[LINK] Paymate

[Adam Todd]

At 09:41 AM 18/09/2007, Jan Whitaker wrote:
>At 09:24 AM 18/09/2007, Roger Clarke wrote:
>>Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but that almost makes cheques look 
>>*cheap*, but maybe I'm failing to factor in the bank's annual fees 
>>and the cost of interest foregone.  And for a volunteer 
>>organisation, simplicity, reliability and automated operation is 
>>*good* (right, Jan?).
>
>I think Roger was being rhetorical when he mentioned me because I'm 
>the current treasurer for APF. But since I'm a member of this 
>community, I'll reply, just in case.
>
>If someone had a long term online business thing with lots of 
>transactions, the 'pay'-xxxx options may make perfect sense. I have 
>a friend who has a set of shareware software with payments coming 
>through one of them. Doesn't bat an eye at the percentage. But I 
>don't know if it's just because it's 'there' or that she did any 
>analysis. I think it's probably the former.

Maybe it's cause the software is "shareware" and "any money" is more 
than none :)  I know with things I'm offering online, I don't care 
too much about the percentage when it's low, in some cases I advise 
the buyer they will have to add a fee as a premium - as provided by 
law.  (Although I am having a huge fight with Ebay over this 
presently and the matter is heading to the Federal Court.)

>We use a direct deposit strategy for donations and annual membership 
>fees that works reasonably well. There is a loop of communication 
>through the secretary to make sure I know and she knows who is 
>making the deposit if they aren't clear in their deposit 
>information. No extra fees to anyone in the accounts I've set up 
>with Bendigo. YMMV with other banks or account types. Many folks are 
>used to direct deposit now, so it works for us.

I'd suggest using PayPal over Paymate.  The fees are far lower and if 
the payer has money in their account already there are no fees for 
the transfer.

I try and encourage PayPal Account Balance transactions, which are 
easy to do because once you link your bank account you can transfer 
cash straight into your account with no costs to you.  Then you have 
an account balance you can use form ANY Internet connection to pay 
anyone anywhere in the world.