You Need More Payment Options
by David Robert Pemberton · in General Discussion · 05/07/2008 (2:56 am) · 37 replies
Hi,
After much time examining Torque and seeing if it was the engine I need,
I have finaly decided that it is. so I have come to order it.
Now I find I can only use a Credit card (don't have or have access to) or
printed order form with Check or Money Order in USD.. (my printers bust and was eather Torque or a new printer) bugger..
Isn't there acess to other payment options?
PayPal springs to mind, I know some people hate it but I usualy use it when ordering things from the US.
hmm Money Order.. now that means a trip to the bank to see if I can get an 'international money order', try getting this order printed out, send it to the US from the UK and wait. The thought of all this messing about is putting me off.
wouldn't just paying by another method that accepts international payments be easier?
Not only easier but you will get more business if people overseas can just buy stuff instead of going threw all this and then having to wait as well..
After much time examining Torque and seeing if it was the engine I need,
I have finaly decided that it is. so I have come to order it.
Now I find I can only use a Credit card (don't have or have access to) or
printed order form with Check or Money Order in USD.. (my printers bust and was eather Torque or a new printer) bugger..
Isn't there acess to other payment options?
PayPal springs to mind, I know some people hate it but I usualy use it when ordering things from the US.
hmm Money Order.. now that means a trip to the bank to see if I can get an 'international money order', try getting this order printed out, send it to the US from the UK and wait. The thought of all this messing about is putting me off.
wouldn't just paying by another method that accepts international payments be easier?
Not only easier but you will get more business if people overseas can just buy stuff instead of going threw all this and then having to wait as well..
About the author
http://www.deadlyassets.com I have a love of computers and programming them, have written a few games (ADV, Demon's Domain to name a couple) and even a couple of engines lost in the distant past of floppy disks
#2
will take 4 working days till its ready and cost me an extra $24
you are loosing a lot of potential business threw international banking extra charges.
what person will pay an extra $24 for a $24.95 expansion pack? only someone rich and thats not me :(
However much I would like to get some of the expansion packs to speed my development, but just getting the Engine is stretching my funds at the minute. (I'll upgrade to Advanced as soon as my finances will allow, Ugh will have to add another $24 to that unless I can hijack a friends credit card)
There are lots of other payment methods out there 'PaybyCash' is another one that springs to mind, In this day and age restricting your client base to credit card owners is reducing your potential clients vastly.
With your new upgrade to TGEA 1.7 surely it makes financial sence to upgrade your payment methods to modern ones as well?
05/07/2008 (10:09 am)
Shame, just arranged with my bank for a USD draft, will take 4 working days till its ready and cost me an extra $24
you are loosing a lot of potential business threw international banking extra charges.
what person will pay an extra $24 for a $24.95 expansion pack? only someone rich and thats not me :(
However much I would like to get some of the expansion packs to speed my development, but just getting the Engine is stretching my funds at the minute. (I'll upgrade to Advanced as soon as my finances will allow, Ugh will have to add another $24 to that unless I can hijack a friends credit card)
There are lots of other payment methods out there 'PaybyCash' is another one that springs to mind, In this day and age restricting your client base to credit card owners is reducing your potential clients vastly.
With your new upgrade to TGEA 1.7 surely it makes financial sence to upgrade your payment methods to modern ones as well?
#3
05/07/2008 (10:17 am)
Why don't you just go get a pre-paid credit card and use that? 
#4
I see why they don't take PayPal straight. I mean you can download it then cancel the order from PayPal and have the engine and the money. Plus there is other reasons I'm sure. I'm sure if you contact them at one of the email addresses, they can work out something with you in regards to the order form and a money order/check.
05/07/2008 (10:20 am)
You can get a debit card from PayPal. Or use the prepaid Visa cards (Wal-Mart sells them i believe)I see why they don't take PayPal straight. I mean you can download it then cancel the order from PayPal and have the engine and the money. Plus there is other reasons I'm sure. I'm sure if you contact them at one of the email addresses, they can work out something with you in regards to the order form and a money order/check.
#5
05/07/2008 (10:21 am)
Pre-Paid credit card? thats a new one on me, I'll google it, thx :)
#6
05/07/2008 (10:31 am)
Is Wal-Mart in the UK (possibly dumb question)? I dunno but if they are and you around, go there and you can get a Visa card and you load it with however much you want (just like gift cards) and you can use it for transactions online. I think there is a one time fee (here it is $8 USD). If there's not a Wal-mart look at the other big department stores around you. 
#7
And, GG has to have you use a credit card because by law you can not contract to minors, and anyone of the age of 18 or older SHOULD have the ability to obtain a credit card.
I see no real problem with the way GarageGames handles money. Its very simple, and keeps them out of legal troubles. It's your own fault if you don't have a credit card, as the common base for paying has become with a credit card, and it would be your own fault if you couldn't comprehend that.
