Paypal, google, and... visa/MC?

[asinglepixel]

In the PotionStore info you list paypal and google. On your store you
have a third option, visa/mastercard/other credit cards.

Does one need a merchant account to provide the credit card option?

[Andy Kim]

Graham,

Here's what's going on with the checkout options:

- The first credit card checkout option is handled by PayPal through
Website Payments Pro (WPP).
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_wp-pro-overview-outside

From a user experience point of view, it's the same as going through
a credit card merchant account. Unfortunately, it is for US merchants
only.

- The second PayPal option is called "PayPal Express Checkout":
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/merchant/
ExpressCheckoutIntro-outside

You are required by PayPal's license agreement to implement this if
you implement WPP.

- The third, is of course Google Checkout (https://
checkout.google.com/sell)

It's available to merchants in the US and in the UK.

- There is another API at PayPal called Website Payments Standard
(WPS) that is not supported by Potion Store:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_wp-standard-overview-outside

It's basically just having the user submit forms to PayPal. I haven't
investigated this one too much since I wanted WPP from the get-go,
but for some people it could make more sense to go this route,
especially if the volume is very low. It would be cool if somebody
looked into integrating WPS into Potion Store.

Andy Kim
Potion Factory LLC