A key element of eCommerce is taking payments through your website! However, there are a plethora of eCommerce payment methods available. Obviously, you want something reliable and secure so payments are processed successfully (and not accidentally duplicated!). But you also need something your customers trust and find simple to use so you don’t lose them at the checkout stage. Here are three we use regularly.
PayPal
Most people have heard of PayPal, which allows customers to make payments quickly and securely without entering their credit or debit card information each time they shop online. With PayPal, you can enable customers to pay upfront, Pay in 3, or even offer subscriptions. It can be added to your desktop website, mobile website or app.
In our experience, it has these benefits:
- Near instant access to withdraw funds.
- Brand is known by customers, and so trusted by some.
- Ease of checkout via the “Pay with PayPal” button.
However, we have also noticed these drawbacks:
- Poor customer service, generally.
- Depending on the product in use, we have noticed some are less stable than others.
- Some customers have a negative brand affiliation with PayPal and refuse to use it.
- High fees.
Mollie
Another option is Mollie, through which you can accept debit and credit card payments, as well as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Klarna, making it a convenient choice for your consumers. It is flexible for merchants, too, with no fixed contracts, and you are only charged for successful transactions.
We have found Mollie has these advantages:
- Potential for lower cost per transaction.
- Offers payment options prevalent in other locations (like Europe) that other providers don’t.
- Improved customer service for merchants over most payment processors.
On the other hand, these are the downsides we have come across:
- Lack of support in some eCommerce software.
- New to the UK market, and so not well known here yet.
- Potentially up to 5 days before you can withdraw funds.
Stripe
The final payment method we generally use is Stripe, which enables you to accept debit and credit card payments and BACS Direct Debit in the UK. You can also accept Klarna unless you use the WooCommerce Stripe plugin, which WooCommerce hopes will support the Klarna feature next year. Stripe can be used by consumers on both desktop and mobile. You can also set up a pricing table and enable recurring payments if you offer subscriptions.
The main things we like about Stripe are:
- Ease of integration.
- Offers multiple gateways in addition to Stripe (such as Direct Debit).
- Well supported in most eCommerce software.
The disadvantages we have come up against are:
- Up to 7 days to payout (although most customers are being moved to 3-day payouts).
- Potentially higher fees on certain cards (such as non-EU cards).
- It can be hard to set up to ensure you’re not liable for fraudulent charges.
Summary
As you can see, each of the above eCommerce payment methods has a variety of advantages and disadvantages. However, some of these may not be relevant to you, for example, depending on which countries you sell to.
Consider factors such as costs involved, processing time and ease of use when selecting a payment option for your store to ensure you’re providing your customers with an optimal shopping experience every time they shop online with you!
Rigorous Digital is a Digital Marketing Agency based in Cheltenham, UK, servicing an international client base. eCommerce websites are one of our specialisms. Want more eCommerce website and marketing tips straight to your inbox? Then, sign up for Rigorous Bulletin, our monthly newsletter.
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