And don't try to argue with me, because you never gave a reason why you couldn't use a credit card! :P
05/07/2008 (10:48 am)
Wal-Mart is called ASDA in other countries. And, GG has to have you use a credit card because by law you can not contract to minors, and anyone of the age of 18 or older SHOULD have the ability to obtain a credit card.
I see no real problem with the way GarageGames handles money. Its very simple, and keeps them out of legal troubles. It's your own fault if you don't have a credit card, as the common base for paying has become with a credit card, and it would be your own fault if you couldn't comprehend that.
And don't try to argue with me, because you never gave a reason why you couldn't use a credit card! :P
#8
05/07/2008 (11:49 am)
@ Neill Silva - I know many people including myself who don't want a Credit Card cause it can cause debt, yeah you can argue that it's your own fault for getting into debt, but us Humans love to press big shiny red buttons. I think it's harsh to say it's your own fault for not having one, I have a debit card, but it's a UK one called Maestro done by Mastercard and most american companies don't accept it, which means I need to use either Pay Pal or get one of my relatives to pay for me. I know you said not to argue, but I couldn't resist sorry. 
#9
Losening up the anterior diamond factory and letting go of a minor transaction fee to PayPal-like service would be a much welcomed service to you customers...
05/07/2008 (12:52 pm)
Just for the security purposes, I'd prefer to use a just a few single proxies for credit card transactions, like PayPal, just so that the lowest-bidder online transaction vendor selected by the various merchants I patron don't have my credit card info.Losening up the anterior diamond factory and letting go of a minor transaction fee to PayPal-like service would be a much welcomed service to you customers...
#10
this is a Pre-Paid Visa or at least it is in the UK.
Is a Visa Electron accepted by GarageGames? It just says Visa or Mastercard on the payment Area
Its important that I know this as It costs $20 to get the card plus $6 minimum per credit charge on the card, I can get the card in USD, Euro's or Sterling so the currency won't be a problem.
for any other brits out there check out ''Travel Money Card''
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=19300207&mediaId=26800661
Oh and read the terms and conditions '6. Fees and charges'
I'll be getting one of these for my next GarageGames purchases.
sure Its another $26 I could have been spending in there store, but If they won't update there payment system they will continue to loose out from Europe and the rest of the world
heres some stats pulled at random off the net:-
23.8% of American households have no credit cards at all
More than half of cards issued in Western Europe are debit cards, while one-third are credit cards. The remaining 15 percent are charge cards.
so looks like the US has lots of Credit cards while at least Western Europe has more Debit cards (I have 2 Debit cards and no credit card) looks like GarageGames are missing out 2/3's of there potential buyers by only using credit cards in Western Europe alone.
'Sony Online Entertainment' untill recently had a similar problem, they have recently changed this and accept European Debit cards now as well. My nefew and his friend only play WoW as when they where interested in EQ2 they could only get WoW accounts in the UK so Sony lost there custom forever, sad but true ;)
05/07/2008 (3:05 pm)
After a bit of reserch I think I can get a 'Visa Electron' or equivalent from the UK Post Office,this is a Pre-Paid Visa or at least it is in the UK.
Is a Visa Electron accepted by GarageGames? It just says Visa or Mastercard on the payment Area
Its important that I know this as It costs $20 to get the card plus $6 minimum per credit charge on the card, I can get the card in USD, Euro's or Sterling so the currency won't be a problem.
for any other brits out there check out ''Travel Money Card''
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=19300207&mediaId=26800661
Oh and read the terms and conditions '6. Fees and charges'
I'll be getting one of these for my next GarageGames purchases.
sure Its another $26 I could have been spending in there store, but If they won't update there payment system they will continue to loose out from Europe and the rest of the world
heres some stats pulled at random off the net:-
23.8% of American households have no credit cards at all
More than half of cards issued in Western Europe are debit cards, while one-third are credit cards. The remaining 15 percent are charge cards.
so looks like the US has lots of Credit cards while at least Western Europe has more Debit cards (I have 2 Debit cards and no credit card) looks like GarageGames are missing out 2/3's of there potential buyers by only using credit cards in Western Europe alone.
'Sony Online Entertainment' untill recently had a similar problem, they have recently changed this and accept European Debit cards now as well. My nefew and his friend only play WoW as when they where interested in EQ2 they could only get WoW accounts in the UK so Sony lost there custom forever, sad but true ;)
#11
I just think that if you are disappointed because you need a credit card to buy something on-line its stupid because using credit cards is the online standard.
05/07/2008 (3:20 pm)
Will I told the OP not to argue because he didn't give a reason to why he can't use a credit card.I just think that if you are disappointed because you need a credit card to buy something on-line its stupid because using credit cards is the online standard.
