App Store News – International Checkout

In today’s article, we’ll be showcasing 3dcart’s integration with International Checkout.
(Available in the App Store)

Why would I want to use International Checkout?

For many online merchants, the idea of accepting international orders can be an exciting prospect.  After all, the moment you get that first order from a whole continent away, it can feel like your store has “gone global” and now you’re playing in the big leagues!

On the other hand, that international order can also carry some anxiety along with it.  Inevitably, questions like the following will go through your mind:

• Is it a valid credit card?
• Do I need to worry about the exchange rates?
• Am I being paid in US dollars?
• What about duties and taxes?
• Did I charge them enough for shipping?
• What about customs?
• Is it even legal for me to ship or do business there?
• What if they want to return items?  Will I be able to communicate with them?

Questions like these have kept many online merchants from making their stores available to international customers.   Question like these have kept many stores from progressing to that next level and increasing their revenue.

International Checkout’s goal is to help answer these questions.

How does it work?

When you integrate your 3dcart store with International Checkout, your global customers will see a new button in their view cart page that looks like the following:

When they click on this button, the customer and their cart items are taken to your International Checkout profile where the order is finalized.

Afterward, the International Checkout team will go to your store and place the order on behalf of the international customer.  When they place the order on your store, International Checkout will use their own U.S. based corporate credit card as well as their corporate shipping address here in the U.S.

When the items are received, International Checkout will ship the order out to your global customer and take care of the rest.

Best of all, International Checkout is FREE!
Becoming an International Checkout merchant partner costs you nothing.

So, reviewing those questions from earlier, here’s how International Checkout helps to answer them:

• Is it a valid credit card?
• Do I need to worry about the exchange rates?
• Am I being paid in US dollars?

Answer: When the order comes through your store, you’re being paid by International Checkout’s team using their U.S. based corporate card.  International Checkout takes care of exchange rates and customer settlements.

• What about duties and taxes?
• Did I charge them enough for shipping?
• What about customs?
• Is it even legal for me to ship or do business there?

Answer: International Checkout will handle all of these situations.  Using the service, your international customer will have the option of including Duties and taxes wherever applicable.  International Checkout will handle all of the shipping charges for the order exclusively.   You need not worry about the cost of shipping internationally.

Furthermore, International Checkout will handle all of the customs and legal considerations needed for the order.

• What if they want to return items?  Will I be able to communicate with them?

Answer: International Checkout will also handle all of the returns and exchange processes by adhering to your store’s very own returns policies.  International Checkout will also handle all customer service issues pertaining to your international customers with their very own world-class, multi-lingual customer service team!

If all of this wasn’t enough, International Checkout will also help promote your site to its customer base by featuring your store in their merchant partner directory located at http://www.internationalcheckout.com/

As you can see – although taking your store to the global market can be exciting and scary at the same time – 3dcart and International Checkout will help you ease those fears and open your store to a whole new group of customers!