Zen Cart without a payment module

[liderbug]

I've built/hosting a ZCart and contracting with a credit card company for on-line payment is, while not out of the question, going to run the expenses up past what is acceptable. The volume, for the first year, just won't cover the charges.

The client does have a swiper on his desk - he takes orders over the phone. So I'm thinking the customer & my client somehow get together and he records the CC# etc and keeps it off-line [ little black book in safe ? ] and then the customer goes on-line, orders what they want and Submits the order. My client then pulls out the book, keys in the card number etc and the sale goes through. Thinking this route because I've read the posting about the split cc# & 2 emails etc. In fact if this can work I automagicly have another Cart to build

A) Has this been done before - I really hate re-inventing ....
B) Any Gotcha's?
C) Assuming I/we go this route - What does the Check Out page look like?
D) What other questions have I forgotten?

Many Thanks
Chuck

[DrByte]

The "little black book" idea would be a direct contravention of terms of service contract with the merchant account connected to the "swiper" as you call it.
Specifically, you are not allowed to store a credit card number beyond the time that you authorize the transaction. So, immediately after keying it into the "swiper" is when the information must be destroyed, shredded, securely deleted, whatever.

[stevesh]

Also, I think people are becoming more savvy about how ecommerce works, and many (including me) won't buy from an online store which seems to be (mis-) handling CC numbers the way you describe.

If the business model won't support payment processing fees (which he must be paying to his 'swipe' processor, anyway), I'd suggest taking a second look.

[liderbug]

I understand the comments above - didn't like the idea of saving the numbers to start with. Here is a real life example: Another web page I put up, using ZenCart, does a low volume of business and with the monthly charges - understand I didn't pick the CC co. - the words were "Oh, cheap, 2.5% + 30c per etc." With the monthly fees tacked on it's running just under 10% per transaction. If there were say 5000 transactions per month then $15/mo fee is 3/10c per transaction. But at 10 transactions per month that $1.50 per transaction. Why do they want to take CC's? It's a building rental, by the hour/day, (meetings, wedding receptions etc) and the "Check's in the mail" and getting the treasurer to check the mail (weekly?) was causing some .... problems. Brides get ... nervous ... and "It's been 4 days and I haven't received a conformation. it's been 5 days, 6, 7... Then "It's been 2 weeks and I haven't gotten my deposit back".

And if I can't find a less expensive way my customers will respond with "Forget it."

[DrByte]

You could try the Ceon Manual Card addon as an alternative twist.

[liderbug]

Thanks for the Ceon idea, I'll take a look. Right now I'm leaning to PayPal with a note on the payment page "You don't need a PP a/c to buy, just click...". They don't have the cheapest rate, but it would be the cleanest (right now) as I see it. You do $20Mil a year and $15/mo doesn't register - you do $1K and it starts to add up. And for small companies trying to stay afloat ... every penny.

Thanks

[stevesh]

I was going to suggest Paypal Express, with a prominent note as you describe that they don't need a Paypal account. A little higher percentage, but no monthly minimum like most merchant accounts.