#12
2/3's of Western Europe Dont have credit cards. I know some of my friends used to have them but got into debt so ditched them and went the way of the Debit card.
I Don't have a credit card, I did apply for about 3 or 4 at one time (not all at the same time) but because I'm Unemployed (I'm disabled and permenently sick) I have been refused. So I Can't get a credit card. well not unless I lie to the credit card companys to get one anyway and I'm not prepared to do that.
So the reason I can't use a credit card Is I can't get one, haven't got any friends who currently have one, not that I would ask to use there credit cards anyway.
And frankly not everyone has access to credit cards, I don't, I have just gone on a very relaxing holiday in the Canary Islands and was able to use my Debit card there thats more than 1900 miles away from my home. I didn't have to or need to use a credit card once in ordering booking or traveling.
America by Wikipedia accounts for approx 5.1% of the worlds population and also holds the most credit cards % so 94.9% of the world population hold less credit cards than the US.. hmm I think thats what it meant anyway, the figures where around 30% of the people in the rest of the world hold credit cards and 80% in the USA.. let me see if I can get my head around this, thats hmm aprox 71% of the population of the world that don't have a credit card. thats ~4,200 Million people as aposed to ~1,700 Million that do, well did in 1999 theres prolly a few million more or less now thats if I have my math right.
hmm a possible client base of ~1,700 Million, Lol ok I can see why GarageGames arn't botherd about people who don't have a credit card.
But I'm not knocking credit cards, they have there uses, I'm just saying here in the UK Debit cards are a Lot more common, I could name 11 people right now without even thinking hard who don't have a credit card and all of them have UK Debit cards, you Don't need a credit card in the UK, Its only ever been when I purchase goods from the US I have ever needed to use them, I have bought Items from all over the world and barring Croatia and the US have had no problems without a credit card.
All I'm saying Is they need more options than
a) Credit Card
b) check or money order in USD
Option B would be ok if it was instant and didn't cost $20+ extra per transaction.
05/07/2008 (4:04 pm)
Only in America, Europe accept Debit Cards.2/3's of Western Europe Dont have credit cards. I know some of my friends used to have them but got into debt so ditched them and went the way of the Debit card.
I Don't have a credit card, I did apply for about 3 or 4 at one time (not all at the same time) but because I'm Unemployed (I'm disabled and permenently sick) I have been refused. So I Can't get a credit card. well not unless I lie to the credit card companys to get one anyway and I'm not prepared to do that.
So the reason I can't use a credit card Is I can't get one, haven't got any friends who currently have one, not that I would ask to use there credit cards anyway.
And frankly not everyone has access to credit cards, I don't, I have just gone on a very relaxing holiday in the Canary Islands and was able to use my Debit card there thats more than 1900 miles away from my home. I didn't have to or need to use a credit card once in ordering booking or traveling.
America by Wikipedia accounts for approx 5.1% of the worlds population and also holds the most credit cards % so 94.9% of the world population hold less credit cards than the US.. hmm I think thats what it meant anyway, the figures where around 30% of the people in the rest of the world hold credit cards and 80% in the USA.. let me see if I can get my head around this, thats hmm aprox 71% of the population of the world that don't have a credit card. thats ~4,200 Million people as aposed to ~1,700 Million that do, well did in 1999 theres prolly a few million more or less now thats if I have my math right.
hmm a possible client base of ~1,700 Million, Lol ok I can see why GarageGames arn't botherd about people who don't have a credit card.
But I'm not knocking credit cards, they have there uses, I'm just saying here in the UK Debit cards are a Lot more common, I could name 11 people right now without even thinking hard who don't have a credit card and all of them have UK Debit cards, you Don't need a credit card in the UK, Its only ever been when I purchase goods from the US I have ever needed to use them, I have bought Items from all over the world and barring Croatia and the US have had no problems without a credit card.
All I'm saying Is they need more options than
a) Credit Card
b) check or money order in USD
Option B would be ok if it was instant and didn't cost $20+ extra per transaction.
#13
Someone already mentioned why PayPal isn't a good method for this type of medium. So, if you owned GG, what would you do to accommodate those who do not have a personal/cashiers check or money order or Visa/Mastercard?
05/07/2008 (7:12 pm)
Well, how would you go about accommodating those without credit cards? My debit card works anywhere a credit card or debit card is accepted, internationally. There is no debt or interest since it is my money, and anywhere Visa is accepted I can use it.Someone already mentioned why PayPal isn't a good method for this type of medium. So, if you owned GG, what would you do to accommodate those who do not have a personal/cashiers check or money order or Visa/Mastercard?
#14
http://www.paybycash.com/
http://www.paypal.com
http://www.worldpay.com/
Oh and nobody said why paypal wasn't a good method, just "Currently Paypal is not on our radar." PayPal has gone threw a lot of changes since it first started, I have been using it for 5 years with no complaints, but I'm sure like any form of payment there are people with a totaly diferent story.
