The Problem We Were Actually Solving
We were trying to sell a custom font bundle online, and we needed a way to handle international transactions. We initially set up Gumroad, thinking it was the simplest solution, but we quickly ran into issues. The exchange rates were terrible, and Gumroad would often withhold our earnings for weeks at a time. We also struggled with refunds and chargebacks, which was a major headache.
What We Tried First (And Why It Failed)
We tried using PayPal, which was a disaster. They would flag our transactions as suspicious and freeze our account without notice. We also tried using Stripe, but their international payment gateway was a black box, and we had no control over how they handled our transactions. We were stuck with a system that didn't work for us, and we didn't know how to fix it.
The Architecture Decision
After months of struggling, we finally decided to abandon platform stores altogether. We set up a custom payment system using Braintree (now part of PayPal, but a separate platform at the time) and a third-party payment gateway called WorldPay. We also implemented a custom shopping cart and order management system, which gave us total control over our transactions. It was a lot of work, but it paid off in the end.
What The Numbers Said After
By going with a custom payment system, we were able to cut our transaction fees in half. We also reduced our refund and chargeback rates by 75%. We were able to handle international transactions in over 20 countries without any issues. And we had complete control over our system, so we could make changes as needed.
What I Would Do Differently
In hindsight, I would have taken a more nuanced approach to international transactions earlier on. I would have started by researching local payment options, such as Alipay or WeChat Pay, which could have helped us avoid some of the platform restrictions. I would have also set up a simpler payment system initially and iterated from there, rather than trying to tackle the whole thing at once. But ultimately, our custom payment system has been a huge success, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
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