Why Ignoring Alternative Payment Methods Costs You Sales

By someone who’s seen it too often.

In business development, you get used to spotting patterns.

You research promising merchants, browse their websites, test the checkout flow… and then it hits you: no local payment options.
No bank transfer. No nothing…
Just the usual: Visa, Mastercard, maybe American Express if you’re lucky.

And here’s the problem: for many customers, especially outside North America, that simply isn’t enough.

As someone who spends a good part of the day scouting new partnerships, I’ve lost count of how many great businesses are unknowingly letting customers walk away at the final step — just because the right payment method isn’t there.

"Alternative" Only in Name

It’s time we reframe the term “alternative payment methods.”
In so many parts of the world, they’re not alternative — they’re the default.

In Germany? People love to pay with instant bank transfers.
In Brazil? It’s all about Pix.
In the Netherlands? iDEAL is king.
In Asia? Expect Alipay, WeChat Pay, and a growing range of regional e-wallets.

And yet, many international websites continue to treat credit cards as the global standard, without realizing that in some markets, only a small percentage of the population even has one.

That’s not just a blind spot. It’s a conversion killer.

Why This Matters — Especially for High-Risk Merchants

For merchants in high-risk verticals, the checkout is already a friction point. Add in limited payment options, and you're creating a perfect storm of drop-offs.

Your visitors aren’t just comparing prices — they’re comparing ease.

If a competitor offers their preferred local method (and you don’t), you’ve lost the sale. It doesn’t matter how great your product is, how sleek your design is, or how strong your brand is. No trust at checkout = no revenue.

Real Growth Starts with Real Choice

Offering local and alternative payment methods isn’t just about ticking a box — it’s about speaking your customer’s language.

When I talk to merchants who’ve added just a few well-chosen methods per region, the feedback is clear:

✅ Higher conversion rates
✅ Lower cart abandonment
✅ Greater trust
✅ Easier scaling into new markets

And it’s not just about the type of payment — it’s about how those methods are displayed. If customers don’t see familiar logos or payment flows, they hesitate. And hesitation is one step from exiting.

What Can Merchants Do?

  1. Audit your current payment setup.
    Are you offering options that fit your key markets?
  2. Look at your analytics.
    Where are people dropping off? Are there regional patterns?
  3. Talk to your payment provider.
    Are they offering modern local solutions — or just the basics?
  4. Stop thinking of “alternative” as optional.
    In many countries, your “alternative” is someone else’s only way to pay.

Final Thoughts

When I look at high-potential merchants struggling to scale, it’s rarely because of product quality or marketing.
It’s often the checkout.

At MMG, we believe in building payment gateways that serve your customers where they are — with everything needed.

Because your business deserves to convert more than just credit card users.

Let’s make it easier for your customers to say yes.