Dr. Ecommerce Home


Ask Dr. Ecommerce a question

Q&A Alert
Latest Questions
Archives 2001
Archives 2000
Archives 1999
FAQ
Legal questions
European Institutions
Nat'l & local government
Technologies
Marketing & Selling
Definitions and Philosophy
How do I do it?
Money
General e-commerce

eThesis home
Universities and schools
eThesis best links

About Dr. Ecommerce
Discussion lists
In the news
Dr. Ecommerce speaks out

Board of experts
Legal guide
Statistics

22 Oct 2000, Malaysia

Dear Dr. Commerce:

I started a site dedicated to Tribal and contemporary art & artifacts from Borneo. The site received 9,500 hits in three weeks but no purchase orders. I have attempted to get secure credit card payment facilities here in Asia, but can't locate any. Any suggestions?

Also, I would appreciate your ideas how to focus our product to the European market. Our art & handicrafts are genuine & authentic, the later are created by tribal people in the Borneo Highlands & the semi-nomadic Penan. Again, I would appreciate your suggestions greatly.

Thank you.

Walter

Dear Walter:

In order to enable secure credit card payments on your web site, you need two things:

1. a secure system on your web site to take the transactions
2. a merchant bank account for actually processing the transactions and translating them into money in your bank account.

If your local ISPs do not offer a secure system, don't worry there are many companies out there that do. And one of the great things about the Internet is your web hosting service(s) need not be local. The company which hosts this web site (www.databack.com), for instance, offers secure online transaction services even for companies that do not use them to host their main web site. Many other companies offer similar services. I suggest you start shopping around for a service that suits your needs.

The first place to go to set up a merchant account to accept credit cards is your bank. If they can't help you, try other banks. If none of your local banks will deal with credit card payments over the Internet (and I appreciate this can be a problem in some areas), then you have to look at other options.

There are a number of services which collect payment on your behalf. Some operate on their own servers. Some require that you set up shop in their mall. All are, of course, more expensive than having your own merchant account. Again, the only thing you can do is shop around. And, be careful, some services are essentially designed to get as much money from you as quickly as possible. Hence, I strongly recommend, you ask for references and check those references before signing any agreements.

Good luck,

Dr. Ecommerce