Forum: Author Hangout

PayPal.me

Vincent Berg 🚫

Just signed into PayPal to transfer some money, and they're busy pushing a new PayPal.me link. It seems this might be an excellent way to sell books independently of the big chains (Amazon, lulu, smashwords, etc.). When someone you meet on the street asks about your book, you just email them a link (including the dollar amount and currency), they can approve it right then, and the transfer is complete. It's also a handy way for people to order special formats your outlet doesn't offer.

Of course, the limits are the people you're selling to have to have their own PayPal account, but it's available in most countries (Yes, Ernest, even in Australia).

Commercial account sound pricey (2.9% + $0.30 for each transaction) but it seems like a viable alternative--especially if you'd rather not cope with Amazon.

Has anyone tried it yet? If so, have you encountered any troubles with it, and how have you implemented it, if you provide the service on your website?

Harold Wilson 🚫

For low-value transactions, which most book purchases are, the transaction costs of paypal are quite high: 2.9% + 0.30 on a $5 purchase equates to 8.9%.

This is Paypal's rate, Authorize.Net's rate, and Amazon payments' rate. Google Wallet apparently offers free transfers for "personal" payments.

I've seen some authors on SOL doing the "pay me and I'll ship you the book" thing. If you're at that small a scope, Google might be the way to go. I'm not sure to what extent "international" transfers are a problem for Google.

If you're processing more than 500 transactions a month, you probably want someone else to handle it for you, though...

Replies: Vincent Berg

Vincent Berg 🚫

@Harold Wilson

This is Paypal's rate, Authorize.Net's rate, and Amazon payments' rate. Google Wallet apparently offers free transfers for "personal" payments.

You missed the read of my comment. So does PayPal. Whether the tax is collected essentially depends upon whether the user clicks "Pay for Service" or "Pay a friend". Not having used the feature, I'm not sure how they classify the links you send someone (i.e. does the reader select the classification or do you?).

If you're processing more than 500 transactions a month, you probably want someone else to handle it for you, though...

At this point, I'm at ZERO transfers a month, though I prefer keeping my options open. I handle many more personal transfers (mainly payments to my ex whenever she gets into trouble). In most cases, for book purchases, I use a dongle and charge their credit card directly (though again, I've only done that a couple of times).

Joe Long 🚫

I send out all my invoices using Paypal. Clients pay with either check, direct deposit or Paypal transfer, all of which have been 'personal', including one international client.

Looking forward to broadening my client base, rather than sending out 100 invoices (instead of 15) I'm making plans for a website where customers can use a credit card.

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Forum: Author Hangout

PayPal.me

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