In the day of e-commerce and m-commerce, there are various payment methods available to every Tom, Dick, and Harry, wherever you are in the world. And because of the wide range of choices, it can be pretty confusing which one to use. In making that choice and decision, there are some factors that you have to consider.
Security
Billions of dollars are invested in technology to ensure online transactions are secure for consumers, retailers, and financial institutions. In the past, the degree of risk was high because the technology was still new and there were many things people did not know about security loopholes in online transactions. But the industry has since learned from its mistakes and has gotten better at it.
Fees
When transacting online, there are certain fees involved to defray the cost of researching and developing security measures. Online security requires big investment. Therefore, the use of their services will not be for free. Most payment methods base their fees on the total amount of the purchase or transaction price.
Accepted payment methods
Even if the payment method you choose is secure and has low transaction fees / charges, they don’t matter if the retailer does not accept them. While big retailers usually accept various modes of payment, you may find it challenging with smaller businesses. Better check the payment methods accepted by the retailer before starting your transaction.
Which payment methode should you use?
Once you have checked and made sure the above considerations are met, the next question is, what payment system do you use? There are a lot of payment methods to choose from. The great thing about these payment methods is that they are usually accepted in most countries and have established themselves as legitimate, secure, efficient, and accurate.
You can pay using your credit or debit card. You can also use bank cards or pay via bank transfers. Online payment platforms, like PayPal, BrainTree, and Skrill, are also quite popular. Then you have eWallets as well. It can be confusing and dizzying, I know. But these are only the most commonly-used ones.
If you make local transactions, using credit or debit cards, making bank transfers, or even mobile wallets, are convenient. But for international transactions, you have to check the foreign exchange rate and the related fees. For such transactions, it may be better to use online payment platforms since their fees and rates are quite reasonable.
If you are going to play games online via the app store or try your luck at a online casino, the most-commonly accepted payment method is credit cards like Visa and Mastercard. Select online payment methods are also accepted like PayPal or Skrill. Just make sure you read the terms and conditions before playing or purchasing anything.
