Introducing PayPal Here: The Future of Commerce for Small Business | Hacker News Reader

Introducing PayPal Here: The Future of Commerce for Small Business

thepaypalblog.com

17 pointsthisisblurry12 comments

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It is interesting how blatantly Paypal has copied Square. They don't even seem to make a secret of it.

>>"The key differentiator is that it comes from PayPal, a trusted brand in the online payments industry"

My translation: "Nothing innovative or groundbreaking. But we're a trusted name"

Perhaps it's a strategy that'd work, but really, Paypal could do better?

They also forgot the air quotes around "trusted"

What is Google doing with Google+? Just copying Facebook right? They are not innovating too I suppose. Its about money and how to capture the market. So relax.

Oh no, PayPal's legendary customer disservice comes to small businesses across America.

When's Square's IPO again? :-/

"Merchants are also given a business debit card for quick access to their funds and 1% cash back on eligible purchases – which means if you use the debit card, your fees are actually just 1.7%!"

What a stupid marketing point. If I use any mobile payment processor and then spend the funds with any credit or debit card offering 1% cash back, I achieve exactly the same savings. Paypal hardly has a competitive advantage here.

This is absurd--is PayPal really serious about this? I keep expecting a video from the Onion to show up when I click on the links. Once Yahoo! dies it's slow, litigious death -- PayPal needs to be the next to go. This is not indicative of the innovation I know happens in the Valley.

I don't get it. A company need not come up with something new to enter a business. Its fair game for a company to copy another. Paypal is being honest about it as the only differentiator is the fraud management capabilities they have. Square has to build it up from the ground up in every country they enter. Paypal can launch this in all countries they have a presence today and one up Square. Its a good move from a business stand point. A no brainer really. Paypal's strength is not in the US but outside of it and they are making good use of it. If their customer service is really that bad and hated as most tech comments section make it to be, the dongle will not be adopted. But this itself is a good move on their part.

Not quite ready for primetime. From the post...

[INSERT PAYPAL HERE DEMO VIDEO]

[INSERT MERCHANT TESTIMONIAL VIDEO COMPILATION]

Picture for clarification: http://o7.no/zjmjyf Looks like they forgot to add those in before hitting "Publish"

it's a triangle. get it?

I actually LOLed and wondered if it's not an early April Fool's prank. Without going into everything that's wrong with this, let's just agree that the future of commerce for small business simply does not include PayPal at all.

I take it you do not sell items to teenagers (no credit cards) or internationally (bank transfers more culturally prefered). I (begrugingly) accept Paypal because their consumer mindshare among those two groups is extremely high. For an example, look at any popular Kickstarter: There is a small contingent of customers wanting Paypal.

You probably shouldn't bet 100% of your business with Paypal, but a vocal minority prefers it.

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