After a series of frustrating experiences, EasyIDCard has decided to completely move away from PayPal (credit cards processing) in favor of Stripe. This decision comes as a response to ongoing issues that have highlighted PayPal’s apparent shift in focus towards consumer platforms like Venmo, neglecting the needs of business merchants.
The Shift in Focus
PayPal’s recent strategic direction seems increasingly centered on enhancing its Venmo services, which cater primarily to peer-to-peer transactions. This shift has left businesses like EasyIDCard struggling with inadequate support and unresolved payment processing issues.
Customer Support Breakdown
EasyIDCard encountered significant challenges with PayPal’s customer service:
- Vague Communication: A lack of clarity regarding changes affecting the ability to process American Express (AMEX) payments led to confusion and frustration.
- Inability to Resolve Issues: Attempts to reach customer support resulted in being bounced between departments, with little assistance provided.
- Technical Support Failures: Delays in responses from technical support often resulted in unresolved issues, with tickets being closed without satisfactory solutions.
Impact on Business
The consequences of these support failures have been substantial:
- B2B customers who primarily use AMEX for employee id cards needs expressed their frustration.
- EasyIDCard had to rely on Stripe for processing AMEX transactions, which proved more reliable than PayPal.
- Ongoing issues with PayPal also affected the ability to process other credit card transactions.
Conclusion
The experience has made it clear that PayPal is losing touch with the needs of business merchants. Days of delays with no ability to charge a cards and no resolution from Paypal could put out of business any merchant. As EasyIDCard transitions fully to Stripe, other merchants are encouraged to reconsider their reliance on PayPal. The focus on consumer transactions over robust merchant services could leave businesses vulnerable in an increasingly competitive landscape. It’s essential for merchants to prioritize platforms that genuinely support their operational needs.
PS. We will still accept PayPal express checkout ( users paying with their PayPal balance ) but credit cards will be processed with Stripe.
Pawel Rakowski is the founder and CEO of EasyIDCard.