Comments on: Is PayPal coming to South Africa in April at FNB

By: Chris M

Chris M — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:16:50 +0000

Right, I’ve successfully linked my FNB account to PayPal, here’s how I did it:

http://imod.co.za/index.php/2010/04/16/south-african-paypal-account-verified/

By: Chris M

Chris M — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:38:45 +0000

For those of you who have been following, here’s the latest information – http://imod.co.za/index.php/2010/03/25/is-paypal-south-africa-everything-we-hoped-for/

By: Chris M

Chris M — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:32:11 +0000

I’m working hard to keep things updated here – http://bit.ly/cP58u1

By: Lionel

Lionel — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:20:00 +0000

Well, it’s official! Every single South Africa can now receive money via PayPal. And even withdraw it, provided they have a US bank account…

http://c0940342.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/paypal.png

Screenshot I took a moment ago, only US bank accounts are allowed. But receiving works, unlike before. At least if you don’t have a US bank account, you can pay some bills with your PayPal balance.

By: Debbie D-P

Debbie D-P — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:12:32 +0000

Thanks for the update Bret, but can someone please HELP me? If we are indeed able to accept money through Paypal from today, exactly how do we go about it? I currently have a Paypal account linked to my FNB credit card which I obviously have only been able to use to SEND money out of the country up until now. What do I now need to do to start accepting payments from customers abroad? Who do I contact? Have they already had the media briefing which was scheduled for today? Can anyone please enlighten me about what the next step is? Sorry about all of the questions but I’m totally in the dark about how to get the ball rolling! Thanks so much in anticipation of lots of advice…

By: Bret Dugmore

Bret Dugmore — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:44:19 +0000

Woo!

This seems to have gone live!!!

Checkout the country offerings section!

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:24:44 +0000

So … looks like there may have been an update to the services offered to SA ?
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-country-functionality-outside&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f059ee17e99acf195b5f3a4b6a78dddb4bc10aeb1cb7c096e

By: Lionel

Lionel — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:04:04 +0000

I understand what you say, you won’t lose all your clients based on what payment method you offer. But it’s all about convenience. When you book a theater ticket or airline ticket, it doesn’t really matter, because they don’t have competition. Likewise, if you are selling airline tickets, clients will assume you accept credit cards, but if you started selling airlines tickets and ask for PayPal, it might not work so well.

Many people are scared to fill in their card details everywhere, even if you have a proper setup with SSL and all (which costs a lot, an EV certificate is $1,500 a year, which is what you’ll need if you want to get people to trust you), some don’t have credit card and have ACH linked to their PayPal account, or use eChecks linked to their PayPal account. They can choose how they want to pay and when they pay you, simply enter username and password and it’s done.

This might not sound so serious, but let’s say you’re selling t-shirts, there are hundreds of people online selling t-shirts as well, most of them accept PayPal and you can quickly buy and checkout on their sites. If your site requires the user to enter their card details, possibly register on your site, that’s a lot of time in which you could lose the sale.

When using PayPal, I often buy things before I think it through, it’s possible to be very impulsive with PayPal, while if I need to transfer some money to your bank account or fill in my card details, find my card in my wallet, possibly find my wallet, possibly go through the Verified by Visa or SecureCode process with the bank. Lot of time to change my mind, or I could just be busy and move on to your competitor where I can pay with PayPal.

I have personally chosen to shop at one site as opposed to another just because of PayPal. The cost to the buyer is the same, but it’s quick, easy and safe.

Also, many people who might be buying from you, might be people who sell stuff online as well, hence they will have funds in their PayPal account already.

Same reason Macs rule over PCs – they just make life easier, even they cost a fortune…

By: Dick Boothroyd

Dick Boothroyd — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:49:15 +0000

Thanks, Lionel, but I’m still confused. When I book a theatre ticket or airline ticket I simply work through the payment procedure and don’t give a thought to whose payment software it is. Surely those who buy my product will do likewise. How is that inconvenient or not easy for them ?

Could it be the difference between private and corporate buyers ? Could it be that corporates (or smaller businesses) have an account with Paypal through which they make payments ? If that’s it, I can see why other systems might be inconvenien for them.

My product will sell only to individuals. Why would it matter to them which payment system is on my website ?

By: Lionel

Lionel — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:10:45 +0000

Well, often clients will turn away if you don’t offer a payment method that’s convenient for them. For many that’s PayPal, for others it may be something else, but PayPal has the majority.

I once worked on a project where PayPal wasn’t the payment of choice, and customers instead preferred to pay by cash, so we implemented GreenDot MoneyPak instead.

Clients can’t decide what you accept, but if it’s not easy for them to pay you, they’ll turn away in an instant.