Comments on: The problem with e-commerce and online payments in Africa http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:41:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carl http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-84556 Carl Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:12:03 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-84556 The reason why PayPal cannot be funded, only payment through them, is because of regulations in our country (South Africa) that prevent funding of e-currencies. I tried funding an e-gold or LibertyReserve (International e-currencies) account with wire transfer at ABSA and they just refused. Reason: against Reserve Bank regulations to fund e-currencies. If we can get these regulations changed, only then can we normalise online trading in South Africa The reason why PayPal cannot be funded, only payment through them, is because of regulations in our country (South Africa) that prevent funding of e-currencies. I tried funding an e-gold or LibertyReserve (International e-currencies) account with wire transfer at ABSA and they just refused. Reason: against Reserve Bank regulations to fund e-currencies. If we can get these regulations changed, only then can we normalise online trading in South Africa

]]> By: Philippe http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-49587 Philippe Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:48:50 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-49587 Hi all, I'm french and sorry for my english But what did you think of system http://www.wexpay.com/ http://www.ticket-surf.com Thank you Hi all,

I’m french and sorry for my english

But what did you think of system

http://www.wexpay.com/

http://www.ticket-surf.com

Thank you

]]> By: Nqobile Ndlovu http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-49485 Nqobile Ndlovu Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:10:43 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-49485 [For attention - Editorial Team] Oops! I have a couple of typos there - simple for imple, participation for participaton and implementation for implementtion. Can I, in true Kasi style, send a shout out to my long-lost brother somewhere in your establishment there, his name is one Trevor Ncube. Please ask him to call me +27 72 099 1967/ +27 31 262 9915 anytime - or drop me an email ne? Ta. [For attention - Editorial Team]
Oops! I have a couple of typos there – simple for imple, participation for participaton and implementation for implementtion.
Can I, in true Kasi style, send a shout out to my long-lost brother somewhere in your establishment there, his name is one Trevor Ncube. Please ask him to call me +27 72 099 1967/ +27 31 262 9915 anytime – or drop me an email ne?
Ta.

]]> By: Nqobile Ndlovu http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-49484 Nqobile Ndlovu Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:58:37 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-49484 Hi all - well well. Many can claim to be PayPal alternatives etc. etc., but the true solution to the mentioned problem is surely iPurch International. It is about to be launched, and is a well thought-out Afrocentric solution which did not start as a European or First world solution that got trimmed down for us. Believe it or not it has taken FOUR years to develop, and nothing, literally nothing, has been neglected in terms of ensuring a world-class African (and generally third world) solution for Africans (ditto). You see most of the solutions offered above (and there are many more to come!) are borne of people who do not and have not been living the problem (at least from a customer's perspective). Before I get lynched, please let me explain quickly. Even the originator of this thread has a Credit Card, for instance. I don't think he lives in the township blah blah blah. He was concerned more from a trader's point-of-view than a customer's. Why the customer - simple. For any solution to work, it must be customer-driven. Many entrepreneurs have developed "township" solutions from without, disastrously so. It must feel right, be right and generally work right FOR THE CUSTOMER FIRST! Now if you introduce something that needs pre-registration or needs a bank account or needs a bit more computer literacy or is just generally an effort one way or another, then hey, good idea but no cigar. What we have in iPurch International is a gem in that (and many others too) regard. Simple, VERY imple to use, Ultra Secure, Universally Accessible, Affordable, intentionally beneficial to the eTraders as well (to stimulate SMME participaton in eCommerce) - the list is endless (see www.iPurch.co.za for the original concept website. The new site is obviously vastly different and the procedures, features and some of the aspects described on the current site will have been quite changed at implementtion.) As they say, watch this space..... (Don't even BLINK in this case!) To quote a great man, I Thank You. Hi all – well well. Many can claim to be PayPal alternatives etc. etc., but the true solution to the mentioned problem is surely iPurch International. It is about to be launched, and is a well thought-out Afrocentric solution which did not start as a European or First world solution that got trimmed down for us.
Believe it or not it has taken FOUR years to develop, and nothing, literally nothing, has been neglected in terms of ensuring a world-class African (and generally third world) solution for Africans (ditto).
You see most of the solutions offered above (and there are many more to come!) are borne of people who do not and have not been living the problem (at least from a customer’s perspective).
Before I get lynched, please let me explain quickly. Even the originator of this thread has a Credit Card, for instance. I don’t think he lives in the township blah blah blah. He was concerned more from a trader’s point-of-view than a customer’s.
Why the customer – simple. For any solution to work, it must be customer-driven. Many entrepreneurs have developed “township” solutions from without, disastrously so. It must feel right, be right and generally work right FOR THE CUSTOMER FIRST!
Now if you introduce something that needs pre-registration or needs a bank account or needs a bit more computer literacy or is just generally an effort one way or another, then hey, good idea but no cigar.
What we have in iPurch International is a gem in that (and many others too) regard. Simple, VERY imple to use, Ultra Secure, Universally Accessible, Affordable, intentionally beneficial to the eTraders as well (to stimulate SMME participaton in eCommerce) – the list is endless (see http://www.iPurch.co.za for the original concept website. The new site is obviously vastly different and the procedures, features and some of the aspects described on the current site will have been quite changed at implementtion.)
As they say, watch this space….. (Don’t even BLINK in this case!)
To quote a great man, I Thank You.

