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Payment & Security

Artbase Gallery uses Stripe for secure payment processing. This guide explains the checkout process, payment security, and what to expect.

Checkout Process​

Review Your Cart​

Before checkout:

  1. Verify Items: Ensure cart contains correct products
  2. Check Quantities: Confirm amounts are correct
  3. Review Shipping: Per-artist shipping costs displayed
  4. Apply Codes: Enter any promo codes (if available)

Shipping Information​

Enter delivery address:

Required Fields:

  • Full name
  • Street address
  • City, state, ZIP
  • Phone number
  • Email address

Optional:

  • Apartment/unit number
  • Company name
  • Delivery instructions

Multiple Addresses:

  • Option to ship to different addresses
  • Assign products per destination
  • Shipping recalculates per address

Payment Method​

All payments processed securely by Stripe:

Accepted Payment Methods:

  • ✅ Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
  • ✅ Debit cards
  • ✅ Apple Pay
  • ✅ Google Pay
  • ✅ Link (Stripe's 1-click checkout)

Not Accepted:

  • ❌ PayPal (use debit card instead)
  • ❌ Cryptocurrency
  • ❌ Wire transfer
  • ❌ Cash/check
Stripe Security

Your payment information is encrypted and processed by Stripe. Artbase never sees or stores your full card number.

Payment Security​

PCI Compliance​

Stripe is PCI DSS Level 1 Certified:

  • Highest level of payment security
  • Industry-standard encryption
  • Fraud detection and prevention
  • Secure data storage

How Your Data is Protected​

During Checkout:

  • SSL/TLS encryption (https://)
  • Tokenization of card data
  • 3D Secure verification (when required)
  • Real-time fraud screening

After Purchase:

  • No card numbers stored on Artbase servers
  • Stripe securely stores payment methods
  • Can save for future purchases (optional)

Fraud Prevention​

Stripe automatically screens for fraud:

Fraud Checks:

  • Card verification value (CVV)
  • Address verification (AVS)
  • Unusual purchase patterns
  • IP address screening
  • Device fingerprinting

If Flagged:

  • May request additional verification
  • 3D Secure (password from bank)
  • Contact card issuer to verify

Order Review​

Final Confirmation​

Before submitting payment, review:

Order Summary:

Products (3 items):              $255.00
Shipping (2 artists):            $ 20.00
Tax:                             $ 18.14
──────────────────────────────────────
Total:                           $293.14

Per-Artist Breakdown:

  • Artist 1: Products + shipping + tax
  • Artist 2: Products + shipping + tax
  • Each artist receives their portion

Estimated Delivery:

  • Delivery dates per artist
  • Processing + transit time
  • May arrive on different days

Place Order Button​

Click "Place Order" to complete purchase:

What Happens:

  1. Payment processed by Stripe
  2. Artists receive order notifications
  3. You receive confirmation email
  4. Order appears in your account

Processing Time: Usually instant (5-10 seconds)

After Payment​

Order Confirmation​

Confirmation Email includes:

  • Order number (starts with "G-")
  • Items ordered (per artist)
  • Shipping addresses
  • Payment amount
  • Estimated delivery dates

Order Page:

  • Account → Orders → View order
  • Track shipments
  • Contact artists
  • View invoices

Payment Receipt​

Separate email from Stripe:

Receipt Contains:

  • Total charged
  • Last 4 digits of card
  • Billing address
  • Date and time
  • Stripe receipt link

For Your Records:

  • Save for expense tracking
  • Tax purposes
  • Warranty/authenticity documentation

Saved Payment Methods​

Save for Next Time​

One-Click Checkout:

  • Save card securely with Stripe
  • Faster future checkouts
  • Update or remove anytime

How to Save:

  • Check "Save for future purchases" at checkout
  • Or add in Account → Payment Methods
  • Managed through Stripe (secure)

Managing Saved Cards:

  • Account → Payment Methods
  • Add new cards
  • Set default card
  • Remove old cards
Stripe Link

Use Stripe Link for one-click checkout across all Stripe merchants. Save your info once, use everywhere.

