Accepting Online Donations ?

Discussion in 'Payment Processing' started by Fastian, Oct 22, 2006.

  1. #1
    Hi guys

    On most of the free sites a see a button saying “Donate” using PayPal account information. I don’t know if people really use it to donate to the site or not but its still worth trying. (Who knows you have got some really kind users ;) )

    As I still don’t have a PayPal account so I can’t go with PayPal. So my question is,
    Is there any other payment processor that accepts payment like that??
    (Where people can pay using PayPal, CC or MoneyBookers)

    Currently I only have a verified MoneyBookers account.
     
    Fastian, Oct 22, 2006 IP
  2. Mahumba

    Mahumba Peon

    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    A few people on my site also wanted to donate money. They asked about paypal but I feel that if I do that it almost seems like begging..... I don't know if I could put a donate thing on my site.

    Roger
     
    Mahumba, Oct 22, 2006 IP
  3. eddy2099

    eddy2099 Peon

    Messages:
    8,028
    Likes Received:
    568
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    I've seen the paypal donation button being used by some musicians on MySpace.

    There is http://www.clickandpledge.com/ but I am not sure if this is what you want.

    I am not sure but I too feel that asking for donations is like begging. Probably just run some advertisement on your site and make money that way to finance the site. The other thing would be to sell something and then use the profit for that, perhaps something like Cafepress ?
     
    eddy2099, Oct 22, 2006 IP
  4. Pat Gael

    Pat Gael Banned

    Messages:
    1,331
    Likes Received:
    68
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    I don't know why many people consider donations as begging.

    If you have a pride as big to refuse a well-intentioned donation, don't go for it. If you put a donation button just as it is, you are not begging, you are giving a tool to people who would like to reward your effort or say "thanks" that way.

    If you put a donation button with neon lights and phrases encouraging donation, then you are a begging, and it dependeds on how much you need the money for do that.

    Maybe lack of dignitiy, or a desperate situation that lead people to do that.
     
    Pat Gael, Oct 22, 2006 IP
  5. Fastian

    Fastian Peon

    Messages:
    2,085
    Likes Received:
    235
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    Clickandpledge was a close thing but not entirely what I am looking for. Even with them, you need to have PayPal account to get PayPal donation while I am seeking for something where people can just donate with PayPal, CC or MB and I can get a check or payment through MB.

    Two bad that MB do not have any such option like PayPal.

    Well, I don’t know why you think Donation is begging. But as long as see it, I can really start earning if I go with popup & some heavy advertisement on every page.
    But I want to keep my site clean just by displaying few AdSense ads along with few banner ads. And you know CPM pays you very low. Even I can’t join some good CPM program coz they pay you with PayPal. (Like bannerconnect)

    So I just thought of donations just to keep my advertising minimum and also still I don’t want to use popup ads.



    Exactly how I see donations. If people can help you with your site hosting and other charges, I think you can accept their help.
    (I am not going to put on every page that donate some handy cash to help me earning with this site)

    I see that donation thing on most of "Free" sites including some wallpaper sites as well (From where I got this thought).
    Even though if people are using some heavy advertisement, they don’t mind getting donations.
     
    Fastian, Oct 23, 2006 IP
  6. eddy2099

    eddy2099 Peon

    Messages:
    8,028
    Likes Received:
    568
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    You don't really need to do popups or popunders because I would have to agree with you, they suck.

    I don't know but I guess I belong to a culture which do not adhere to personal donations. The only donations I know are charitable organization and not commercial ones.

    You might want to look at selling permanent or monthly rated advertising spot, this way you can keep the advertising down to probably text links and small banners and you would be getting some outfront income to finance the site. The other option like I said before is to probably sell something and make a profit off that.

    The other option might be go to a paid mode so that people would pay to get what they the more valuable contents. Maybe you can restrict what is offered as free and charge for access to the other contents.