]]> By: Bronwyn dos Santos http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-41588 Bronwyn dos Santos Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:15:06 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-41588 Dear Eric, We have just come across your article above. Please let me introduce Setcom as a option for online payments in South Africa. Setcom has been in the South African Market since 1999 and has been running as an alternative to PayPal for 5 years now. You do not need your own online merchant account, (although that option is available to you if you wish), you can trade in US Dollar and we have various payment options available (credit cards, POLi, eCheques, eDeposits). If you have a little html knowledge you can have your e-commence site running in under an hour. Go to www.Setcom.com for more info or feel free to contact me! Thank you and best regards Bronwyn Dos Santos Dear Eric,

We have just come across your article above. Please let me introduce Setcom as a option for online payments in South Africa.

Setcom has been in the South African Market since 1999 and has been running as an alternative to PayPal for 5 years now. You do not need your own online merchant account, (although that option is available to you if you wish), you can trade in US Dollar and we have various payment options available (credit cards, POLi, eCheques, eDeposits). If you have a little html knowledge you can have your e-commence site running in under an hour. Go to http://www.Setcom.com for more info or feel free to contact me!

Thank you and best regards

Bronwyn Dos Santos

]]> By: Kobia Strikes Again: AfricanTees | White African http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-19717 Kobia Strikes Again: AfricanTees | White African Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:10:45 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-19717 [...] I have two thoughts on that, though I’d love to hear yours. First, the eternal thorn in my digital Africa thoughts: payment. It’s difficult to buy anything like this from Africa, much less receive payment for it electronically. (I could blather on about this infinitum, but I’ll spare you for now. Just know that it irks me to know end and this is where it started and went here.) [...] [...] I have two thoughts on that, though I’d love to hear yours. First, the eternal thorn in my digital Africa thoughts: payment. It’s difficult to buy anything like this from Africa, much less receive payment for it electronically. (I could blather on about this infinitum, but I’ll spare you for now. Just know that it irks me to know end and this is where it started and went here.) [...]

]]> By: Andy http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-16448 Andy Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:44:09 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-16448 Although not currently a pan-African solution, there is a new <a href="http://www.payfast.co.za" rel="nofollow">South African Online Payment System</a> called <a href="http://www.payfast.co.za" rel="nofollow">PayFast</a> (a local PayPal equivalent able to accept instant payments via local EFT) is aimed at addressing this gap. Although not currently a pan-African solution, there is a new South African Online Payment System called PayFast (a local PayPal equivalent able to accept instant payments via local EFT) is aimed at addressing this gap.

]]> By: Andy http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-16447 Andy Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:42:23 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-16447 Although not currently a pan-African solution, there is a new <a href="http://www.payfast.co.za" rel="nofollow">South African Online Payment System</a> called <a href="http://www.payfast.co.za" rel="nofollow">PayFast</a><a> (a local PayPal equivalent able to accept instant payments via local EFT) is aimed at addressing this gap.</a> Although not currently a pan-African solution, there is a new South African Online Payment System called PayFast (a local PayPal equivalent able to accept instant payments via local EFT) is aimed at addressing this gap.

]]> By: Nic http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-8368 Nic Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:39:32 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-8368 Hi Eric,for those South Africans that are frustrated with PayPal,don't despair there is a way around the problem to receive money from the 60 million PayPal members.At www.online-e-commerce.co.za you will find a payment gateway that can receive credit cards and PayPal on your behalf at a small fee.You can easily accept credit cards and PayPal from your website.South Africans welcome Hi Eric,for those South Africans that are frustrated with PayPal,don’t despair there is a way around the problem to receive money from the 60 million PayPal members.At http://www.online-e-commerce.co.za you will find a payment gateway that can receive credit cards and PayPal on your behalf at a small fee.You can easily accept credit cards and PayPal from your website.South Africans welcome

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Is there a future for e-commerce in Africa? http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-2445 Global Voices Online » Is there a future for e-commerce in Africa? Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:54:01 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/erikhersman/2007/09/25/the-problem-with-ecommerce-and-online-payments-in-africa/#comment-2445 [...] Hersman blogging for Thought Leader, highlighted what he saw to be the problems with participating in e-commerce, from Africa - especially South Africa: The problem with e-commerce and online payments in Africa. [...] [...] Hersman blogging for Thought Leader, highlighted what he saw to be the problems with participating in e-commerce, from Africa – especially South Africa: The problem with e-commerce and online payments in Africa. [...]

]]>