Billing Issues​

Payment Declined​

Common Reasons:

  • Insufficient funds
  • Card expired
  • Incorrect CVV or ZIP
  • Bank fraud prevention
  • Daily spending limit reached

What to Do:

  1. Verify card information
  2. Check with your bank
  3. Try different card
  4. Contact support if persists

Failed Transactions​

If payment fails:

Order Status: "Payment Failed"

Next Steps:

  • Cart items reserved for 1 hour
  • Try payment again
  • Use different card
  • Contact support for help

Not Charged: Failed payments are not charged

Double Charges​

Rare but possible:

What Happens:

  • Appears as 2 charges
  • Usually a "hold" + actual charge
  • Hold drops in 2-5 business days

If Concerned:

  • Check order confirmation (1 order = 1 charge)
  • Wait 5 business days for hold to clear
  • Contact support if still showing after 5 days

Taxes​

Sales Tax​

Charged based on shipping address:

When Tax Applies:

  • Your state requires marketplace sales tax
  • Artist has nexus in your state
  • Local tax laws

Tax Rates:

  • State sales tax
  • Local/county tax
  • Varies by location (0-10%+)

Tax Display:

  • Calculated at checkout
  • Itemized in order summary
  • Included in total

Tax Documentation:

  • Shown on invoices
  • Available for tax filing
  • Download from order page

Promo Codes & Discounts​

Applying Codes​

Where to Enter:

  • Cart page: "Promo Code" field
  • Checkout page: "Discount Code"

Code Types:

  • Percentage off (10%, 20%, etc.)
  • Dollar amount off ($10, $25, etc.)
  • Free shipping
  • Artist-specific discounts

Restrictions:

  • One code per order (usually)
  • May have minimum purchase
  • Expiration dates
  • Excluded items

Artist Discounts​

Artists may offer:

First-Time Buyer: Discount on first purchase from their store Bundle Deals: Save when buying multiple items Seasonal Sales: Holiday or special event discounts Newsletter Signup: Exclusive subscriber discounts

Finding Codes:

  • Artist social media
  • Newsletter signups
  • Gallery announcements
  • Special events

Gift Purchases​

Sending as Gift​

Gift Options at Checkout:

  • Ship to recipient's address
  • Include gift message
  • Hide prices (optional)
  • Gift receipt (no prices shown)

Gift Message:

  • 250 characters
  • Printed on card or digital note
  • Per-artist customization

Gift Receipt:

  • No pricing information
  • Shows products and sender
  • Separate from packing slip

Gift Cards​

Gallery gift cards (coming soon):

How They'll Work:

  • Purchase for specific amount
  • Email to recipient
  • Redeem at checkout
  • No expiration

International Payments​

Currency​

Prices in USD:

  • Gallery displays prices in US dollars
  • International cards accepted
  • Your bank converts to local currency

Conversion Fees:

  • Your bank's exchange rate
  • May include foreign transaction fee (1-3%)
  • Check with your card issuer

International Cards​

Accepted:

  • All major international credit/debit cards
  • Apple Pay / Google Pay (global)
  • Cards from any country

Verification:

  • May require additional verification
  • 3D Secure common for international cards
  • Enter password from your bank

Payment Support​

Common Questions​

When will I be charged?

  • Immediately upon placing order
  • Before items ship

Can I split payment across cards?

  • Not currently supported
  • Use one payment method per order

Do you accept PayPal?

  • No, use PayPal debit card instead
  • Or link bank account to PayPal card

Can I pay over time?

  • Not currently available
  • Coming soon: Klarna, Afterpay

Getting Help​

Payment Issues:

Stripe Support:

  • For payment processing questions
  • stripe.com/support
  • Or contact us to escalate

Next Steps​

→ Order Confirmation

What to expect after ordering

→ Track Your Order

Monitor shipments

→ Returns Policy

Learn about returns and refunds

Payment questions? Contact support at support@artbase.studio or visit our Buyer FAQ.