Considering giving up paypal???

[Key2Life]

I'm considering giving up paypal. My sales have been fairly low since I closed my shop last summer in general, however I've definitely had more DC vs. paypal since I started DC back in august of 2012. I am in the process of getting new items, improving photos, etc.. in my shop along with making sure I getting the views I need to get more sales.
I know having paypal gives customer more of an option, but I am also trying to reduce the paperwork for my shop(bookkeeping, having two separate accounts to balance every month), so I can focus more on creating new items and improving my shop in general. Anyone have any positive or negative feedback on this?
Thanks

Kristina

[OriginalsbyLauren]

I wouldn't if I were you. There are people with PayPal balances and would not want to use a credit card. I figure eve if I only get a small % of my sales that way, I don't want to give them up

[Former_Member]

There are people who prefer to shop with PayPal. I am one of them. I don't like to give out my credit cards info unless I have too. You never know when you will get a buyer that prefers PayPal, so why remove an option that offers more sales in your shop. that my take. Best wishes!

[DingandKennie]

I wouldn't remove PayPal. I use PayPal for all my supply shopping needs. It's easier for me to keep track of my balances that way. Why remove something that benefits some people.

[Former_Member]

We gave up Paypal last November and are strictly using Direct Checkout. Our sales never slowed down and business here keeps getting better. It is much easier without paypal and I have not regretted the decision, as it has not hurt business one bit in my opinion. For those that want to pay for things with paypal, it is as simple as them getting a paypal debit card and they can buy from anyone using DC.

I feel much more comfortable with Etsy and their seller protection than Paypal, and would also see Etsy have my money transfer money than Paypal. Maybe I just don't like Paypal or their Mother Ebay???

[Former_Member]

I tend to agree with the other postings. You might want to keep it to provide your customers with more options. Some of my customers pay via PayPal even with DC as an option. I might have otherwise lost that sale w/o it. As for the issue of maintenance of 2 separate systems, have you looked at Outright Small Business Accounting Software, via http://outright.com?
There is free version available. It integrates with Etsy, PayPal and some others and provides an integrated view of all your income and expenses from both systems. Good Luck!

[Key2Life]

Outright would definitely solve the problem. I've been connected to Outright all this time, but didn't really look until today. It seems good, but i will have to think about the positives and negatives since I've been using QB since 2009. I definitely see all the good reasons for keeping paypal and having a debit card for paypal would solve that problem too, its whether the customers have it or not. I too use paypal to purchase supplies, but I do have the debit card which I usually only use at stores. It is convenient tobe able to just type in userid and password vs. looking for my card every time. If I continue with QB that's where the trouble lies with balancing both accounts. All something to think about, I think I'll keep thinking, but with all valid points and better reasoning

Thanks Again

[sherrytruitt]

I've had some of the same customers for years that will only use paypal. I would never cut them off.

I'd say about 60% of my business is via Direct Checkout, so, I'd cut my business in half if I didn't offer both options.

[Former_Member]

I think you are more likely to lose a sale by not taking Direct Checkout than you are by not taking Paypal. There are many sellers here still just using paypal, many using both, and a few like myself only taking DC. It is a matter of what works best for you personally. If a customer wants to buy something, they will figure out how to make it happen. I think most people have access to a credit or debit card.

A couple of my customers that converted to DC buyers were thrilled to be able to switch and use different credit cars with ease while buying with DC. You are able to use a different card effortlessly with each purchase. A lot of people rotate cards weekly as to use their billing cycles to their advantage. DC makes those folks very happy.

You would be surprised how fast people can adapt and change to buying with DC even if they have only used paypal for years. Remember when everyone was afraid to use paypal. When I started using Dc, I was also using paypal. It was 50/50 for the most part, but I honestly have only done better when stopping paypal. A succesful shop will do good no matter how you allow customers to pay.

[Former_Member]

I want to add that I did not really see an increase in sales when I started using DC or a decrease when I quit using Paypal. It seems if you have the right product, your customers will buy it. I lose most of my potential sales by not doing holds and by not taking money orders. I say potential sales, as 50% of them did not follow through with either, and I hate to pester, so it was easier to eliminate the issue all together.

[Former_Member]

I would personally not stop offering PayPal. As a sometimes buyer, I like having the option of either or, especially as I sometimes don't have money on my bank card and have to pay with PayPal unless I want to wait a few days for the money to be transferred. And when I'm buying, I don't want to wait. As a seller, I would hate to miss out on a sale because PayPal was not available. Plus, I still get about half of my sales with PayPal :)
But in the end, it's your shop and it's up to you. If you think it does more harm than good, then go ahead. It's probably the right decision.

[thevicagirl]

I wouldn't stop using it. I have also been toying with the idea to sort of stop using it for regular business, but I still will have it as an option. I don't think it would hurt you to have it there at all. Afterall, paypal is not the default payment method anymore, people have to chose it.

[jansbeads]

I would never give up paypal. Still most of my sales come through them.

[GiftAndEventDesigns]

Well I have DCO and PP. I wasn't sure if I wonted to just do one or both when I started my shop up back in 2012, so what I did was set up both and decided that if I can get a sale from one first then the other would go. Well go my first sale finally in February with DC. Was going to shut down PP but did get around to it; then I got another sale the beginning of march on PP so I think it pays to have both. Just my opinion. Hope it helps. Happy selling!

[Pintody]

Can't you down load your balance through QB for paypal? I know I can with quicken.

[Former_Member]

Have any of you read the blogs on a site called screwpaypal.com ? It all seems unthinkable until it happens to you. You have to remember that paypal is not a bank and does not have to abide by rules most banks do. Users have given them permission for everything that happens when signing the terms and conditions to join. Be careful.

[EmbellishedLife2]

Never. I can disable either at will but will not cut them off totally. I use my Paypal debit card to buy supplies from all over the world, not just on etsy.

[ClaybyStacia]

I was trying to make this same decision, and finally decided to keep Paypal, since you can't send an invoice to a buyer for upgraded shipping through DC. If DC ever allows shipping upgrades or additional invoices, I might get rid of Paypal. We'll see.