We put in a new payment method last week to give our customers another payment option.  Customers that have used it so far have found it to be very easy to use and have appreciated the opportunity to save some bux.

It's Intuit Payment Network:

https://ipn.intuit.com/login/home

There are several advantages to using IPN:

1.  Because it is a direct bank to bank transfer, there are no credit card fees imposed on the payment.  These are very costly and raise the costs on all goods and services for everyone.  Because these fees are eliminated, when using IPN, we are able to share these savings with you allowing you a special discount on your purchase when you use IPN.

2.  The process is very secure.

3.  The processing is fast.  Much better than sending a check and waiting for us to get it and then for it to clear before we ship out your purchase.  Funds are actually transferred faster than using a credit card.

The disadvantages:

1.  At this time it is USA only.


So, if you are in the USA, have the cash in your bank account for your purchase and would like to use IPN, just give us a call or email us with your order and tell us you would like to pay using IPN.  We'll handle the rest and email you an invoice with instructions on how to pay along with your purchase discount.  This option is not yet available in the web store.

Just one way to avoid the credit card bandits siphoning off the GNP and keep some of the money for yourself.  Everyone wins   :)

Tom,
we have used this system for about five years.In Australia it's called "electronic funds transfer".
We EFT all our suppliers every month and have drastically cut our bank charges ("but we have found other ways",insert evil laugh here ).

It's also good for one off purchases when the vendor doesn't know you from a bar of soap.
So I hope you guys jump on board with it, it is a win,win situation  :D

Brad  

Tom,  Thank you for turning me on to IPN.  Since creating my account I've saved a substantial amout of money when compared to what it would have cost otherwise.

THANK YOU!

IPN is not all what it seems.  When it says that the payment has cleared it has not cleared.  When you can take an IPN payment, have it show cleared and funds in your account, you would think you could then ship the goods.

NOT   [smiley=tickedoff.gif]

They can come back on you several days after it has 'cleared' and say oops and take the funds back.

After discovering this, we will no longer be taking IPN payments.  Well, we will, but we will put a ten business day hold on all of them before we ship.  So...this makes this payment method just silly.

Sorry, it seemed like a pretty good thing.  But we know better now.

Hi Tom,

You might want to revise how long you plan to hold an order paid through the IPN...  I see where their "Terms and Conditions" has IMS (& the paying Customer) protected, but not us "Merchants":

"Payments received in your Merchant Account may be reversed at a later time (in some instances even past 180 days following the time of receiving the payment)...".

Additionally, "The [Customer] payment will be held by IMS and shown as pending until such time that Intuit determines in its sole discretion that the transaction is legitimate and processes the payment. The average process time is 3-5 business days but may take longer due to banking system delays or other matters outside of IMS' control. "

Also "At anytime a transaction processed through your account may be reversed." and "Transactions processed through Merchant Accounts are subject to a payment review process. During the review if IMS identifies a payment transaction that needs further validation a hold maybe placed on the transaction which may result in further delay of settlement.".

There is NO mention of them having to notify the merchant of any delay.  In the situation where IMS shows payments are no longer "Pending" then later change that status, it is, after all, at their "discretion" what they call it.

Jeepers.  I suppose we've proven once again, that anything too good to be true...