Benefits of Providing Multiple Payment Options?

[sdc888]

Wanted to get some feedback on whether or not I should provide two methods of payment at checkout. I just signed up for an Authorize.net account as some customers were getting confused by our existing Paypal Standard checkout process.

Should offering paypal be a requirement? I'm caught between wanting to streamline the checkout process (so folks don't have to select a payment provider), and potentially losing a sale for not offering paypal? Do international buyers care more/less about paypal?

We have just purchased HackerSafe and have a GeoTrust SSL -- so from a customer perspective the site should appear secure. I'm leaning towards not allowing paypal -- thoughts?

[stevesh]

For my money (literally) it depends on what you're selling.

If your products are obviously home made, or your website seems to be a hobby rather than a business, offering PayPal (including just PayPal) is OK.

I have a PayPal account, but I only use it to buy one-off stuff on eBay or items from other websites that I don't think I can live without but can't use another payment method (hasn't happened yet).

A proper merchant account just says 'professional' to me, and that's the kind of business I want to order from.

Also, 'Hacker Safe' and other schemes like it mean nothing to me. I just want to see the https when I log in or check out, so the SSL logo can go, too.

[jeking]

Wanted to get some feedback on whether or not I should provide two methods of payment at checkout. I just signed up for an Authorize.net account as some customers were getting confused by our existing Paypal Standard checkout process.

Should offering paypal be a requirement? I'm caught between wanting to streamline the checkout process (so folks don't have to select a payment provider), and potentially losing a sale for not offering paypal? Do international buyers care more/less about paypal?

We have just purchased HackerSafe and have a GeoTrust SSL -- so from a customer perspective the site should appear secure. I'm leaning towards not allowing paypal -- thoughts?

Why not test it out. Run both options for one month, then run just Authorize.net. See if your conversion rate is any different. That will tell you what your customers (shoppers really) think and that what counts.