Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- merchant_guide:add-store [2010/03/02 15:37] – earlyimpact
+++ merchant_guide:add-store [2010/03/02 16:02] – earlyimpact
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 ====== Adding a New Store ======
-===== Overview =====
 Log into the Merchant Center and click on //Store > Add New Store//. The //Add New Store// (and //Edit Store//) page is organized with tabs.
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   * [[store-settings-misc|Miscellaneous]]
-===== General Information =====
-==== Store Information ====
-  * **Description** \\ Enter a short description for your store. The description will be used to reference this store throughout the SubscriptionBridge administration console. This description also is displayed to Customers that may log into their Subscription Bridge account.{{ :merchant_guide:sb_screenshot_addstore.gif|The Add New Store window is organized with tabs accessible at the top}}
-  * **Store URL** \\ This is the URL of the Web site that will be connecting to SubscriptionBridge. It is used in different locations. For example, if you are using the [[:simpleintegration:simpleintegration|SubscriptionBridge shopping cart]], then the links that bring the customer back from the shopping cart to your Web site will use this URL.
-  * **Store Email** \\ The email that will receive merchant notifications.
-  * **Store Key** \\ A unique identifier for your store. The system will check to ensure no your key is unique. We recommend that you create a key that is at least 8 characters long. The store key is also used when rewriting URLs to make them easier to remember and more search engine friendly. So - if possible - the store key should be descriptive of your store. For example, if your store description were "Early Impact Gymnasium", your store key could be something like "earlyimpactgym".
-  * **Address** \\ Enter your store's physical address for contact purposes.
-  * **Currency** \\ Select the currency used by this store.
-  * **Comments** \\ You can enter additional information regarding the store in the Comments field. The Comments field is not shown to customers: it's for administration purposes only.
-==== Store Logo ====
-You can upload a logo for your store. The logo will be used both during checkout ([[:simpleintegration:simpleintegration|Simple Integration]]), in the Customer Center, and in all e-mail notifications sent by SubscriptionBridge.
-Allowed formats: GIF, JPG, PNG
-Recommended size:
-  * Width: Up to 400 pixels
-  * Height: Up to 75 pixels
-You can use different sizes from the ones recommended above, but they could create small interface issues (pushing other elements of the interface out of place). Here is an example of a logo that is 350 x 75.
-{{:merchant_guide:matts_wines_spirits.jpg|Example of a logo that is 350 pixels wide and 75 pixels tall}}
-===== Payment Gateway =====
-==== Supported Payment Gateways ====
-Choose the payment gateway that you will be using with this store, and enter the corresponding credentials. Support payment gateways are:
-  * Authorize.net
-  * PayPal Website Payments Pro
-  * PayPal Express Checkout
-==== Credit Card Types ====
-You can also specify the **credit card types** that are accepted by your store. Please note that this setting only applies to stores that are using the SubscriptionBridge shopping cart ([[:simpleintegration:simpleintegration|Simple Integration]]).
-==== Card Authorization Settings ====
-=== Why authorizing a card ===
-When a subscription is created, there are many cases in which a payment is not processed. For example, a gym membership with a 7-day free trial, an online gaming Web site subscription with a "First Month Free" promotion, etc.
-In all of these cases, most payment gateways do not by default check the validity of the credit card used for the subscription (e.g. Authorize.Net does not validate the card in this scenario). It does so only at the time the first subscription payment is processed, which could be well into the future.
-To avoid creating a subscription for a customer that is using invalid credit card information (e.g. invalid card security code), SubscriptionBridge allows you to authorize the card and stop the customer from proceeding if an authorization is not received.
-=== Available card authorization options ===
-Specifically, you have the following options:
-  * **Zero Dollar Authorization (ZDA)** \\ This enables applications like SubscriptionBridge to check the validity of a credit card account without authorizing any specific amount. This is clearly the best way to accomplish this goal. The problem is that - as of February, 2010 - not all processors are capable of handling Zero Dollar Authorizations ([[http://community.developer.authorize.net/t5/News-and-Announcements/Authorize-Net-Support-of-Visa-Mandates/m-p/518|see this Authorize.Net article on this topic]]). If you check this option and SubscriptionBridge detects that a ZDA cannot be performed, it will perform a $1 authorization instead. If you already know that your processor does not support ZDAs, then do not check this option.
-  * **$1.00 Authorization** \\ SubscriptionBridge will do an "authorize-only" transaction for $1, then void the transaction immediately after it was authorized. No charges are ever debited, and the transaction will disappear automatically from the customer's transactions record.
