posted on August 1, 2001 02:40:31 PM
A few weeks ago I posted I was thinking of using C2it for payment out something with a name of that nature. I checked it out I really like that the buyer pays the fee instead of the seller etc. . . I didn't like that they wanted my SS number. The say never to give that out. I don't mind Credit cards number. My tax number for my business etc. . . but I don't like the SS number. Anyway I thought it was illegal to require a SS number for something like that.
Anyway I was wondering if anyone signed up for it and how they like it? Does it work okay? is it easy for the buyers to figure it out etc. . . ?
posted on August 1, 2001 03:10:07 PM
I use it. I've received about 20 transactions so far with no noteable problems. The only thing I don't like is that they don't provide the address of the buyer.
I don't accept credit cards through paypal and if they want to use a credit card, C2it is the only way they can do so.
posted on August 1, 2001 03:25:48 PM
I signed up with C2it and Achex. Not a single payment through these services. I'm dropping them as they take up valuable screen real estate. From now on, only actual Visa, MasterCard, Paypal, BillPoint, MO, Checks, and well concealed cash.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * http://techgems.net
posted on August 1, 2001 03:33:42 PM
Me too!
I use it. I've received about 40 transactions so far with few noteable problems. The only thing I don't like is that they don't provide the address of the buyer. That is a real pain!
I don't accept credit cards through paypal and if they want to use a credit card, C2it is the only way they can do so.
Lately, I do not even get an email from them telling me about the payment. I just have to check it all the time.
One BUG problem I had, is my credit card that I had the payments crediting to refused electronic submissions, so that took them 10-15 days to credit my credit card. They finally verified my bank account and now I credit it there. That has to be done via snail mail. They must send you a form - That took a month!
posted on August 1, 2001 03:59:14 PM
I've used it, some customers have used it... no problems. Since c2it (part of CitiGroup) is regulated, I personally feel safer dealing with c2it than with PayPal.
posted on August 1, 2001 04:27:57 PM
I have had over 100 payments thru them so far.
I have three accounts tied in two credit cards and one checking account.
Zero problems for me, but two of my buyers had a problem signing up.
I provide a nice litte note when sending out my invoices, telling folks about C2it and the 10 bucks for signing up and I have a link for them to go there also.
I think this is why i have had so many to pay with it. But the more who sign up the better.
I have saved a BUNDLE by not taking PAY%@*-^PAL.
I still get buyers wanting to use paypal, but a short note to them and they go to C2it
My main dislike is I have to except each and every payment, I hope they soon have a way to accept many payments at once.
posted on August 1, 2001 05:56:14 PM
C2it actually met with me to discuss ways to improve the service. Among the future possibilities are sending the buyer's address and making C2it an account where you can hold funds. Right now you have to accept the payments and immediately send them elsewhere.
I see the need to accept each payment as a plus. One of the big complaints about PP is that payments to the seller are often automatically accepted. Sellers have received forged payment emails and shipped without checking their accounts. Buyers have made accidental payments and sellers lost money on the refunds. By forcing the sellers to accept each payment, sellers become used to checking first before shipping and if you don't want to deal with a buyer, dont accept the payment. If C2it does go the account route, you should be able to accept several payments at one time instead of one at a time.
Other pluses: It's a real bank. Buyers get $10 back on their first payment (a great selling point). Sellers are protected against charge backs unless seller fraud is involved. (I have yet to see a single charge back story and until I do, I will take them at their word.) Sellers pay no fee. Toll-free 24 hour support that answers the phone usually within 30 seconds.
The cons: Their lawyers have to lighten up on the legalese. Some folks find the terms threatening. (You dont have to mail in any forms if you don't want spam. Checking off the boxes on the site when you sign up is enough.) It doesnt work with WebTV. A few folks have been unable to sign up for reasons unknown.
posted on August 1, 2001 10:22:02 PM
I still can't understand why any buyer would use C2It and choose to pay fees. OK..one time to get the $10 maybe, but that would be it. As a buyer, I would never use C2It unless it was the seller's ONLY option and I really wanted the item.
I put C2it in my auction listings on the C2it FLD...did not receive a single person use it or even ask me about it.
Is there ANY benefit to C2It for the buyer?
Gerald
"Oh but it's so hard to live by the rules/I never could and still never do."
posted on August 2, 2001 03:25:22 AM
The benefit is they can use there credit card. I used to take paypal but gave it up quite a while ago for many reasons. BTW I didn't see that much in a drop in the bids if any at all. No drop in the over all bottom line.
I do use Paydirect and I get quite a few of my customers use it. There are some that don't like it. It is a little harder I guess to figure out I don't know I have never had a problem and I have used it since it opened but some people aren't that savy on running computers.
For those people it offers another choice. They can pay CC using c2it as I won't ever offer paypal again. I was thinking of offering billpoint but why. C2it will give me 2 ways (paydirect c2it) to offer CC cards without paying fees.
I don't understand why sellers keep giving their money to paypal when there are better choices where the sellers are pushed around as much. Most I have talked to that have used paypal and stopped have seen little or no drop off in sales.
So all those people that won't bid unless the seller takes paypal apparently there another bidder will to bid just as much so that doesn't seem to affect sales.
What the benefit of C2it it is another choice. There are quite a few sellers that won't pay the fees. For the buyers that complain they don't take CC cards here is another opition. If they want they can use c2it. However since it benefits them to use CC let them pay the fees.
Sellers take all the risks with accepting CC cards with charge backs etc . . . why pay the fees. . .
posted on August 2, 2001 02:33:21 PM
How are they on chargeback? That would be my biggest concern. Pay Pal protects the seller more and doesn't allow chargebacks if it can be proven the item has been shipped, or so they say.
If they didn't ask for your SS# I would be concerned. They do ask when you sign up for a credit card. This is Citibank, not a fly by night organization.
posted on August 2, 2001 05:11:44 PM
>>How are they on chargeback? That would be my biggest concern.<<
I have detailed info on my site. C2it has told me that once a seller takes the money they will NOT take it back unless there is an indication of seller fraud. I have yet to hear of a single seller complaining about a charge back.
>> Pay Pal protects the seller more<<
More than Billpoint and Paydirect, possibly, because BP and PD don't do anything more than pass the CB back to the seller and PP makes a weak attempt at fighting it.
>>and doesn't allow chargebacks if it can be proven the item has been shipped, or so they say. <<
PP can not disallow a CB. That is up to the credit card issuer. And buyers have learned that all they have to do is complain about quality of the merchandise and with PP it's an automatic win.
>>If they didn't ask for your SS# I would be concerned. They do ask when you sign up for a credit card. This is Citibank, not a fly by night organization. <<
Exactly. As a bank, C2it already has millions of ss# on file. All they are doing is verifying that the person who opened the account is who they say they are. I don't think we'll be seeing stories about scamming sellers ripping people off for tens of thousands of dollars using C2it like we have about PP.
Another "feature" of C2it which is both a blessing and a curse: they don't send you the customer's address. On the one hand, I have customers who assume they do and I have to email them and ask for it after they pay. On the other, customers can have the item shipped anywhere they want (home, office, friend's house), not just to their home address. Since sellers are not responsible for fraudulent CC, you dont have to worry. C2it claims that their more stringent validation prevents stolen CC from being used.
