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-- Log on HNA121698 started at Wed Dec 16 11:56:34 PST 1998
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| Anita: | Does anyone here handle overseas orders? |
| homeparentsADM: | I was thinking of Teresa, who wanted to sell those rugs, but she lives in canada.. |
| Julie: | You Web Gurus that are interested in ECommerce should look into these hosted systems like Yahoo. They are often looking for developers. |
| CJ: | well the sales between Canada and US arent so bad |
| Anita: | I have several clients who do but I feel like I'm doing all the talking! |
| Anita: | One client I have has only one product |
| Anita: | He figured out what his cost was to ship to all the major countries outside the us |
| tricia: | I understood that US,Canada and Mexico are pretty easy to transport between. |
| CJ: | she would need to consider the tax that is charged for items crossing the border |
| Anita: | and we just added that to his form |
| Anita: | yes, Tricia, I think you are right |
| Anita: | Depending upon the type of item |
| Anita: | We got into a real sticky situation once with an order to Pakastan though |
| tricia: | I think it is the other countries that start to be a hassle. |
| Anita: | Although my client paid all the appropriate shipping etc. |
| Anita: | Pakastan has import tarriffs |
| Anita: | I think the order is still on hold somewhere. |
| homeparentsADM: | I wonder how you make sure the exchange rate is right between countries, or does the credit card company do that? |
| Anita: | Has anyone else had a similar experience? |
| tricia: | When filling out a customs declaration to France I usually just put what I am sending ... how does it differ with a business? |
| CJ: | credit card companies generally take care of the exchange |
| CJ: | which is one of the advantages of taking cc's |
| homeparentsADM: | oh, I see... |
| homeparentsADM: | so, you get a certificate, that you have to pay for, right...then you set up the script on your site, right? |
| Julie: | Hey, someone was asking about merchant accounts. I have heard great things about Novus |
| CJ: | you may be able to use your hosts certificate |
| Julie: | or you can use a cart that is on a secure server... |
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| Anita: | You know, I have always wanted to do some kind of matrix that compares the rates and services of the difference merchant account providers. |
| Anita: | I noticed a lot of people asking those kinds of questions. |
| Anita: | In my spare time, LOL. |
| CJ: | what spare time |
| homeparentsADM: | that would be interesting, Anita! |
| Julie: | Good idea Anita.. I have spent hours and hours comparing a number of different methods.. it ould be nice to have it all in one place as not one option is perfect for everyone |
| Anita: | Wouldn't it? Someone on the list was just asking about that today I think |
| tricia: | I think that would be very beneficial... but ALOT of work! |
| homeparentsADM: | now, any ideas on accepting checks online? is that possible? |
| Julie: | I think a lot of sites sell themselves short by going with the cheapest or most simple option, and then not realizing it may turn customers off |
| Anita: | Well, you could get the input from others. |
| Anita: | Yes, Julie, that has been my concern exactly |
| Julie: | There is a great software that will allow you to print checks using your customer's info. |
| Anita: | Many of them have silly hidden charges like "statement fees" |
| Anita: | gimme a break |
| Anita: | What software is that? |
| Julie: | checkNique |
| Julie: | very inexpensive. |
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| Anita: | Candace, what software do you use for online checks? |
| Anita: | That is an area I haven't dared to explore yet. |
| CJ: | I use CheckWriter from http://www.instantpc.com |
| CJ: | has served me well |
| Anita: | and then you just deposit it like a regular check? |
| Julie: | yes |
| CJ: | yes |
| Julie: | no charges or anything, just buy the software |
| Anita: | do you two find that many people use that option? |
| homeparentsADM: | why don't all of you with secure online shopping on your sites add your site name and url now..so people can check out how you do it.?? |
| Anita: | cool, any idea what price range the software is in? |
| Anita: | um, http://www.sunset-harley.com |
| Anita: | http://www.rfoxx.com |
| Julie: | The only reason I do not like it, is because it is a risk for the shopper. The bank doesn't offer the protection that a credit card does, if a merchant were to print multiple checks. I have had it happen. Once you give that info out, you are at risk |
| Julie: | $30 |
| Anita: | That does sound reasonable. |
| Anita: | Do you find many people use it? |
| Janet: | Julie - you had it happen to some of your checks? Had you bought something online with a PC-check? |
| Anita: | CJ, do you find many people use your online checks? |
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| CJLewin: | I mostly get them for my web design....not my retail site |
| CJLewin: | I use the program to print checks to pay bills too |
