Malcolm Online

Many must be guessing what I have been up to these few months. Yes, I know it has been more than 4 months since my last article. While I have never stopped replying to your questions and comments, I have been busy working on my new businesses.

In early July 2008, I resigned from my position as an E-commerce Consultant in Neowave Sdn Bhd and started work as a freelance software developer cum consultant. In August 2008, I founded Mafinsoft Solutions with a friend to provide affordable e-commerce or online store solutions, web design, online marketing training and web related services to small and medium enterprises as well as individuals.

We were quite fortunate to have a number of referrals for our services in the beginning and even up till now. This year, we hope to execute our plan and make online selling affordable and guide our customers make more money from their online stores.  One of the most important project for this quarter is our integration of iPay88 online payment gateway and Magento shopping cart software which is made available for download at no cost!

Tags: General // Add Comment »

During difficult times like now in the United States, eBay is still able to acquire successful companies with Cash. Yes, you read it right. Hard cold cash.

Like PayPal, Bill Me Later is an online payment option where a buyer does not need to enter his or her credit card details during an online purchase. Further, there is no hassle of registration! This mean no new account is create and no password to remember.

The screen shot below from Bill Me Later website describes well how an online purchase via Bill Me Later is done. [Read more →]

Tags: Bill Me Later, Payment Gateways, eBay // 4 Comments »

When PayPal began to allow Malaysians to withdraw PayPal funds back in early October 2007, the currency withdrawn to our Visa Debit Card or Credit Card was as it is. For example, if our PayPal balance to be withdrawn was in USD, that was the same exact currency and amount withdrawn to our Visa cards after deducting USD 5 per transaction. Visa does the currency conversion from USD to Ringgit Malaysia upon deposit.

Now, compare the 2 screen shots below.

Figure 1: PayPal funds withdrawal to Visa Electron in October 2007

The screen shot above was taken during my first withdrawal in early October 2007.  In the screen shot below taken today, it stated the funds will be withdrawn in MYR (Malaysian Ringgit or Ringgit Malaysia). Notice the difference between the two?

Figure 2: PayPal Converts USD to RM First Before Transfer to Visa Electron

This means PayPal is not giving Visa any chance to earn from currency conversion! Many have complained the conversion rates offered by PayPal are lower than retail rates. But I guess we have to bear with PayPal for now.

Tags: PayPal // 12 Comments »

Help! My PayPal account has been suspended! Just kidding :)

Just awhile ago, my blog reader by the name of Yap sent the following comment asking for help.

I recently withdraw funds from my Paypal account to debit card.
Transaction went smoothly the first 2 times.
The third time has been 8 business days but i still don’t see any funds deposited into my card.

What should i do? I have email Paypal customer center several times, no reply received.

Don’t be too worried Yap. [Read more →]

Tags: PayPal // 23 Comments »

I received a question from Stary a short while ago.

I just received a payment in USD from France in my Premier Paypal acc & Paypal charged me a fee of 3.9% + USD0.30. Isn’t the usual fee 3.4% + USD0.30?

I apologize for the confusion. In my previous post on “Which PayPal Account Should I Signed Up For?“, I did not elaborate on types of transaction fees. There are 2 types of PayPal transaction fees namely domestic transaction fees and cross border transaction fees. [Read more →]

Tags: PayPal // 8 Comments »