From now on, people without a credit card or bank account, too, can enjoy the benefits of online shopping.

The online payments company eBillme recently launched a new service in the United States that allows customers to order goods over the Internet. The service, called Walk-In, allows them to print the invoice, bring it to one of the 75.000 agents and pay with hard cash.

Besides offering a solution for people without a bank account or credit card, the new service can prove useful for consumers who are hesitant to use their credit card online. With Walk-In, they have an alternative method of payment.

At the same time, the service is beneficial for retailers as it increases traffic and guarantees payment – goods are shipped only after payment has been received.

<Potential market
Of course, eBillme also benefits: retailers pay a 1 to 1.5 percent fee over every transaction, which is comparable to the fees charged by most other payment services. For now, Walk-In is only available in the US, where 28 million people have no bank account. A potential market that really cannot be ignored by online retailers.

We wonder whether this new service might pose a threat to traditional banks. Perhaps those 28 million US citizens will be even less inclined to open a bank account now that they have an easy alternative. Or is the market for Walk-In really a separate one and wouldn’t its customers have considered a credit card anyway?

Perhaps banks would be smart to follow eBillme’s example and offer an easy way for consumers to order online without exposing their credit card information. What do you think?