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Based on our collective confusion it is clear that the number one obstacle to using Dwolla is their own web site. When the "how it works" page starts with "Firs

Based on our collective confusion it is clear that the number one obstacle to using Dwolla is their own web site. When the "how it works" page starts with "First there was bartering, then there was coinage, and of course paper tender followed with checks right behind." I'm fading fast. I want a description of how a transaction goes down. I got that you set up Dwolla by attaching to a bank account for ACH. I got that you use your phone--somehow. Can anyone explain the somehow? How about sending cash to a friend, is there any online demo of the interface for that?

mattmiller 15y ago
I want to know this too. Also, does the consumer have to deposit money into a Dwolla account before buying things? Can devs use there api with checking account and routing numbers so that Dwolla is invisible to the user? Is there a delay before payments post?
- gibybo 15y ago
  You give Dwolla your checking account and routing numbers. They make two random deposits of a few cents within a few days, then you go back to Dwolla and tell them how much the deposits were for. Once your bank account is linked to Dwolla in this way, payments to other Dwolla users are instant. It takes a few days for them to withdraw from Dwolla into their bank account.
plusbryan 15y ago
Agreed. Without knowing anything about Dwolla first, it took me a fair bit of time to even realize they were ACH-only.
pakeha 15y ago
I'm actually feeling physically uncomfortable trying to decipher their website. It's making me nervous and frustrated. I just want to know what the user experience is for making a payment. Do they have to pull out a credit card? Create an account? ARGH.
derekdahmer 15y ago
For a company that I'm entrusting my money to, they could really use a full-time designer on board to keep their site looking trustworthy. The obvious spacing issues even just on their blog post is really off-putting.
morrow 15y ago
Here's a screencast I found that shows how transactions go down between dwolla users (you enter amount, dwolla account id). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbf24_PTyx8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbf24_PTyx8

mattmiller 15y ago

I want to know this too. Also, does the consumer have to deposit money into a Dwolla account before buying things? Can devs use there api with checking account and routing numbers so that Dwolla is invisible to the user? Is there a delay before payments post?

gibybo 15y ago
You give Dwolla your checking account and routing numbers. They make two random deposits of a few cents within a few days, then you go back to Dwolla and tell them how much the deposits were for. Once your bank account is linked to Dwolla in this way, payments to other Dwolla users are instant. It takes a few days for them to withdraw from Dwolla into their bank account.

plusbryan 15y ago

Agreed. Without knowing anything about Dwolla first, it took me a fair bit of time to even realize they were ACH-only.

pakeha 15y ago

I'm actually feeling physically uncomfortable trying to decipher their website. It's making me nervous and frustrated. I just want to know what the user experience is for making a payment. Do they have to pull out a credit card? Create an account? ARGH.

derekdahmer 15y ago

For a company that I'm entrusting my money to, they could really use a full-time designer on board to keep their site looking trustworthy. The obvious spacing issues even just on their blog post is really off-putting.

morrow 15y ago

Here's a screencast I found that shows how transactions go down between dwolla users (you enter amount, dwolla account id). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbf24_PTyx8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbf24_PTyx8