Hey guys
I also... was looking at doing the same thing, about 18months ago, and am still very curious about it.
I spent about a month researching different aspects, particularly inregards to the payment aspect.
Payments:
I am in Australia, but I am sure other counties offer similar services:
You can either get the 19** (which cost a fortune to setup, but then the caller pays through their phone account, eg 2.50 per min) - that is the easiest, however not very discreet for the caller.
So you can either setup a 1800 (freecall), 1300 (localcall) or a normal number (02 #### ####), and then manage the payments yourself. then this is where it got all complicated.....
To accept credit cards you need a merchant account with a bank and then you have to find a 3rd party company that offers payment gateways - what this does is connects to the bank on one end, and then also connects to your software on the other. *some banks actually offer these, i think 19 months ago st george bank has the best one for the job. And then it was meant to be as easy as someone entering in their credit card details and then it went through.
However I couldnt work out a way to do the pay per minute function, so i decided that a prepaid setup would be best.
That is, that each user buys a product, such as a 10 min session, or a 5 min session for a set price. Which they can either purchase direct over the phone, or via a website. ANd that session would = a voucher number and they enter that into the system.
But is as far as i got with that bit........................
I am currently looking for a product that assists me to sell items over the phone. This is where callers dial in, hears a description of the item and then if would like to go ahead, enters their credit card details, enters a return phone number + a voice recording for their mailing address. And then completes the call.
I will then process the sales manually with our own inhouse eftpos machine (which has a Telephone Order function) and then call the customer, to confirm the sale, amount and address.
There seems to be mixed reviews about this software IVM software. Mostly negative....
According to the website, this product is perfect for the job.. Does anyone have any useful suggestions?
I am also chasing a VOIP provider for 3 lines. Which would either operate on a 1300 number.. Or a mobile number (which redirects the calls to the landline numbers (discreetness + non geographical).
Any suggestions
Email me: yru_running_away@hotmail.com
Thanks guys
