What's New...

Credit Card Merchant Accounts for Adult Product Businesses.
- Now available through Apollo!

(26th October 2004)

Gaining approved credit card merchant status for businesses trading in adult products is becoming harder and harder. UK banks are at best reluctant, more often very negative, about providing credit card facilities for adult traders. Even organisations such as WorldPay, who historically have been more willing to accept adult businesses, have now tightened their rules and are rejecting more and more applications.

Now Apollo is delighted to announce a solution for many adult traders looking for competitive credit card merchant facilities!
We have partnered with a leading European merchant acquirer that has special arrangements to support retailers of tangible adult products. Note that this deal specifically excludes card processing of adult ‘content’ in any form.

Do you fit one of these categories?

• You have an adult business but have problems in obtaining a credit card merchant account
• You already have merchant facilities but the pricing structure is too costly or service levels not good enough.
• You want to start an adult business but haven’t been able to get merchant facilities.

Whichever bracket you fall into, provided you meet certain criteria then you could be able to take credit card payments within days!

Special benefit from the Apollo Partnership

Apollo has negotiated strongly on behalf of the adult industry. Businesses selling adult products are used to being forced to pay exhorbitant rates for credit card facilities. No longer.

Apply for facilities through Apollo and you will benefit from:

• Preferred charging rates – typically the same rate as any other business!
• Fast track processing – just 5-10 working days from application to card acceptance.

What are the advantages of this merchant account?

1. Your merchant account is direct with a leading European bank. You will not have a ‘bureau’ servicing your customers.

2. You will have your own billing descriptor. (Your customers will see your name on their credit card statement)

3. Your merchant account will enable you to sell all tangible adult products; toys, lingerie, bondage and fetish gear, supplements, creams, lotions, adult games and novelties, videos and DVD’s. Subject only to the products existing in a physical form and being legally acceptable for sale.

4. Virtual Terminal – enables you to sell offline and take payments by phone/fax/post, then process online. Ideal for mail order, party plan or retail.

5. Accept the full range of credit cards from Visa and Mastercard.

6. Your account will be multi-currency, supporting GBP, USD and EUR by default.

7. A relationship approved by the credit card associations and supported by one of the largest banks in Europe.

8. At any time, day or night, you have access to your account and your transaction history in real time. Run reports on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis.

9. Competitive rates for the level of service and the adult sector.

10. Fast-track application process. Typically 5-10 working days from application to card acceptance.

11. One-click ‘Amazon’ style billing where customer details are stored for future instant purchases.

12. Advanced, best-in-class, fraud prevention techniques (including Verified-By-Visa), which helps to minimize chargebacks.

13. Flexible support for various transactions including payments, recurring payments, pre-authorised payments, full or partial refunds and voids.

14. Merchant helpdesk with 24/7 support via telephone and email.

15. Whilst we cannot promise that you will be accepted, start-ups will be considered and there is no problem with selling adult products.

What is not acceptable for card processing?

No applications will be processed for companies that sell content of any kind. If an application is made under false pretences not only will the account be closed but any funds in it frozen.

Who qualifies for an account?

The bank considers each application on its merits and may accept start-ups. The business plan, credit rating, planned growth and history of the owners must meet certain criteria.

There is an expectation that the business applying for facilities will achieve a credit card turnover of at least £5,000 per month, within a 3-6 month period. Please do not apply unless you can demonstrate that this is reasonably likely to occur.

From discussions with our partners we expect the great majority of applications to be approved.

How do I apply?

The application process is in three steps:

1. Complete the short registration form. You will then be given access to a comprehensive rate card and the pre-application form.

2. Complete the pre-application form. This is forwarded by you directly to the credit card company and will be screened to check your eligibility.

3. Providing that this meets the bank’s criteria you will be forwarded detailed application forms that are legally binding. It is unlikely that your application will be rejected at this stage if you have passed the initial screening.

NOTE: Apollo Sales Ltd will not have access to your completed pre-application form, supporting documents or any other discussions that may occur between you and the credit card merchant facilitator. You are welcome to confirm this direct with the credit card company once you download the pre-application form.

Click here to complete the registration form

Hurry! FREE personalised catalogues
(23rd September 2005)

Reduced price and free personalisation* if you order pre-publication copies before the 23rd of September.

Following the success of our unbranded catalogue The Erotic Emporium last year, we are offering you the opportunity to benefit from this fantastic marketing tool again. Those who pre-booked the catalogue last year told us it proved invaluable. And this year, it going to be even better:

• More pages for the same price - 48 pages instead of 36
• Almost twice as many products featured - all the bestsellers highlighted, plus exciting new lines
• RRP included - save on price lists while still maintaining the flexibility to offer discounts to your customers
• Improved quality - better print and design

Why Erotic Emporium?

• Top quality catalogue conveying professionalism and serious approach
• Personalise it without the prohibitive design costs
• Due to the volumes we commission, your print costs are minimal, offering
  you the best value marketing tool you can get

What’s the cost?

Prices per brochure range between 35p and 50p, depending on the quantity you
order, and whether you order before or after the catalogue is printed.

Interested?

Click here to find out more & pre-book your catalogues