-  * **Full Transaction Amount** \\ SubscriptionBridge will do an "authorize-only" transaction for the amount of the subscription, then void the transaction immediately after it was authorized. No charges are ever debited, and the transaction will disappear automatically from the customer's transactions record. The amount authorized, however, is "reserved" until it is removed from the account. If the amount is large, this could theoretically create a problem for the customer as it reduces the available credit.
-=== Which one to choose ===
-Even if there is no free trial, the first transaction is typically processed several hours after the subscription has been setup. When using Authorize.Net, for instance, subscription payments are processed by the Authorize.Net Automated Recurring Billing system during the night (around 2 AM PST).
-This can create an issue if:
-  * You are providing a service that can be immediately "consumed" after the subscription has been setup (e.g. downloading digital content)
-  * You are concerned with the possibility that the customer's card can "pay" for the product/service
-In this scenario a ZDA or $1 authorization does not help in that the card might authorize for $1, but not for the full subscription amount (e.g. that amount may be over the customer's credit limit). This is a scenario in which it might make sense to authorize the full subscription amount.
-In all other cases (the product/service cannot be immediately obtained, and/or the subscription amount is low), a Zero Dollar Authorization (if supported by your processor) or $1 Authorization should provide sufficient protection.
-===== Languages =====
-SubscriptionBridge supports a multilingual checkout process and Customer Center. Customers will be able to choose their language of choice among the ones that you have activated. Notification e-mails are also sent in the customer's language of choice.
-===== Shipping =====
-Use this area of the page to specify restrictions to where products are shipped. These settings only apply when using the SubscriptionBridge shopping cart ([[:simpleintegration:simpleintegration|Simple Integration]]). If you are using the SubscriptionBridge API, you do not need to configure these settings.
-===== Tax Settings =====
-==== When they are needed ====
-You only need to configure Tax Settings for a SubscriptionBridge store when you are using the SubscriptionBridge shopping cart ([[:simpleintegration:simpleintegration|Simple Integration]]). If you are connecting to SubscriptionBridge using the SubscriptionBridge API (e.g. through supported shopping cart software), you do not need to configure these settings, but rather consult the API documentation with regard to how tax information should be passed to the system, or simply configure tax settings in your e-commerce system.
-==== US Tax Data File ====
-Subscription Bridge can automatically calculate the correct tax rate using a tax database that is built into the system. We have partnered with a company called Tax Data Systems to calculate the sales tax rate for the location specified in the subscription details.Indicate which states you want to charge sales tax in. Keep the CTRL key pressed down to select multiple states.
-==== Tax Exempt Products ====
-These settings apply to all products that you have setup, except for those that you have flagged as Tax Exempt. When a tax exempt product is added to the SubscriptionBridge shopping cart, no sales taxes are calculated.
-===== Miscellaneous =====
-  * **Active** \\ You can turn the entire store on and off with one click.
-  * **Remote Ticket System** \\ SubscriptionBridge contains a basic Help Desk. From the SubscriptionBridge Customer Center, customers can contact you by opening a ticket through this Help Desk. However, you might already be using a separate ticket system and many want customers to open new tickets there instead. So here you can specify whether that is the case and the location (URL) of the ticket submission form.
-  * **Upgrading/Downgrading** \\ If there are two Packages using the same Plan, you can allow customers to upgrade (and/or downgrade) from one to the other. See the [[:glossary|SubscriptionBridge Glossary]] for details on what //Products//, //Packages// and //Plans// are. For example: 'SUPER GYM' offers several subscription packages for gym members. GYM PRO gives members access in the evenings until 11:00 PM, whereas GYM BASIC does not. Some members may want to upgrade from BASIC to PRO, other members may want to downgrade from PRO to BASIC. You can allow or disallow each of the two actions, as long as the 'Plan' used by the two Packages is the same.
-  * **Adding/Removing Features** \\ In the Merchant Center you can associate additional //Features// with any //Package//. Here you can indicate whether customers are allowed - after the initial purchase - to add and/or remove features to/from their current package. If active, the feature becomes available through the SubscriptionBridge Customer Center. See the [[:glossary|SubscriptionBridge Glossary]] for details on what //Features// and //Packages// are. For example: 'SUPER GYM' offers several subscription packages for gym members, and some optional services such as a 'Towel Service' and 'Locker Rental'. Some members may want to add or remove such features to/from their subscription.