Information on the different payment types available on the Item object.
The manner in which transactions are handled largely depends on an item's payment_type. Zai considers a payment_type to be a unique type of transaction that your platform can use to help users transact.
We support four different payment types: express, escrow, escrow partial release, and pay-by-text. You can think of these types as payment workflows. Each workflow is designed to fit a use case.
You can utilise as many payment types as you need on your platform.
Escrow payments
An escrow payment type allows your platform to collect payments from your purchasers, hold the funds securely in a compliant escrow vault, collect any fees you set, and release the funds to sellers once delivery is confirmed and your buyers are satisfied.
How it works
API endpoints
There are Item Actions API calls that facilitate the flow of Escrow funds, including:
- Request Payment Request a payment from the buyer
- Make Payment Make a payment using one of the supported pay-in options
- Request Release Request a release of funds from escrow
- Release Payment Release funds from the escrow vault
- Refund Refund partial amounts or the full amount from escrow
Use cases
Escrow payments are useful for marketplaces that deal with on-demand services where one payment completes a transaction. It's also useful for marketplaces with high-value items; putting funds in escrow protects a purchaser from fraudulent merchants by ensuring that no payment is released until the exchange of good has occurred.
For example, you may want to provide your users with extra protection and safety when transacting with each other on your platform. You may have high-value goods for sale, such as cars, or long-term services on offer, such as home renovations. Both of these represent a certain amount of risk for buyers and sellers, and as such, you may wish to utilise Escrow to provide a layer of trust that straight-through payments cannot provide.
Escrow partial release payments
An Escrow Partial Release payment type is very similar to Escrow, with the exception of allowing funds to release via multiple payments. It allows your platform to collect payments from your buyers, hold the funds securely in a compliant Escrow vault, collect any fees you set, and then release the full amount over multiple payments to the seller.
How it works
API endpoints
There are Item Actions API calls that facilitate the flow of Escrow Partial Release funds, including:
- Request Payment Request a payment from the buyer
- Make Payment Make a payment using one of the supported pay-in options
- Request Partial Release Request a partial release of funds from escrow
- Request Partial Payment Release a partial amount of funds from the escrow account
Use cases
For example, you may want to offer a way for buyers to pay a deposit upfront, and then release the remaining funds once the goods have been delivered. Or, for the delivery of services and projects, you may wish to allow the buyer to pay the entire amount upfront, but have the funds released to the seller based on milestones being met.
Express payments
An Express payment type allows your platform to accept payments from your buyers, collect any fees you set, and immediately disburse funds to your sellers.
How it works
API endpoints
There are Item Actions API calls that facilitate the flow of express funds including:
- Request Payment Request a payment from the buyer
- Make Payment Make a payment using one of the supported pay-in options
Use cases
For example, you may want to provide a way for your users to pay for goods, services or experiences instantly. This may involve paying up-front, post delivery via an invoice, or as an additional top-up payment.
Pay-by-text
Pay-by-text allows sellers on your platform, or your platform itself, to collect payments easily from buyers. Similarly to Express, pay-by-text allows your platform to accept payments from your buyers, collect any fees you set, and immediately disburse funds to your sellers. The difference is that once buyers enter their payment details to make their first payment, all ongoing payments can be made by a text message approval via Zai's SMS facility. The original payment details are stored and used every time until your buyer chooses to change their payment information.
How it works
API endpoints
There are Item Actions API calls that facilitate the flow of express funds including:
- Request Payment Request a payment from the buyer
- Make Payment Make a payment using one of the supported pay-in options
Use cases
For example, pay-by-text is ideal for merchants on an invoicing platform to collect invoice payments from their buyers, utility businesses wishing to collect monthly bills from their customers, or for marketplace platforms looking to collect varying subscription fees from their sellers.