    I think usually donations is something which the giver offers and not something which the receiver initiate whether by asking for it or putting a link. Of course if someone offers me some donations without me asking for it, I may accept. That's just my opinion.
     
    eddy2099, Oct 23, 2006 IP
  7. Fastian

    Fastian Peon

    Messages:
    2,085
    Likes Received:
    235
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    I agree. I dont like them for myself so i will not use them.

    That was my very first option. You can still see the link in my signature but for some reason, people here don’t seem to be interested in getting a link on my site. (I have no idea why is that :rolleyes: )

    Yes. That is possible and I am also thinking about it. But again the issue comes on how I can accept payment when I don’t have PayPal. (As it seems people only care about PP these days)
    With the donation, I was also thinking something like, Pay $10 to remove all the advertisement.

    And thanks Eddy
    Your replies are always helpful to me.
     
    Fastian, Oct 23, 2006 IP
  8. eddy2099

    eddy2099 Peon

    Messages:
    8,028
    Likes Received:
    568
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    I think you might want to check out http://www.plimus.com , I am using it to receive payment for my software and they do have subscription plans and support Paypal receipt too. Check with them to see if what you want can work with what they offer.
     
    eddy2099, Oct 23, 2006 IP
  9. Fastian

    Fastian Peon

    Messages:
    2,085
    Likes Received:
    235
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    Again thanks for your reply.
    Plimus seems to be a good option if i go for "Remove Advertisement" thing i mentioned before. Their "Subscription" options seems to be interested.

    I saw they pay through Wire transfer, check, PayPal or Direct Deposit.
    Is that possible they can pay using MB. (Lets just say I am Promoting MB :) )

    Check would work but actually it takes a lot of time to process checks here + I can use MB to pay someone else.
    How do you get your payment?? Are they reliable?
     
    Fastian, Oct 23, 2006 IP
  10. eddy2099

    eddy2099 Peon

    Messages:
    8,028
    Likes Received:
    568
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    Well, yes Plimus is pretty reliable and prompt at payment. They pay on the 15th of the next month though.

    I've received wire transfer but now have switched to Paypal payment.

    Well, generally MoneyBooker is not really that attractive for big organization like Plimus who probably have several tens of thousands of vendors to pay every month.
     
    eddy2099, Oct 23, 2006 IP
  11. Fastian

    Fastian Peon

    Messages:
    2,085
    Likes Received:
    235
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #11
    Well, So far Plimus seems to be a good option to me. I am looking at them and also considering if I can integrate such a system to my site. (I will need few changes with the script)

    But with this, I am seeing an other issue. People might take it as i am selling wallpaper. So it could become a legal issue. (I should start a new thread in "Legal Issues" section.)

    Still looking for more information. I am asking few other people if this thing could cause me any Legal Issue. You can give me your thoughts on it.
    :)
     
    Fastian, Oct 27, 2006 IP
  12. YanSniim

    YanSniim Active Member

    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    53
    #12
    So did you use plimus?! is it good?! I am looking for such a system on my site too.
     
    YanSniim, Nov 11, 2006 IP
  13. eddy2099

    eddy2099 Peon

    Messages:
    8,028
    Likes Received:
    568
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    Well, I've been using Plimus for several months now and have found them to be very reliable and prompt.
     
    eddy2099, Nov 11, 2006 IP
  14. coffeegroup

    coffeegroup Peon

    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #14
    Never heard of Plimus. Thanks for that suggestion.

    Can I ask why not go with Paypal?

    Clickandpledge gets costly.
     
    coffeegroup, Nov 12, 2006 IP
  15. Fastian

    Fastian Peon

    Messages:
    2,085
    Likes Received:
    235
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #15
    I never used Plimus before but in future i might use it.
    All i know so far is that the words of "eddy2099" can be trusted for sure :)

    So, if he is using it with no problem, then you wouldnt have a problem as well.
     
    Fastian, Nov 13, 2006 IP