PayPal Merchant and Auction Tools
If you don't know anything at all about PayPal, please read What
Is PayPal? and Do You Need PayPal?. This
article covers the tools and features available when you sign up as a PayPal
merchant. Here's what you'll get:
- Free setup and processing. This may not sound like a big deal, but setting
up your own merchant account online can be a real nightmare. There are hidden
fees everywhere, starting with a secure server. There's software to purchase,
install, and maintain; upgrades to deal with; shopping cart programs--usually
buggy, and the list goes on. Very often, you must deal with multiple agencies
and their respective software packages. When they aren't compatible, all of
those agencies point at each other, while you're your business gets hung out
to dry. With PayPal, all of the maintenance nightmares belong to them and
you reap the benefits--free.
- Free shopping cart. This is the feature that causes the most trouble for
an individual, trying to set it up on his/her own. These things never seem
to work right. The PayPal shopping cart is free, easy, and versitile. Your
customers can buy something, continue shopping, buy some more, change there
minds and put something back, add something else, check out and be sent whereever
you want them to go. It's all free and easy to set up. This is another one
of those features where I have to shake my head and wonder "How can they
do that?"
- Free listing for your site in PayPal shops. They have a nice directory of
over 42,000 searchable web sites, with featured sites on their home page.
This is great, free advertising for your online business.
- Accept donations and recurring payments/subscriptions. These automated features
can make life easier by freeing up your time to concentrate on business, while
the money rolls in on its own.
- Automate USPS and UPS shipping. Imagine never having to write down a name
and address at any time during a transaction. PayPal can take the information
directly from your customer and process either a UPS or USPS shipping label
for you. Calculate the charges and have them taken directly from your PayPal
account. It doesn't get any easier than that. Naturally, this feature includes
a packng slip, too.
- Automatice email notification for your eBay auction winners. If you aren't
online when your auctions end, it just doesn't matter. PayPal will send the
winners a nice little congratulatory note.
- Offer special financing through PayPal for high-ticket items. This costs
a little more in PayPal fees, but you get paid immediately.
PayPal is always developing new tools and features, so browse their site, occasionally,
to see if you're missing anything good.
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