Sony Online Entertainment used to use 'PayByCa$h' so that can't be that bad, not sure if they do anymore as I just play LotRO (lifetime member, no subs) now and not EQ2
05/08/2008 (1:23 am)
Here are the first 3 I found by doing a google search..http://www.paybycash.com/
http://www.paypal.com
http://www.worldpay.com/
Oh and nobody said why paypal wasn't a good method, just "Currently Paypal is not on our radar." PayPal has gone threw a lot of changes since it first started, I have been using it for 5 years with no complaints, but I'm sure like any form of payment there are people with a totaly diferent story.
Sony Online Entertainment used to use 'PayByCa$h' so that can't be that bad, not sure if they do anymore as I just play LotRO (lifetime member, no subs) now and not EQ2
#15
Many debit cards in Europe aren't proxied through a major credit card vendor such as Visa or Master Card, many are through Maestro. Where Visa/MC offer debit card services as a credit card transaction, Maestro transactions, in many cases, actually require handing over your actual account information for a transaction.
Not offering easy international options really does affect sales, no matter how stupid/inadequate the transaction options for foreign customers may appear to be...
I live in Germany, and I do have a credit card, but I don't use it. And I prefer not to use it. I use PayPal/etc where I can to reduce the propogation of my financial information. And when that's not an option, I am forced to use my credit card, because there's no way I'm giving up my account information in order to use my debit card.
05/08/2008 (2:23 am)
Quote:Well, how would you go about accommodating those without credit cards? My debit card works anywhere a credit card or debit card is accepted, internationally. There is no debt or interest since it is my money, and anywhere Visa is accepted I can use it.
Many debit cards in Europe aren't proxied through a major credit card vendor such as Visa or Master Card, many are through Maestro. Where Visa/MC offer debit card services as a credit card transaction, Maestro transactions, in many cases, actually require handing over your actual account information for a transaction.
Not offering easy international options really does affect sales, no matter how stupid/inadequate the transaction options for foreign customers may appear to be...
I live in Germany, and I do have a credit card, but I don't use it. And I prefer not to use it. I use PayPal/etc where I can to reduce the propogation of my financial information. And when that's not an option, I am forced to use my credit card, because there's no way I'm giving up my account information in order to use my debit card.
#16
Chip:
Sadly, I have seen this done a few times on eBay, and it is a pretty serious loophole in PayPal. The paybycash and worldpay look like reasonable services. Though, I imagine they have the same loophole issues as PayPal. Not to mention, I'm sure they also charge a percentage of your sales.
The reason I asked your suggestions is that, as a fellow developer, I would like to know which services to use to appeal to the international audience. Worldpay looks decent, but they have monthly fees and surcharges. PaybyCash does not have much listed information, so I'll have to look into that.
05/08/2008 (12:00 pm)
David: Quote:Oh and nobody said why paypal wasn't a good method, just "Currently Paypal is not on our radar."
Chip:
Quote:I see why they don't take PayPal straight. I mean you can download it then cancel the order from PayPal and have the engine and the money."
Sadly, I have seen this done a few times on eBay, and it is a pretty serious loophole in PayPal. The paybycash and worldpay look like reasonable services. Though, I imagine they have the same loophole issues as PayPal. Not to mention, I'm sure they also charge a percentage of your sales.
The reason I asked your suggestions is that, as a fellow developer, I would like to know which services to use to appeal to the international audience. Worldpay looks decent, but they have monthly fees and surcharges. PaybyCash does not have much listed information, so I'll have to look into that.
#17
or the ones I have used do,
they wait till the cash has gone into there account b4 authorising the downloads
05/08/2008 (12:11 pm)
I think most companies that use PayPal have a clearence time, or the ones I have used do,
they wait till the cash has gone into there account b4 authorising the downloads
#18
05/08/2008 (12:48 pm)
There used to be a significant rupture between the buyer protection and merchant protection rules on PayPal which burned a lot of content providers. I believe that a lot of the problems have been dealt with, but there was a history of dispute issues causing problems for merchants.
#19
05/11/2008 (9:46 am)
You guys do know that you can not just cancel a payment once you pay right? Theres a couple steps you need to take. Paypal isn't a kiddie web, its run by a smart business.
#20
05/13/2008 (7:54 am)
The proving methods for digital distribution were slanting in the favor of the consumer in the past, making proof of download an extremely difficult thing for a provider to assure. I'm not sure what has changed, though. The process for complaints and refunds seems quite different now from my quick perusal of the site. I do know that it was once based on the exact IP address, and if the one issuing the refund and the download ip was different, the refund was issued and the content provider was out in the cold. Made it really annoying to prove that anyone actually got their products and didn't just claim a refund for them if they were on DHCP. That was quite a few years ago, though. 
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