After Years on PayPal, Here’s Why I Switched to the BlockATM Payment Gateway

Every morning when I check the orders on my e-commerce site, I remember one particular morning three years ago that made my heart sink. I'm 35 and have been running my independent site selling pet feeders for six years. That day, the "Account Temporarily Frozen" notice on my PayPal dashboard made my coffee go cold. A large shipment of smart feeders was waiting in the warehouse, and I needed the funds from last week's orders to pay my supplier.

I initially chose PayPal for its convenience. Back in 2017, most of my international customers preferred it. Orders were few, so the fees didn't seem like a big deal. I just wanted to get paid smoothly.

But starting in 2020, the problems began. The pandemic boosted sales, but with it came issues. A UK buyer claimed they never received their order, and PayPal instantly refunded them, even though tracking showed it was delivered. The withdrawal exchange rates were also painful, always a bit lower than the market rate.

The final straw was Black Friday in 2021. Orders surged, but so did the fees. Worse, several transactions were flagged as "unusual" and frozen. One payment was held for nearly a month and a half. By the time it was released, the new feeders I needed to restock were sold out. I was watching business slip through my fingers.

A regular customer suggested I switch to the BlockATM crypto payment gateway. He wanted to pay for a large order with USDT. I was hesitant, but he sent a BlockATM payment link. I set up my wallet address, and shortly after he paid, the USDC arrived in my wallet. It was much simpler than I expected.

I've been using it for almost two years now, and the biggest feeling is peace of mind. The transaction fees are fixed and much lower than PayPal's, which adds up. Most importantly, the funds arrive quickly, and I no longer have to worry about frozen accounts. I sleep much better at night.

Last week, a German customer who was new to crypto paid using a tutorial video I sent him. He emailed me afterward, saying, "This was much faster than how I usually pay for my cat's food."

I just want to run my business reliably. I choose a payment tool based on three things: secure fund arrival, reasonable costs, and customer convenience. BlockATM excels at all three, and that's why I finally made the switch.