| homeparentsADM: | what's to stop people from doing the same with a credit card, though..charging multiple times...but I guess you could stop it.. |
| Julie: | Yes, the company cleaned out my checking account, twice |
| Anita: | OMG!!! |
| homeparentsADM: | oh no,, julie!!!! |
| Julie: | Barb: credit cards offer protection against that. |
| Julie: | I got my money back |
| tricia: | That's terrible. |
| Julie: | sicked the FTC on them |
| CJLewin: | ugh, it is that type of stuff that gives the rest of us a hard time |
| tricia: | Way to go! |
| CJLewin: | getting our customers to trust us is hard enough |
| Anita: | Then again, I had a similar problem when our light company cashed a $100 check for $1,000 |
| Janet: | LOL |
| Julie: | it sure does. That is why references and customer comments are so valuable |
| Janet: | |
| homeparentsADM: | oh no..how did they do that, Anita? missread the check amt? |
| Anita: | Hi Sherri |
| Janet: | you didn't have any trouble getting your money back, did you , anita? |
| Anita: | whoever keyed it in just accidently added a zero I guess |
| Julie: | Barb: if you only knew how checks were processed. Low paid employees are paid piecework to encode checks at night. Mistakes are common |
| Julie: | if you don't code fast enough, you lose your job |
| Anita: | No, in fact, they even offered to pay any the bank charges involved |
| Janet: | cool |
| homeparentsADM: | wow, that's scary! I guess we've been lucky! |
| Julie: | computer generated and typed checks have less problems than hand written ones, because they are easier for the encoder to read |
| Anita: | Sherri, do you have a commercial web site or secure online order form? |
| Sherri: | Yes, The Creativity Zone. Is this Anita, in Florida? If so, I just sent you those bracelets for your bike run! |
| Gloria: | Hi, all! |
| homeparentsADM: | is this Gloria of AMC fame? |
| Gloria: | Yep! I guess you'd call it fame. |
| Anita: | Hey you all sorry for the off topic but I have to tell you how wonderful Sherri was to donate some beautiful bracelets to our club's toys for tots run last sunday!!! |
| homeparentsADM: | haha...gloria is the All my Children guide for Mining Co! |
| tricia: | That's great Sherri. |
| Sherri: | How was the run, Anita? |
| Anita: | WEll even though the weather man promised thunder storms, we had over 60 motorcycles show up |
| homeparentsADM: | neat, how nice, sherri...add your url so I can include it in the transcript! |
| Anita: | And you wouldn't believe the toys! Some people brought bag fulls! |
| Sherri: | The Creativity Zone - http://www.creativityzone.com |
| homeparentsADM: | Anita, we had a big harley toy's for tots drive here in AZ last Saturday! |
| tricia: | That is great Anita. |
| homeparentsADM: | before everyone goes, do any of you have ideas for the next chats? I'm thinking tax hints/ideas (not advice!)...online marketing (getting listed on the search engines, etc.)// |
| Gloria: | Move the time???? |
| Anita: | Definately search engines |
| homeparentsADM: | oh, yes, the new time will be on Tuesdays! |
| Julie: | Gloria, we just talked about changing the day |
| CJLewin: | cool, less busy day for me |
| Gloria: | That's great and very good news. |
| Gloria: | I'll be able to come, starts next week? |
| CJLewin: | Wednesdays are so hectic for me |
| Sherri: | Still from 3-4? |
| homeparentsADM: | right, same time...if this time seems ok/ |
| Anita: | works for me |
| Anita: | we need to remember the other time zones |
| Gloria: | Okay, I'm going to head out, Tuesdays 3-4 and Search engines next time. |
| Julie: | Barb: I'd like to schedule another offline marketing chat for late January |
| Anita: | Did any of you find this chat helpful at all? |
| homeparentsADM: | ok, sounds good julie! |
| Julie: | Anita, i find that all these chats are great starting points, but we need more time. Maybe 2 or 3 parts |
| Anita: | Thanks Julie, thats really good to know. |
| homeparentsADM: | I think yeah, this could be a 2 or 3 parter, definately |
| Julie: | it's a good place to start a discussion, and also the people who need to be here, are sometimes not here to ask the questions, but at least they know to ask the host |
| Anita: | I had hoped to get more input from those with buisness sites, you know there experiences. |
| Anita: | oops I mean their experiences, long day, LOL |
| homeparentsADM: | Anita, I was hoping more people would give their experiences too..but you did great! Thanks so much!! |
| Julie: | I think it would be very helpful to follow this up with a survey from members who have used different shopping systems |
| Anita: | Guess that's a wrap then?! |
| Anita: | Brilliant Idea Julie |
| homeparentsADM: | good idea, Julie!! |
| Julie: | ok thanks Anita and Barb.. |
| homeparentsADM: | Julie, and Anita...keep reminding me of this, ok....I'll be out of town until Jan 2, .. |
| Julie: | and everyone else for coming |
| Anita: | Maybe we could even put together that Matrix one day, LOL |
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-- Log stopped at Wed Dec 16 13:09:35 PST 1998
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