I am sick and tired of wanting to buy software, books, hardware etc etc etc but I can’t. I am sick to death of sites that make you go through the whole sign up process to buy something and then and only then do they tell you they only take credit cards. I am pissed at companies wanting my business that don’t let me buy what I want because I don’t have a stupid ass credit card.
Here’s a hint to all you pain in the ass companies wanting to sell their goods on the Internet – not everyone in the frikken world has credit cards. No wonder your stuff gets pirated by otherwise honest people who like to be able to give you the money you deserve. However the moment you limit your sales to only those people who have those magical pieces of plastic you are hurting only yourself.
I have lost count of the number of times that I have wanted to buy a specific piece of software only to find out after having to jump through hoops that they don’t take PayPal. Tonight was a prime example as I went looking to buy a copy of ESET’s new release of their Smart Security Suite. Yes I know there are free antivirus programs out there but that is not what I wanted. I wanted to buy a product but nowhere on the site did it tell me about payment methods. No .. I first had to open an account with them and then go through 5 pages of information entry before finding out that they don’t accept PayPal. It was credit card or nothing.
And it’s not like they are alone on this as just about every major software company from Microsoft on down will only accept credit cards. Try buying something on Amazon without one – it ain’t gonna happen. Try buying anything from the iTunes store without a credit card – it ain’t gonna happen. For all the bragging about the success of e-commerce and how it is growing in leaps and bound it really is nothing more than a shadow of what it could be.
Not even taking into consideration the number of people who don’t; or won’t, use their credit card online there is also a very large portion of our society who don’t have the damn pieces of plastic. For them PayPal is the most used way to purchase goods online. Why do you think eBay bought up PayPal – because it realized this simple fact.
So to all you companies that make people jump through hoops only to find out you don’t take alternate methods of payment – piss off because the next time I want to buy something online and I don’t have an easy way to find your payment methods you’ve lost a potential customer – even if you do take PayPal.
To all those companies that don’t accept PayPal; or other payment types, you’re being stupid and missing out on good long term customers not to mention contributing to the piracy of your own software by people who very well could have willingly paid you for it.
Oh and thanks for making me feel like a second class citizen in world of online e-commerce.
Hey, like this post? Why not share it with a buddy?
Tweet
I agree. I don't use credit cards either. Paypal does have a debit card option that's a good compromise, though, and that's how I get around the credit card requirement. There's no fee for me to use it, and it works just like any MasterCard. I gave up credit cards about 20 years ago when I figured out that the only one who benefits is the credit card company.
As good as that idea is; and yes I'd use that as well, but it is only available in the US .. not in Canada.
Not even the virtual debit card?
nope .. well sort of .. as long as you have a credit card.
Now if you can understand that circular logic let me know.
It sounds more like PayPal are the ones who need to be complained to.
Only regards to the silliness of needing a credit card in order to have one of their virtual debit cards.
On the larger scale of e-commerce as long as major companies like Amazon, Microsoft etc continue to shun users without credit cards who otherwise would be willing to pay for it they contribute to the piracy of their goods – whether it be software, books or music.
And really when you consider it just what is it that is keeping them from supporting options like PayPal. One reason I know of and confirmed by several companies I have emailed about this is they they are prohibited in supporting things like PayPal by their Credit Card handling companies.
The one other reason I can think of is because of PayPal being owned by eBay. Especially when you consider that the last thing a company like Amazon or even iTunes wants is any money going to a competing company.
In the end the customer is the only loser.
Not even the virtual debit card?
nope .. well sort of .. as long as you have a credit card.
Now if you can understand that circular logic let me know.
It sounds more like PayPal are the ones who need to be complained to.
Only regards to the silliness of needing a credit card in order to have one of their virtual debit cards.
On the larger scale of e-commerce as long as major companies like Amazon, Microsoft etc continue to shun users without credit cards who otherwise would be willing to pay for it they contribute to the piracy of their goods – whether it be software, books or music.
And really when you consider it just what is it that is keeping them from supporting options like PayPal. One reason I know of and confirmed by several companies I have emailed about this is they they are prohibited in supporting things like PayPal by their Credit Card handling companies.
The one other reason I can think of is because of PayPal being owned by eBay. Especially when you consider that the last thing a company like Amazon or even iTunes wants is any money going to a competing company.
In the end the customer is the only loser.
My bank provides a debit card with the checking account. And it is processed by VISA, so it can be used on Internet sites (or stores that have never heard of my bank).
Actually, this is the second bank I have had this – this one is free, I closed my account at the first after one month when they charged a $3/month “service charge” that was not mentioned in the material they had given me.
Not available in Canada? What is going on?
The major debit cards AFAIK in Canada are in bank debit cards and are not handled by and credit card company. You can get those but you still have to go through a screening process which allows the company to turn you down.
The in bank debit cards are standard with any account in Canada but even so with 99% of ecommerce being handled by third party companies that only deal with the major credit card companies the chances of a Canadian bank debit card being honored is nil.
All the talk about ecommerce never seems to take into account the fact that not all purchasers are American or don't have credit cards.
My bank provides a debit card with the checking account. And it is processed by VISA, so it can be used on Internet sites (or stores that have never heard of my bank).
Actually, this is the second bank I have had this – this one is free, I closed my account at the first after one month when they charged a $3/month “service charge” that was not mentioned in the material they had given me.
Not available in Canada? What is going on?
The major debit cards AFAIK in Canada are in bank debit cards and are not handled by and credit card company. You can get those but you still have to go through a screening process which allows the company to turn you down.
The in bank debit cards are standard with any account in Canada but even so with 99% of ecommerce being handled by third party companies that only deal with the major credit card companies the chances of a Canadian bank debit card being honored is nil.
All the talk about ecommerce never seems to take into account the fact that not all purchasers are American or don't have credit cards.
To buy things online- it makes sense that you would use a credit card or debit card of some form.
Why don't you get a pre-paid credit card and use it just for your online purchases? They're basically debit cards. You can only spend as much money as you deposit to the account, but you can make purchases online (and off for that matter) for places that only accept credit cards.
To buy things online- it makes sense that you would use a credit card or debit card of some form.
Why don't you get a pre-paid credit card and use it just for your online purchases? They're basically debit cards. You can only spend as much money as you deposit to the account, but you can make purchases online (and off for that matter) for places that only accept credit cards.