QuickBooks Payments & prohibited categories We recently helped an online FFL merchant with some basic information on how to accept credit cards through their Wix site, and the topic of QuickBooks processing came up. They were hoping to use QuickBooks to key enter some of their net-30 B2B clients who mail in card numbers on their invoices and do it through Intuit’s standard processing. Luckily, we were able to set them up with an FFL friendly virtual terminal prior to them applying for, and being declined by, QuickBooks Payments. This topic had come up before, although with a vape site using WooCommerce that also wanted to enter their mail-in wholesale distributor payments directly into QuickBooks. That made us… Read More
Continue ReadingDeclined by Shopify Payments? Here’s why, & what to do
Recently, we spoke to a new online merchant who put months of effort into a new Shopify website only to have their launch delayed due to having their ability to accept credit cards declined. The decline was not technically by Shopify itself, but by Shopify’s out of the box payment processing relationship called Shopify Payments. Oddly, to the merchant at least, the reason for the decline was because they were selling “pseudo pharmaceuticals.” The website owner was not selling anything he thought even remotely resembled a pharmaceutical, pseudo or not, which begs the question, what are pseudo-pharmaceuticals? Well, it depends on who you ask. The definition is up to interpretation, which is what caused so many complications… Read More
Continue ReadingHow to sell vape & e-juice using WooCommerce
Are you mostly satisfied with your new WordPress electronic cigarette website, but have questions as to how best implement e-commerce functionality? WooCommerce, and a carefully selected payment gateway may be the answer you are looking for. WooCommerce is an excellent choice for vape sites It can be hard to know which WordPress plugins are reliable, secure, and (most importantly) able to process your vape hardware or e-juice payments. These days especially, there is a lot of change related confusion in what we call the “high-risk” e-commerce market which includes selling vape hardware and e-juice online. Finding an affordable, vape-friendly, WooCommerce payment gateway -merchant account combo can be hard, and we can… Read More
Continue ReadingGet started as an online FFL: accept payments and more
Interested in becoming a web-based FFL dealer? Due to complexities beyond their control, many firearms website owners cannot easily figure out, among other things, basic items like where to get started when trying to find a payment gateway and credit card processing system that works with their industry and shopping cart. If that sounds like you, this article can help. Online FFL e-commerce is considered a prohibited category by many software companies, payment gateways, and merchant account providers due to the higher degree of perceived risk or regulatory hassle entailed. The “out of the box” payment processing used on most website builders is designed for standard e-commerce and does not… Read More
Continue ReadingPayments & pipes: An industry spotlight
Accepting payments for pipes & glassware: It’s getting better The trend lately for the Glassware and pipe industry, at least in terms of their ability to accept credit cards online, appears to be trending positive. Pipe, grinder, and glassware websites can now be set up with solid, high-risk friendly payment gateways that are connected to reliable US-based merchant accounts. We have solutions for pipe and glassware e-commerce websites that easily integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, and nearly ALL high-risk friendly carts. This is because we are able to set you up with either Authorize.Net or NMI, depending on what is best for you, and can recommend a solid, affordable merchant account processor… Read More
Continue ReadingBookafy and high-risk payments: A software spotlight
Stay organized, grow your business, and get paid Bookafy is a powerful app that connects your calendars, syncs employee and client schedules with your calendars, and better yet, allows for the easy integration of a high-risk payment gateway. Small business life is fast, and it’s easy to miss tasks and appointments if you do not take steps to remain organized. Why not make life more comfortable by using software that not only helps you stay organized but also helps you run your business? You can have clients schedule their services or appointments directly, which is particularly useful for “on the go” sales appointments and services. Bookafy is capable of charging for… Read More
Continue ReadingPayment gateways, high-risk processing, and Brilliant Directories.
Brilliant Directories makes a mark with merchants Brilliant Directories is a SaaS platform with extensive tools and functions to help both low-risk and certain high-risk e-commerce merchants build custom directories and websites while managing recurring billing and subscriptions. Because our clientele markets products commonly considered “prohibited” by many software companies, our question was, “are there also additional benefits for high-risk merchants wondering if they could utilize Brilliant Directories?” Well, the answer, for certain high-risk industries, appears to be yes. Fortunately, Brilliant Directories is a great choice for many high-risk businesses, though, certain regulated and restricted products may not be compatible (more on that below.) Authorize.Net compatibility You may or may not… Read More
Continue ReadingSitebuilder Spotlight: Duda Mobile
Duda Mobile allows payment options for vape, cigar, and FFL websites Is it time to upgrade your high-risk e-commerce website? Is your e-juice, premium cigar, or FFL website in need of a facelift or style update? If so, it might also need some serious attention on the back end. If your site building platform or template is out of date hopefully it is at least mobile-friendly. Often, making small tweaks to an outdated website platform isn’t going to help your customer experience as much as converting to a better website building platform would. Doing everything you can to convey security and competence is important, especially if you are selling in a high-risk category. As… Read More
Continue ReadingHow to sell vape products online without a $500 fee
How to sell vape products online without a $500 fee “What? $500 upfront just to accept credit cards?” That is something that e-juice and electronic cigarette merchants have been upset about since the requirement, by one credit card brand, that merchants who sell electronic cigarettes or e-juice online register as a tobacco merchant, began almost a year ago today. Since late 2016, early 2017, electronic cigarette merchants looking to sell online had 2 choices: Use an out of the box solution and hope the processor does not catch you and shut you off. Or Pay $500 annually to register as tobacco online retailer, even if you do not sell any tobacco. There… Read More
Continue ReadingMaximize with Shopgate: A high-risk software spotlight
Make customer retention easier, even if you are high-risk Just because your website markets a “quote-unquote” high-risk product like electronic cigarettes, cigars, or FFL to FFL sales, it does not mean that acquiring new customers isn’t only half the revenue battle – just like it is for your low-risk e-commerce counterparts. For most e-commerce businesses, regardless of the industry, the other half is making sure your customers buy from you again and again. “Keeping them coming back” is also called customer retention, recurring revenue, or customer “stickiness”, and if you sell a consumable like e-liquids, premium cigars, or ammunition, you know how vital repeat business is. Our clients are talking… Read More
Continue Reading