What is the real reason 3rd party processors convert worse?
 

Is anybody willing to give an honest answer?

Anytime this is brought up on the boards there are a slew of people using 3rd party talking about their amazing conversions, processors saying they don't adjust the scrub somedayes, etc.

Then please just tell me why, if I use a sposnor that has their own billing methods my conversions rock but when using someone that goes through the main 3rd party sites it goes down faster than a roller coaster at Disneyland.

What is it that some people can do that these 3rd party billers who make a business out of charging credit cards can't? Don't get me wrong I've had good weeks or even months with some sponsors then ratios fall off the face of the earth. It's not worth the trouble usually and I gave up long ago.

BTW, Verotel in my limited experience still converted like crazy.

most sites use 3rd party billing...you just do not see that because they have thier own stats system. You must realize that when you look at something like ccbill stats, they are counting 1st page raw hits, as in hits to the tour or gallery, period. Many sponsors stats programs count 2nd page unique hits and sometimes join page. That is why you may be at 1/1000 on ccbill and 1/200 on another system. You can not judge a program on conversion rates alone when they are using different stats programs.... because if you do...you are comparing apples to oranges.

my :2 cents:

I know for a fact my main sponsors are on their own merchant account. I'm not comparing apples to anyhing. I don't care about ratios, when I say ratios dive I also mean the money dives with it.

who are you talking about?

Webcam sponsors.

what i am asking...is which 2 are you comparing.
you said one is 3rd party stats and one is not, I am just saying it is difficult to compare based on thier stats because they use different systems

Here is the difference in my opinion:

1) There are not that many 3rd-party processors left anymore, and the banks are trying to cut that number down even further. The ones that may "scrub too hard", it's because they have no choice. They would rather stay in business than become the next IBill. This point is even moreso for the ones using US banks (of which only 2-3 remain who will process adult).

2) Merchant accounts, on the other hand, are usually less secure and in some cases much shadier. Many will allow you MUCH lower scrubbing levels, which is the reason for more sales. This doesn't come for free though; you can lose these merchant accounts any day, at any time. The risk is always present and it's a lot bigger than with 3rd party processors.

A good company will never rely on just one or the other for their processing; they will try and have as many options available as possible, both in merchant accounts and 3rd-party processors.

good point,
i wonder what the chargeback stats are on that comparison