Whats the difference between Real Time Transactions and Manual/Offline Transactions and which one is for me?

There are several different ways to process credit cards. It is important to know which method is best for you before you apply for merchant accounts with your bank.

Manual/Offline credit card processing
Real time credit card processing
ezimerchant Deferred real-time credit card processing *recommended*
Payment services such as PayPal or Paymate

Manual/Offline credit card processing

Manual/Offline credit card processing has historically been the most popular method used by ezimerchant merchants.

One of the reasons this method has been so popular is due to many merchants already having an EFTPoS terminal - which they use in their retail outlet.

If you choose this method, the ezimerchant will supply you with your customers credit card details when they make an order. You will then process them manually via a standard EFTPoS merchant account terminal - like the one pictured.

Viability of this method is repaidly diminishing because of PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) requirements.

Advantages:

You may already have an EFTPOS terminal. If this is the case then manual processing can be a viable inerim option while you get your ezimerchant Deferred real-time credit card processing or Real time credit card processing established.
Puts you in control of your order processing. (example: If you are out of stock or suspect fraud, the payment is not processed automatically)

Disadvantages:

It is a manual process so it can be very costly in terms of labour.
It is getting increasingly difficult ro obtain an EFTPoS terminal for card not present transactions. For this reason it is really only a viable interim solution for merchants with an existing EFTPoS terminal.
Handling credit card data exposes you to the risk of that data being compromised. (see How do I avoid the risks associated with handling credit card data?
It is extremely difficult to comply with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) using this processing method.

Real time credit card processing

This method suits companies that have high volume or do not wish to use the manual processing method.

If you choose this method, ezimerchant will pass your customers credit card details to a 3rd party 'Payment Gateway' company who will in turn process those details with your bank. The bank then either approves or declines the credit card transaction and sends back a message to the payment gateway which in turn sends the message back to ezimerchant. ezimerchant then displays an accepted or declined message to your customer.

Because the above process is done in 'Real Time' (e.g. instantaneous) the money is transferred into your merchant bank account at the time of the order (or shortly after - depending on when the bank actually does the transfer.)

Advantages:

Money is transferred at the time of the transaction.
No manual card processing work required! You simply need to pack and send the order.
You only receive orders that have actually passed the processing stage. Eliminates time wasters.
Becoming cheaper as ecommerce becomes more commonplace.

Disadvantages:

Cards are processed regardless of stock level or availability. If you are out of stock then you must organise a refund. (Most payment gateway companies now provide you with the means for doing refunds however.)
There is no facility to avoid processing fraudulent orders. You will need to do a refund if you reject an order because of fraud.
If you have to request more funds because of extra freight or a request to add products, you have no way of doing so without asking for the customer's credit card details, even if you have approval from the customer

See ezimerchant Deferred real-time credit card processing for a solution which has all of the advantages of both manual and real-time credit card processing with none of the disadvantages.

Supported 3rd party real time payment gateways:

ezimerchant currently supports the following 3rd party real time payment gateways:

AUSTRALIA	Gateway Details	Supported Banks and Special Notes
	eway www.eway.com.au	ANZ, StGeorge, Bank of SA,National Australia Bank, Westpac, Commonwealth Bank
	eMatters www.ematters.com.au	NAB, CBA, StGeorge, Westpac, ANZ.
	NetRegistry www.netregistry.com.au	National Australia Bank, StGeorge
	directOne www.directone.com.au	National, Commonwealth, Westpac, ANZ, StGeorge, Bank of SA, Bank of WA, Bank of Melbourne, Challenge Bank.

NEW ZEALAND	Gateway Details	Supported Banks and Special Notes
	eMatters www.ematters.co.nz	NAB, CBA, StGeorge, Westpac, ANZ.

UNITED STATES	Gateway Details	Supported Banks and Special Notes
	Authorize.net www.authorize.net	We use the Advanced Integration Method (AIM). Using Protocol 3.1 with test mode support.

UNITED KINGDOM	Gateway Details	Supported Banks and Special Notes
	protx www.protx.com	Full protx vsp direct protocol v2.22 is now supported - Including test modes, CV2 and address verification features. UK Banks: Lloyds TSB Cardnet 0870 901 7915 Barclays Merchant Services 0800 616161 HSBC 08457 585150 Natwest Streamline 0800 010166 Bank of Scotland 0800 6525808 American Express 0800 339911 Diners Club International 0870 19000 011

IRELAND	Gateway Details	Supported Banks and Special Notes
	realex www.realexpayments.com	Irish Banks: AIB Bank Amercian Express Band of Ireland / euroConex National Irish Bank Streamline (Ulster Bank, Natwest and Royal Bank of Scotland)

ezimerchant Deferred real-time processing

Combining the best of both traditional ways to handle online credit card payments

Advantages:

Puts you in control of your order processing. (example: If you are out of stock or suspect fraud, the payment is not processed automatically)
You only receive orders that have actually passed validation. Eliminates time wasters.
You have the ability to make adjustments to the order value (e.g. for extra freight or if the customer has requested to add or amend products on the order) and capture additional funds or issue a refund, all without needing to ask the customer for theur credit card details or having to handle them yourself.
Very cost effective.

Disadvantages:

None.

Payment services such as PayPal or Paymate

PayPal and PayMate make accepting credit cards easy as they do not require you to have a merchant facility. They are quick and easy to setup and are recognizable world wide by net savvy shoppers. If you want to start trading immediately with your ezimerchant web site, we highly recommend setting up a PayPal account.

PROVIDER	Provider Details	Information
	PayPal www.paypal.com	PayPal is the safer, easier way to pay and get paid online. The service allows anyone to pay without sharing financial information and gives consumers the flexibility to pay in any way they prefer, including through credit cards, bank accounts or account balances. With more than 81 million active accounts (210 million registered) in 190 markets and 24 currencies around the world, PayPal enables global e-commerce. The company's open payment platform, PayPal X, allows developers to build innovative payment applications on multiple platforms and devices. PayPal is an eBay company.
	Paymate www.paymate.com.au	With Paymate you can accept credit card payments in 3 minutes! You don't need a credit card gateway or even a merchant facility from a bank. Paymate is the fastest, safest payment service on the internet! Accept payments in one of the following currencies... Australian Dollars (AUD) US Dollars (USD) Euros (EUR) British Pounds (GBP) New Zealand Dollars (NZD)