Comments on: Why Operating a Web Service in Canada Sucks – Part I: AMEX http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/ A blog about our thoughts on entrepreneurship, teamwork, our services, the Web and anything we find interesting. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:26:59 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: yourmanstan http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-58730 yourmanstan Wed, 14 May 2008 19:57:58 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-58730 wow, it sounds like it would be much easier if you were simply located in the US... or at least appeared to be http://www.earthclassmail.com/ $10/mo and you can have a US address and give it to amex and any other companies that are annoying like that! wow, it sounds like it would be much easier if you were simply located in the US… or at least appeared to be

http://www.earthclassmail.com/
$10/mo and you can have a US address and give it to amex and any other companies that are annoying like that!

]]> By: MohSho http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-46342 MohSho Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:05:00 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-46342 I think it's always worth it for Canadian companies like yours to accept payment in both US and CAN dollars. See mastermindtoys.ca for an example. I think it’s always worth it for Canadian companies like yours to accept payment in both US and CAN dollars. See mastermindtoys.ca for an example.

]]> By: Matthew Hunt http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-46215 Matthew Hunt Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:06:30 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-46215 I am sooo sorry to hear that you went through all that, I see it happen all time. I have been in the payment processing industry for over 4 years now in Canada and poor merchants allows get caught up in the merchant account admin nightmare. It is important if you want to save yourself time and your sanity to find yourself a good independent merchant account specialist who can just set everything up for you the first time round. I am sooo sorry to hear that you went through all that, I see it happen all time. I have been in the payment processing industry for over 4 years now in Canada and poor merchants allows get caught up in the merchant account admin nightmare. It is important if you want to save yourself time and your sanity to find yourself a good independent merchant account specialist who can just set everything up for you the first time round.

]]> By: Levi Cooperman http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-40334 Levi Cooperman Wed, 02 May 2007 16:53:30 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-40334 Hi Peter, We have considered PayPal...however, their discount rates are higher and they do not have a gateway like account available to Canadian companies yet (Website Payment Pro)...check out this post if you are interested: http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/12/08/when-paypal-just-doesnt-cut-it/ Of course, that is not to say we won't accept PayPal at some point. Hi Peter,

We have considered PayPal…however, their discount rates are higher and they do not have a gateway like account available to Canadian companies yet (Website Payment Pro)…check out this post if you are interested: http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/12/08/when-paypal-just-doesnt-cut-it/

Of course, that is not to say we won’t accept PayPal at some point.

]]> By: Peter Koning http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-40333 Peter Koning Wed, 02 May 2007 16:43:16 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-40333 Why didn't you simply get Paypal? They take Amex, Visa, M/C, and a couple others too. Why didn’t you simply get Paypal? They take Amex, Visa, M/C, and a couple others too.

]]> By: Eddie http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-40328 Eddie Wed, 02 May 2007 15:43:51 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-40328 Of course it makes sense... dollars and sense. The US dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar. Do you honestly believe that your American customers would rather pay more (roughly 11% more) for your service just so they wouldn't have to pay in Canadian dollars? lol! It's always amusing seeing Canadian companies charge customers in a foreign currency. It's especially delicious when these companies proudly display the Canadian flag on their Website. Come on Levi, place an image of the Canadian flag on your home page. ;) Of course it makes sense… dollars and sense. The US dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar. Do you honestly believe that your American customers would rather pay more (roughly 11% more) for your service just so they wouldn’t have to pay in Canadian dollars? lol!

It’s always amusing seeing Canadian companies charge customers in a foreign currency. It’s especially delicious when these companies proudly display the Canadian flag on their Website.

Come on Levi, place an image of the Canadian flag on your home page. ;)

]]> By: Levi http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-40320 Levi Wed, 02 May 2007 13:04:50 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-40320 Hi Blaine, As a Canadian business it would make some sense to offer our service in CAD. However, with less than 15% of our customers in Canada, and the rest in the USA as well as other parts of the world. It only makes sense to charge in US currency. Trust me, it would make our lives much easier if we charged in CAD, but I don't think the majority of our customers would appreciate it. Hi Blaine,

As a Canadian business it would make some sense to offer our service in CAD. However, with less than 15% of our customers in Canada, and the rest in the USA as well as other parts of the world. It only makes sense to charge in US currency. Trust me, it would make our lives much easier if we charged in CAD, but I don’t think the majority of our customers would appreciate it.

]]> By: Blaine http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-40298 Blaine Wed, 02 May 2007 05:35:21 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-40298 Nice, a Canadian company not using legal Canadian tender. I feel vauled, not. As a Canadian I won't use your business. Nice, a Canadian company not using legal Canadian tender. I feel vauled, not. As a Canadian I won’t use your business.

]]> By: Chris http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-37965 Chris Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:59:16 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-37965 Oh yes the trials and tribulations of online business... Sometimes you could just scream at the inefficiencies of some companies. Oh yes the trials and tribulations of online business… Sometimes you could just scream at the inefficiencies of some companies.

]]> By: James http://www.freshbooks.com/blog/2006/06/01/canada-sucks-amex/comment-page-1/#comment-35950 James Wed, 28 Mar 2007 04:51:42 +0000 http://www.freshbooks.com/blogtest/2006/06/01/why-operating-a-web-service-in-canada-sucks-part-i-amex/#comment-35950 I don't know why, but that was completely entertaining to read. I look forward to reading part 2 now. =) I don’t know why, but that was completely entertaining to read. I look forward to reading part 2 now. =)

]]>