…as in Stripe payment that is. We’ve implemented the Stripe payment system on the website for both membership dues and for overnight trips. This replaces the previous Paypal system and offers several advantages.
Many people have preferred not to set up a Paypal account, preferring instead use a credit card. Paypal has made that more difficult and sometimes refuses to process a payment without an account.
With Stripe, instead of creating an account and logging in each time, you simply enter your credit or debit card info. This is very similar to what most everyone is used to when making an online purchase. You may have already used Stripe and don’t even know it.
Depending if your payment is for membership or trips, the process will work slightly differently. For membership renewal, the credit card form will appear on the membership checkout page just before the waiver acknowledgement. For overnight trips, there’s a pop-up box, similar to the ones you may have seen while shopping online. Take a look at the example entry forms below. Either way, both are simple and easy, just have your card info handy!
Another advantage of Stripe is its lower processing fees over Paypal. This helps the Club keep prices as low as possible for you, something that can be appreciated in this time of rising prices.
Frequently asked questions:
Q. When does the Stripe payment method go into effect?
A. It’s active now. You’ll use it when you renew your membership through 2024. Just go to https://onc-pdx.org/renew-your-membership/ and follow the instructions. We also have a video to walk you through the steps: https://youtu.be/ihSry_-Mlyg. For overnight trips, a video will be available in the fall before signups begin.
Q. Does the Club keep my credit card info?
A. No. The Club does not have access to this. When you click to make a payment, Stripe processes it directly with your bank, same as any other online purchase.
Q. Can I still use Paypal?
A. No, it over-complicates the bookkeeping for one. And the membership software allows only one type of payment system. Also, Paypal fees are higher.
Q. How will the payment show on my statement?
A. It should show as onc-pdx.org or it might just be pdx.org.
Q. Why not use other payment systems, like Zelle or Venmo?
A. While those systems may have their place, they have other limitations that don’t make it practical for our club. For one, everyone would need access to, or sign up for an account, something that people objected to about Paypal. Another issue is that our software doesn’t offer ready-made gateway setups to implement them.
Q. Will this change performance for overnight trip signup?
A. It’s not likely to influence the signup process. There are so many moving parts to that one time of the year when we overload the system. We are hopeful that with software updates that Stripe will be more reliable. We’ll still do what we can to minimize any hiccups.
Q. Who can I contact for any questions or issues with Stripe?
A. Send an email to both bookkeeper@pdxnordic.org and website@pdxnordic.org with the details.