Online shoppers commonly use a credit card or a PayPal account in order to make payments.
However, some systems enable users to create accounts and pay by alternative means, such as:
- Cash on delivery (C.O.D.).
- Cheque / Check.
- Debit card. Direct debit in some countries.
- Electronic money of various types.
- Gift cards.
- Postal money order.
- Wire transfer/delivery on payment.
- Invoice, especially popular in some markets/countries, such as Switzerland.
Some online shops will not accept international credit cards. Some require both the purchaser's billing and shipping address to be in the same country as the online shop's base of operation. Other online shops allow customers from any country to send gifts anywhere.
The financial part of a transaction may be processed in real time (e.g. letting the consumer know their credit card was declined before they log off), or may be done later as part of the fulfilment process.
