customer can't pay with credit card

[bookbinder]

I have a customer who wants to pay with her credit card but does not want to set up a PayPal account.  She can't pay.  there is no option for her to pay without setting up an account.

So I did a test.  I sent my wife a $1 invoice to see what would happen.  There is a "pay as guest" button, but when you click on it, the payment page flashes for about 1/2 second and then you are taken to "make a PayPal account" page.

In the past, I have had many customers who do not want a PayPal account pay with their credit card.  I have even told them it was possible.  Now I hit this snag.  Is this something new? 

why is there a  "pay as guest" button and then not be able to pay as guest?

I'm really concerned as this will really be a problem with sales of my products.

[kernowlass]

@bookbinder

Do you have a business account?

Do you have a card reader?

[bookbinder]

do not have a business account nor a card reader.   I have been able to accept CCs for years with a personal account. 

In doing some research today, I found this on paypal website:

"Customers enter their name and shipping address. They’re prompted for their credit card, email address, and phone number. (Optional) After reviewing their information, they may choose to save their information by creating a PayPal account to make future transactions faster."

So it looks like you have to set up an account but it's optional. So her problem may be that she didn't pursue it far enough.  she got stopped at the set up an account page.

It would be nice if this were clearer.  This customer wants to buy over $300 worth of equipment but will NOT buy if this won't work.  And my whole business is centered around people being able to buy either through paypal account or credit card as guest.

[kernowlass]

@bookbinder

That option is for business account users using website payments etc.

You can accept credit card payments via paypal on a personal account.

But if your buyer is trying to pay you directly via a credit card then you need a business account / website payments / card reader etc.

[bookbinder]

what about ebay sales?  same?