Configuring for Sales
| Type | PhotoShelter Fees | Set-up Fee | Currencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | 10% transaction fee (30% for STARTER account) |
$50 for STARTER and BASIC accounts. Fee waived for STANDARD and PRO | AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, JPY, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD, USD |
| Merchant Account | 10% transaction fee (30% for STARTER account) |
$50 for STARTER and BASIC accounts. Fee waived for STANDARD and PRO | USD |
FAQs
What's the difference between a Merchant Account and Paypal?
Both options allow your clients to pay you with a credit card. Both have the same PhotoShelter transaction fee structure. The fees from the bank vary slightly based on volume.
Merchant Account
Pros: The buyer experience is more streamlined because they are not required to bounce over to the PayPal site. Although they do not need a PayPal account, some buyers find the experience confusing.
Cons: The Merchant Bank will charge you a monthly fee regardless of sales transaction volume. Our current Merchant Bank and Gateway provider only transact in USD.
PayPal
Pros: Does not have a monthly fee. Supports multiple currencies.
Cons: Transaction fee tends to be slightly higher than with a Merchant account. Requires the buyer to bounce over to the PayPal site to complete the transaction.
Which option should I choose?
If your sales consist mostly of small ticket items, and your monthly total is relatively small (e.g. < USD$2000), PayPal might be the better fit. If you have larger transactions with a higher dollar amount, the Merchant account might be a better fit.We cannot recommend one service over the other, and the decision should be based on your personal selling profile.
If I'm going to sell prints and self-fulfill the orders, do I still need one of these options?
Yes, in order to collect funds online, you need a payment option configured for your account.
