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10 Nov 2000, Germany

Terve !

I'd like to use my page to sell original hand-made Finnish knifes.

What kind of payment would you recommend to offer to my potential customers ? What is the most common way of payment in the Internet ? What is the most secure way of payment in the Internet ? Are there any terms of payment templates to download ?

Thank You !

Niklas

Dear Niklas:

You should offer your customers as many different payment options as possible. Most B2C (business to consumer) transactions on the net are paid by credit card, so you want to be sure you can accept credit card payment. But, if possible, you should also accept bank transfers, cheques and even cash.

The issue of security is more about sending data over the Internet than mode of payment. You will want to ensure that you use a secure system when taking customer payment information. There are a number of secure options available. The best thing to do is to talk to the company that hosts your web site and explain your needs. If they cannot help, find a new web host that can. I believe it is critical to have a helpful ISP when you are launching an e-business.

In order to accept credit cards on-line, you will need a merchant account. Ask your bank about this.

I don't know of any terms of payment template. But if you type "Terms of Payment" into your favourite search engine, you should be presented with a number of examples you can look at.

Finally, you should contact your post office or courier company you will use to ship the knives and ask them if there are any restrictions or regulations regarding shipping weapons.

Good luck,

Dr. Ecommerce