CDGcommerce Review

Pros

• Processing rate plans fully disclosed
• Free payment gateway and virtual terminal
• No account setup or application fees
• Month-to-month billing with no early termination fees
• Excellent customer service and support

Cons

• Only available to US-based merchants

What Is CDGcommerce?

CDGcommerce is a merchant account provider that offers features and pricing that fit well with the needs of small businesses, including true month-to-month billing with no long-term contracts for all of its merchants. CDGcommerce offers flat-rate, interchange-plus, and wholesale membership pricing for businesses with different processing volumes.

CDGcommerce offers pricing options designed for small, mid-sized, and higher-volume businesses.

Products & Services

The company’s line of products and services covers all the bases, but it focuses on eCommerce and small to mid-sized businesses. CDGcommerce’s offerings include the following:

CDGcommerce Fees & Rates

CDGcommerce differs from most traditional providers in that it fully discloses its pricing on its website. Everything you need to know is available via a Pricing tab, which is prominently displayed in the top menu.

Transaction fees vary depending on your monthly plan and the type of payment you’re accepting (in-person, online, etc.). Having a qualified nonprofit status will also earn you lower transaction fees.

Monthly Plans

CDGcommerce offers a choice between three pricing plans, depending on your monthly processing volume.

The Simple, One Rate plan is very similar to what Square offers and is ideal for very small or seasonal businesses. It works best for small businesses processing between $1,000 and $10,000 per month. Unlike Square, however, with CDGcommerce, you’ll receive a true merchant account with a unique merchant ID number and robust customer service and support.

Most well-established businesses will be best served by the interchange-plus pricing plan, which is tailored to the needs of merchants processing between $10,000 and $200,000 per month.

Higher-volume businesses can choose wholesale membership pricing, which replaces part of the processor markup with a monthly membership fee. The lowest advertised wholesale membership rates require annual prepayment, while monthly billing costs more.

Extra Costs

We’re very impressed with how CDGcommerce has been able to eliminate so many of the nickel-and-dime fees that most providers charge. Here’s a brief rundown of the things the company doesn’t charge you for:

• No account setup fee
• No annual fee (except the terminal insurance fee)
• No gateway fees
• No monthly minimum (this is particularly valuable to very small or seasonal businesses)
• No PCI compliance fees
• No Address Verification Service (AVS) fees (saves $0.05 per transaction)
• No TIN/1099K IRS reporting fees
• No early termination fees

Sales & Advertising Transparency

CDGcommerce clearly discloses its pricing models, contract terms, and many account fees on its website. At the same time, the variety of plans and features can be a bit confusing, particularly for a first-time business owner. If you’re unsure about something or have a question, don’t hesitate to contact one of the company’s sales representatives for clarification.

The company uses a full-time, in-house salaried sales staff and doesn’t rely on independent sales agents. The use of independent agents by many other providers has resulted in a massive volume of complaints from merchants. You won’t have to worry about this problem with CDGcommerce.

CDGcommerce also has a social media presence, with accounts on Facebook, Vimeo, and LinkedIn.

Contract Length & Early Termination Fee

CDGcommerce offers month-to-month service with no mandatory long-term contract or early termination fee. Merchants should still follow the account’s cancellation instructions and promptly return any placed equipment.

Customers who prepay for an annual wholesale membership should confirm the applicable refund terms before enrolling.

Note: Merchants on one of CDGcommerce’s subscription plans who’ve paid for a full year of processing upfront and then decided to close their account can expect to receive a prorated refund of the subscription fees for the unused months remaining in their subscription.

Customer Service & Technical Support

CDGcommerce offers 24/7 customer service via telephone, 365 days a year. Live chat is also available through the website during regular business hours. Additionally, you can contact the company via email and usually receive a response within 24 hours.

Reports from merchants indicate that the quality of CDGcommerce’s customer support is very high.

CDGcommerce offers educational and product resources online, although it does not appear to maintain a dedicated searchable support knowledge base.

CDGcommerce Reviews & Complaints

CDGcommerce has a generally positive online reputation, with relatively few public complaints. The company is accredited by the BBB, where it holds an A+ rating.

Negative CDGcommerce Reviews & Complaints

There are a few complaints about CDGcommerce, although the bulk of reviews are positive. Displeased users mentioned the following in their complaints:

• Funding holds
• High-risk account termination

Positive CDGcommerce Reviews & Testimonials

Here’s what users most like about CDGcommerce:

• Competitive rates
• Excellent customer support
• Upfront and transparent company

Final Verdict Of CDGcommerce

If your business doesn’t need any specialized, optional features, CDGcommerce gives you a true merchant account with pay-as-you-go pricing and no monthly account fee. Also, eCommerce merchants, who usually have to shell out extra to connect their website to a payment gateway, can enjoy a free gateway and interchange-plus pricing for a small monthly fee.

We’re also very impressed with the company’s unique way of supplying credit card terminals. Countertop terminals are provided for free (one per account, of course), and all you have to pay is a reasonable annual fee to insure and maintain them. This is the one instance where we would recommend renting your terminal rather than buying one outright. Remember, this is not a lease — you can cancel your account and return your terminal anytime. It’s a good way to avoid the risk of being stuck with an obsolete terminal in the future.

If there’s a catch in CDGcommerce’s service, it’s that it’s only available to US-based merchants. The company also sometimes doesn’t accept high-risk merchants in several specific industries.

CDGcommerce offers a combination of high-quality service and low pricing that makes it one of the best credit card processors for small businesses we’ve found. We highly recommend that you check it out.