than a traditional merchant account). For buyers: THERE ARE NO SERVICE FEES. BidPay is free for buyers to use. BidPay's customer service numbers are easy to find and email support is available.
CONS: Not as widely accepted as PayPal. BidPay is going to have to "catch fire" to catch up with PayPal on eBay and other auction sites. Customer service takes about 48 hours to answer an email. System glitches occur from time to time. Can only be used for sending and receiving auction payments.
OVERALL: Highly recommended to eBayers and other auction users from the United States and around the world. The system works great and allows a person to make a living without worrying about frozen or limited transactions. This alternative will only get better and become more accepted on such sites as eBay when more persons sign up with them. If you have a product somebody wants, and only accept BidPay, your customer will signup just to buy your product. And then on and on it would go.
Moneybookers -- Recommended for ALL
Moneybookers is a company based in the United Kingdom. With close to 3.5 million users and growing, this London headquartered service is backed by a reputable company with above average financial resources. This service allows you to send and receive payments from around the globe.
THE SERVICE: You can send and receive money using a person's email address. You can send and receive money into your Moneybookers wallet. This eBay approved service can be used to send money person-to-person, receive payments for your online business, send payments online to make a purchase (such as on eBay or other online auction site) and so much more.
PROS: Service is available to persons around the world. It is free to signup -- once you get going the whole thing is set up in under 10 minutes. The user interface is easy to use and offers no challenges to finding the features you are looking for fast. The website is available in multiple languages. The service can be used to send money person-to-person (to an email account) as well as used for auctions and other online business activities. You sign up and you are approved. The user agreement is customer oriented with no worries about frozen or limited accounts. Receiving money is free and sending money is 1% of the total amount sent (person-to-person). You account can be funded in many ways and in most cases is free to fund your account. Withdrawing funds can be done by check or directly to your bank account. A person selling on eBay won't have to worry about excessive fees eating into profits. Buyers have a great flexible option here. Customer service emails took on average 24 hours to reply, phone support was helpful and friendly -- downright professional. Additionally, buyer and seller protection is offered with very reasonable conditions.
CONS: I found the "request a check" fee a little high at Euro 3,50 (almost 5 Dollars US) -- however that fee is the same around the world. So considering printing costs, envelope, postage and handling, the fee might not be so bad. The service is not widely used -- yet. While it is approved by eBay, it will take more users signing up and using this service to bring more attention to it.
OVERALL: Highly recommended as an alternative to PayPal and as an alternative to sending and receiving online payments. This is one of my personal favorites. Sign up and take it for a test drive -- you won't be sorry!
RUNNER UP: ProPay
ProPay -- Recommended for U.S. Sellers
ProPay is a solid, stable U.S. based company. Their service is simple: they allow small businesses and sellers to accept credit card (and debit card) payments from all over the world. Their service leans more towards being a merchant account -- but they do not have the fees associated with a normal merchant account. This service is approved for use on eBay. Sellers will have no problems collecting payments online.
THE SERVICE: Sellers get to pick from four different accounts. A basic plan all the way to their platinum plan. The basic or advanced plan would be more than enough for the average to above average seller. eBayers, online businesses and even regular brick-and-mortor businesses can use ProPay to accept payments from around the world. For the basic plan, you pay $34.95 for one year. After that, it is pay-as-you-go. If you don't receive any payments on a given month, you pay nothing. There are NO monthly fees. If you receive a $70 payment, you get charged a little under $2.00 in transaction fees. PayPal fees are much higher.
PROS: If you are serious about your business or serious about your eBay listings, this service is perfect. You put the payment buttons on your website or auction, and let the money come rolling in. Buyers don't pay any fees. Sellers can accepted payments from an international audience. As an added bonus, you get a ProPay MasterCard to access your money or you can transfer your money straight into your bank account. No limitations, no frozen accounts. The signup process was straight forward and fast. Customer support was VERY helpful and actually seemed happy to deal with its customers. The User Agreement was understandable and customer oriented. All your rights were clearly spelled out -- with no room for interpretations that could come back and haunt you later. Once signed up, the control panel was well organized and not at all hard to use. You could learn everything in under an hour. Finally, the fees are more than tolerable. While you do have to pay a yearly fee for your account, after that is is pay-as-you-go. Any business or individual making an average amount of sales per month could easily make up in profits what was spent on the yearly fee -- plus you don't have to worry about your account getting limited or frozen. That alone is worth the $34!
CONS: Not something for the average Joe -- or the occasional eBay seller. This service is only available to U.S. residents -- so everybody else is excluded. A yearly fee is charged for which ever account you sign up for. While the basic plan is reasonable, the platinum plan can be costly for the average individual ($299 US).
OVERALL: Highly recommended to U.S. eBay sellers and individual website owners. As long as you are serious about your business and making money, ProPay makes for an excellent partner.
TAKE ME BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE!
