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Is PayPal an option for Shopping at Parallax.com? — Parallax Forums

Is PayPal an option for Shopping at Parallax.com?

RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
edited 2011-03-22 16:21 in General Discussion
Just wondering if there is going to be an option for using PayPal instead of a credit card when shopping on Parallax.com?

Robert

Comments

  • Shawn LoweShawn Lowe Posts: 635
    edited 2010-11-16 12:41
    It would be nice!
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,418
    edited 2010-11-16 21:49
    This is a non-reply of sorts from me, but I want to let you know that I've asked our sales or web team to reply to the request.

    - Ken
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,938
    edited 2010-11-16 22:46
    I have a PayPal Debit/Credit for my PayPal account, so I can use PayPal anywhere that takes MasterCard or ATM. I don't recall if this option is only available with business accounts, however.

    It would be nice if Parallax used PayPal, but from a business perspective, there are costs associated that affect the cost model as well as adding a lot of steps to the financial side of the sale process.
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2010-11-17 07:23
    WBA Consulting wrote: »
    It would be nice if Parallax used PayPal, but from a business perspective, there are costs associated that affect the cost model as well as adding a lot of steps to the financial side of the sale process.

    There are costs associated with taking regular credit cards too. I'm just not sure if the fees are that much more for PayPal transactions. I seem to recall that Parallax did accept PayPal from their occasional ebay auctions so they already used PayPal at some point.

    Sometimes it would be more convenient for me to use PayPal if I have a balance sitting there already.

    Robert
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-11-17 10:06
    PayPal is also a conduit for credit card transactions. But I'm guessing their merchant fees are much higher than what Parallax is paying for their own merchant services. So a sticky issue might arise if a customer selects PayPal and then uses a credit card. Can they then be redirected to Parallax's credit card processing?

    -Phil
  • Jim CareyJim Carey Posts: 15
    edited 2010-11-17 14:32
    RobotWorkshop wrote: »
    Just wondering if there is going to be an option for using PayPal instead of a credit card when shopping on Parallax.com?

    Robert

    Hi Robert, We looked into this, but the manual process kept us from adding it. We may consider adding PayPal in the future if we could automate it, like we do with credit cards.
    One of our distributors Hobby Engineering offers you to pay with PayPal. He can sell you any Parallax products and sells at the same retail price we do. His website is http://www.hobbyengineering.com.

    Take care,
    Jim Carey
  • KaosKiddKaosKidd Posts: 296
    edited 2010-11-18 07:29
    Jim Carey (Parallax Sales) wrote: »
    Hi Robert, We looked into this, but the manual process kept us from adding it. We may consider adding PayPal in the future if we could automate it, like we do with credit cards.
    One of our distributors Hobby Engineering offers you to pay with PayPal. He can sell you any Parallax products and sells at the same retail price we do. His website is http://www.hobbyengineering.com.

    Take care,
    Jim Carey

    They have some COOL stuff there!
    :)
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2010-11-22 10:08
    RobotWorkshop wrote: »
    Just wondering if there is going to be an option for using PayPal instead of a credit card when shopping on Parallax.com?

    Robert

    Paypal has rules and one of them is you can't take money for a product that isn't out yet so you couldn't buy a product here in advance.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,418
    edited 2010-11-22 17:08
    RobotWorkshop wrote: »
    Just wondering if there is going to be an option for using PayPal instead of a credit card when shopping on Parallax.com?

    Robert

    Hey Robert,

    I didn't get back to this request, probably because I don't have a positive response. PayPal works great for eBay, CraigsList and other on-line purchases, but I don't see us adding it here anytime soon. First, it's a manual process for Parallax staff given the shopping cart system we're using. Next, it has fees - and I'm not sure if they're higher or lower than what we pay. Most importantly, however, is that it takes time for our IT department to setup. Amidst a major forum upgrade, web site upgrade and training of IT2 (the new, second-in-command IT guy named Dan) we can't justify the time allocation right now. But we can revisit the issue in the future as the scenery changes, as we know it will.

    Please continue making suggestions, Robert.

    Thanks,

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax Inc.
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2010-11-23 10:59
    Ken, the only thing I would seriously hope you'd reconsider is changing "not any time soon" to "as soon as we can" or at least "it's on the list". PayPal is very important to your hobbyist demographic.
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2011-03-10 18:54
    =================== OLD THREAD BUMP ====================

    I just placed an order with a PayPal MasterCard. If Parallax can run it through it would be a good compromise. Funds come directly from your PayPal account.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,938
    edited 2011-03-10 20:02
    Martin, do you have a business Paypal account or personal? I've been using my Paypal debit card all over the place (including Parallax) for over 2 years, but I didn't get it until I converted to a business account. I think anyone with a Paypal account should have a Paypal debit card if they offer it to all Paypal account types.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,418
    edited 2011-03-10 20:46
    Martin, I agree that it should be an option. We'll add it as soon as we can. At the moment my IT team is part of my 75-line project schedule for Parallax Semiconductor. Once that's running I'll get their attention focused on PayPal. It probably ties into a much bigger picture related to the shopping cart software used in our DNN framework, something we plan to jettison pretty soon in favor of a Drupal-based web format. Seems like every five years we do a major web site redesign.
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2011-03-10 22:05
    It isn't as urgent an issue for me personally anymore now that I can use the debit card here. It's really nice. Get one if it's offered to you.
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2011-03-14 12:26
    Verified, works like a charm!
    Ordered on Friday.
    Package immediately entered wormhole in CA.
    Exited wormhole in TN and arrived just now.

    =D
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,246
    edited 2011-03-14 20:39
    I love wormholes that way. Pay pal, almost as much! :D
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2011-03-22 16:21
    WBA Consulting wrote: »
    Martin, do you have a business Paypal account or personal?

    Just noticed on the card it says "Business Debit" (Yes... Just now noticed that...)
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