PayPal API or Payflow Pro?

[jwitt98]

I'm somewhat confused about which one to use.
I already have a Paypal website payments pro account that I have been using, But I'm not sure what Payflow Pro is and whether or not I should be using it or Paypal IPN.
Would someone be kind enough to point me to where I could find a comparison of the two.

[DrByte]

Which country are you in?

Comparison between PayPal Standard and Pro and Express Checkout: http://tutorials.zen-cart.com/index.php?article=28 (or just go to paypal.com)

Payflow Pro is a credit card gateway like authorize.net etc where you process cards while collecting the CC numbers directly on your site ... much like PayPal Website Payments Pro (and is part of the technology behind Website Payments Pro if you're in UK ... hence the question about where you're located).

In short ... you use whichever module you need for your business.

[jwitt98]

Thanks,
I am in the US.
I had actually read that article, but somehow I missed the section at the bottom concerning payflow.
I also read the information on Paypal's site. There is a lot of information on how to set it up, but they don't really give a clear overview of how it works.
So, if I understand correctly, It works the same as paypal express and paypal pro using API, except the funds are not stored in your paypal account, but rather forwarded directly to your bank.
So, the customer's experience is essentially the same with both, correct?
How do chargebacks/refunds work when the funds are not part of the paypal account?
Also, I was a bit confused by this:
"Transactions conducted via Payflow Pro do not normally appear in your PayPal account"
Does this imply that sometimes they do appear in your Paypal account?

[Kim]

So, the customer's experience is essentially the same with both, correct?
How do chargebacks/refunds work when the funds are not part of the paypal account?
Also, I was a bit confused by this:
"Transactions conducted via Payflow Pro do not normally appear in your PayPal account"
Does this imply that sometimes they do appear in your Paypal account?

You really need to ask PayPal's customer service these questions.

[jwitt98]

After spending sometime on Paypal's website, I did find some more information on the differences between the two.
Here are the links for anyone else who is interested.
http://www.pdncommunity.com/pdn/boar...thread.id=3352
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/websc...ile-comparison
I did call Paypal's tech support and they just flat out told me I needed to use the API setup.
Something I did not know is that there are additional fees for using payflow.
- XX setup fee and,
- XX monthly fee.

Thanks for the information and for pointing me in the direction I needed to go to find the answers I was looking for.

[ukrik]

I am a bit confused, so i have some questions.

Is this one time setup fee of XXX? can you set it up yourself so you do not have to pay these fees?

Here is a breakdown:

Paypal Website Pro
Monthly fees 30 USD
2.9% + 0.30 USD cents per sale.

Payflow is $XX a month + 0.XXc per transaction

Isn't it cheaper to use PayFlow Pro in a long run?

[DrByte]

Is this one time setup fee of XXX? can you set it up yourself so you do not have to pay these fees?

LOL. It's an account activation fee. The "setup" isn't something *you* do. It's something *they* do.

Here is a breakdown:

Paypal Website Pro
Monthly fees 30 USD
2.9% + 0.30 USD cents per sale.

Payflow is $XX a month + 0.XXc per transaction

Isn't it cheaper to use PayFlow Pro in a long run?

On the surface any credit-card-gateway service (whether Payflow or Authnet or FirstData and so on) *looks* cheaper than a service such as PayPal.
The truth is that all credit card processing services have costs associated with them. And, every individual card *type* has different rates attached to it (ie: corporate cards and points cards cost higher service charges to the merchant than a simple credit card that has no bells and whistles). Sometimes those somewhat-higher-fees are not understood by new merchants, and some of those merchants even think they're being cheated. They're not. That's just the way it works. Some say they weren't told ... but really they were ... it was just in fine-print wording because the exact details are rather difficult-to-describe. It's just standard industry practice.

Now, I say all that to say this:
PayPal *looks* more expensive because they have a very simple flat rate-structure, and they clearly advertise those details. Nothing hidden or difficult to explain.

So ... you can do the research yourself. You'll probably find they come out fairly even in the end. One may be slightly less costly than the other. And that may flip-flop from month to month.

Don't squabble over a dollar.

Pick a vendor. (Even pick from the Recommended Services list at the top of this page!) When you've picked one, research them. Talk with them. Negotiate your rates with them. If you're new to credit card processing, work with them to get them to educate you on the many aspects you have no clue about, for there will be many. Once you've researched a few and satisfied yourself on a choice, sign up. Get approved. Take payments. Enjoy.

And remember, even if you *do* have a credit card gateway service enabled, you should *still* accept PayPal ... there are many customers out there who have money sitting in a PayPal account and they'd rather use that money than use their credit card. Don't lose out on a sale just because you didn't offer PayPal.

And, no this post was not intended to be an ad for PayPal. Just helping round out the many misconceptions about credit card options.

[ukrik]

i apreciate for the quick respond, i will do research, currently i am with internetsecure, but i prefer to use paypal because it IS PAYPAL :) and like you sad a lot of ppl have accounts with it which is a big advantage of it. So i guess i llgo with paypal website pro just like you did.
Thank you again.

[DrByte]

Unless you have a particular reason for changing, why not just stay with internetsecure and simply add PayPal Express Checkout as well?
No need to go to PayPal Website Payments Pro if you already have a gateway that you're happy with.