# Merchant Account Recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 28, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merchant-account-recommendations/587094 "2011-06-28T02:16:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merchant-account-recommendations/587094/1 "2011-06-28T02:16:40Z")
Paypal seems rather expensive, but I’m hesitant to go with random googled company. Any recommendations, or advice as to what I should look for? ETA: I am going to be taking payments through the web only. No retail or phone sales. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merchant-account-recommendations/587094/2 "2011-06-28T12:36:53Z")
I work for an internet retailer, and the current owner uses [Authorize.net](http://Authorize.net). The previous owner used USAepay. Both seem to be good services AFAICT. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merchant-account-recommendations/587094/3 "2011-06-28T14:59:07Z")
I’ve been using [Authorize.Net](http://Authorize.Net) for about 8 years. Never had an issue. Don’t ask me about fees…I just pay 'em. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merchant-account-recommendations/587094/4 "2011-06-28T16:25:23Z")
Bank of America has been fine but not sure how they compare on fees, I’d suspect they are somewhat expensive. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merchant-account-recommendations/587094/5 "2011-06-28T17:52:45Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’ve been using [Authorize.Net](http://Authorize.Net) for about 8 years. Never had an issue. Don’t ask me about fees…I just pay 'em. Thanks for the advice guys, but [Authorize.net](http://Authorize.net) isn’t exactly a merchant account. They are a payment gateway, and either way, you can’t buy directly from them. What reseller did you use? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merchant-account-recommendations/587094/6 "2011-06-29T19:47:52Z")
My company actually signed up to be an [Auth.Net](http://Auth.Net) reseller, which was a pain in the ass, but we managed to do it and then we sold like 3 or 4 accounts to our clients and that just about pays for our fees. Our merchant service account was with Wells Fargo a long time ago and it was murder to work with them. Then somehow we got away from them (they didn’t have any records of us but were able to charge us just fine!) and went with our bank, National City. Then they merchant stuff got bought up by BoA and BoA sucks cock in everything they do. They weren’t as bad as Wells Fargo but I just plain hate that company. National City’s whole business got bought up by PNC Bank so they became our bank, and shortly after that happened I switched to their Merchant Services. To me the choice of merchant service hasn’t been that important to me. Less important than toilet paper brand. The fees all seem reasonable and too high all at once. I never have to talk to them - I talk to [Auth.Net](http://Auth.Net) more. The few times I switched was just out of necessity. I would go with the bank that you bank with. Fees might be lower for account holders, or if nothing else, you get your money deposited a lot quicker. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merchant-account-recommendations/587094/7 "2011-06-29T21:58:29Z")
Discussion here > **[PayPal vs Authorize.net for ecommerce store?](https://forums.digitalpoint.com/threads/250112/)** > > I'm starting a new online store. What is the better way to go... PayPal or Authorize.net? > > What are the fee differences? > How will shopper...