Ultimately, it may be the choice of payment methods that determines whether you become or remain successful with your online store or not. After all, today’s customers already have very specific ideas about how they want to pay for the products they order on the Internet. Even if the product in the selected online store has a lower price than in the competition, there are customers who then cancel the order if the favored payment method is not available. Some customers even pay more money just to be able to use the payment method they then want.

So if you run an online store, you should offer as many payment methods as possible. However, you should also consider the question of which payment methods Germans prefer, so that you don’t forget any relevant payment options.

PayPal is already before the purchase on account

If the decision has been made to open an online store in order to then be able to sell its products throughout the entire Federal Republic, one should deal with the target market at the beginning. It should be noted that Germans are particularly active online shoppers. Around 80 percent of all online shoppers buy several products a month on the World Wide Web.

However, Germans primarily only use online stores that offer secure as well as established payment methods. Germans are still skeptical about the new payment methods. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t offer unusual payment methods. Anyone who accepts payment with cryptocurrencies, for example, will certainly appeal to a completely new target group. Although Bitcoin, the mother of all cryptocurrencies, is often perceived as a speculation object, there are enough users who use the coins in the Bitcoin Wallet to pay for their online purchases.

According to a new survey, 52 percent choose online payment service provider PayPal as part of their online shopping experience. In second place is purchase on account (26 percent). The credit card makes it to third place (12 percent) and direct debit to fourth (10 percent).

So if you run an online store, you should at least provide these four payment methods.

The absolute number 1: 52 percent of German online shoppers use PayPal

PayPal is one of the most popular payment methods in Germany. This is mainly because a very secure payment transaction is possible here, which is also fast as well as convenient. PayPal customers can log in with their e-mail address and password and subsequently make a payment with one click. The amount is then debited and transferred to the respective recipient within seconds – so the entire transaction takes less than a minute.

The purchase on account – so you pay only after the product has been delivered

The purchase on account is also still a very popular payment method, which should be found in every online store. These include, among others, the payment methods “Klarna” such as “AfterPay”. These are very popular methods, as they are extremely customer-friendly. Because here the customer can order the product without taking any risk. In fact, the goods are paid for only after they arrive at home. Buying on account is particularly popular in the fashion sector, as it allows you to try on pants, T-shirts and dresses before paying for them.

Germans also like to pay with their credit cards

The credit card is also becoming increasingly important in Germany. Finally, around 20 percent of consumers own a credit card. Since these are potential customers, it is important to also offer payment by credit card.

Purchasing by credit card is also perceived by customers as very pleasant and easy.

The direct debit procedure

10 percent of Germans still use the so-called direct debit procedure. The principle is clear: first you pay, then you deliver. It should be noted that the customer has enough money in the account so that the amount can be deducted. This payment method is particularly interesting, for example, for recurring payments – for example, if you have taken out a subscription for which you pay month after month.

Ali Oukassi

Mohamed Ali Oukassi ist Gründer und Inhaber von eBakery. Er hat mehr als zwölf Jahre Erfahrung in der E-Commerce Welt. Mit seinem Team aus Experten kann er jeden Bereich abdecken und lebt den Full-Service-Gedanken, egal ob es um die Erstellung / Umstellung eines Shops, die Berartung hinsichtlich des richtigen Shopsystems, Marketingfragen, SEO oder auch das Thema Social Media Integration geht. Gut vernetzt und mit einem leistungsstarken Personal im Rücken, nimmt er sich jeder Herausforderung im E-Commerce an.