Anybody here take Visa/Mastercard?

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
Anybody accept credit cards from your customers?

What company do you use?

I'm considering it...just want to get the right plan/company.

I dont anticipate doing more than a few each month.

Would love to hear from any knifemakers currently taking cards.

Thanks!

Dan
 
Dan, I haven't done so yet, but as I understand it, if you send a paypal invoice to a buyer, he can use any major credit card. Does that help?

Dave
 
Dan,
I took cards for ten years and quit about two years ago, I found it just wasn't worth it anymore. I have not lost any orders because I don't take them.
Thanks,
Del
 
I hear if you have an iPhone, they have an app for that.

Sorry, I'm a creature of commercials :D I'd just go the PayPal route or you can use another 3rd party web service. The only problem I've ever had is the fees...they don't seem like much until you get a large charge :grumpy:
 
I use Paypal for anything online, for anything face to face I use a Veriphone Nurit 8020

http://www.merchantexpress.com/wireless_credit_card_terminal.htm

(note: the service provider link is to show the unit, I use 1st National Processing,YMMV)

The fee is an unfortunate cost of doing business, but worth it. Nobody carries cash over $50.00 anymore, 85% of my business is on cards. Bit of advice, Discover is not worth their fees and their sneaky attempts to add fees. I have almost nobody ask for Discover, I am currently going to dump Discover, I should have done it long ago. The machine collects and verifies the transaction, I batch it every night when i'm at a show and the money shows up in my account 2 days later like clockwork. I wouldn't dream of starting again without it.

-Page
 
Paypal is too easy and cheaper than taking CCs.

Most of my payments for knives are checks, with maybe 2 sales per year coming through Paypal.
But I do get lots of payments for W2 and walnut through PP. Rarely get asked if I take CCs.
 
Paypal has a Virtual Terminal to accept credit cards. You must have a Paypal business account. Thats what I use.
 
Paypal works, but there are some "hidden" charges that made me angry enough to stop taking credit cards through them...... I actually got a better deal through an individual who operates a business setting folks up to take credit cards. If your interested, drop me an email and I will send you her information to contact.
 
Thanks, Ed. :thumbup:


90% of my payments come in through Paypal, the rest through checks and money-orders.

I only get the ocassional request for credit cards....and for the first time....I actually did lose a sale this week because I didn't take credit cards. So, I figured it's now time to see if there is a "pay-as-you-go" version of taking credit cards.

I don't mind paying a percentage fee....I just don't want a monthly charge since I do so little volume.





I do have the Paypal App on my iPhone...and it works like a charm...but not for taking credit cards. I have sent invoices that were paid with credit cards via Paypal too....

But.....I'm talking about the rare customer (for me, anyway) that calls up and wants to make a purchase or place an order and doesn't have email/internet/etc....and just wants to use a credit card...and doesn't want to send a check.

In the past my "workaround" has been to have them "pay" my regular suppliers (that I have open accounts with). But that is tedious for everybody involved....and perhaps a bit shady....:o




I'd like to be able to write the person's number down, put it in the computer (or a website somewhere) hit "submit/process/etc" and have it done and taken care of. They'll take their fee...and I'll get the rest. :D


Thanks for the suggestions so far....! :thumbup:

Dan
 
I do most of my business at shows face to face so my business model having the card machine makes sense, if I can't take the card I lose the money

-Page
 
Daniel Koster said:
Thanks, Ed. :thumbup:


90% of my payments come in through Paypal, the rest through checks and money-orders.

I only get the ocassional request for credit cards....and for the first time....I actually did lose a sale this week because I didn't take credit cards. So, I figured it's now time to see if there is a "pay-as-you-go" version of taking credit cards.

I don't mind paying a percentage fee....I just don't want a monthly charge since I do so little volume.




I do have the Paypal App on my iPhone...and it works like a charm...but not for taking credit cards. I have sent invoices that were paid with credit cards via Paypal too....

But.....I'm talking about the rare customer (for me, anyway) that calls up and wants to make a purchase or place an order and doesn't have email/internet/etc....and just wants to use a credit card...and doesn't want to send a check.

In the past my "workaround" has been to have them "pay" my regular suppliers (that I have open accounts with). But that is tedious for everybody involved....and perhaps a bit shady....:o




I'd like to be able to write the person's number down, put it in the computer (or a website somewhere) hit "submit/process/etc" and have it done and taken care of. They'll take their fee...and I'll get the rest. :D


Thanks for the suggestions so far....! :thumbup:

Dan
Click to expand...
Look at www.propay.com. No monthly charges. Yearly charge and a percentage of sale. I've used them for 4 years. No problems.
 
We've been happy with Elavon. It was a big step to take CC and debit, but the percentage of monthly sales now is incredible. There are many merchant account providers that want to charge you 5%, 10% or more. Elavon charges us a monthly fee for the machine rental (competitive) and their rates are lower than PayPal.

I personally like PayPal - but I have customers that won't touch it - either from past experieince, or just because the names sounds way too hokey to be legitimate. :rolleyes:

You may only have a few C/C orders now, but once you start, the percentage grows quickly. One of the big things we've noticed is that a customer may only have so much cash in his pocket - but when he sees something he likes, the C/C or debit option increases both your sales and the opportunity for your customer to take advantage of the moment.

Rob!
 
I had a miserable experience with my merchant acct and software lease when I had a small online bookstore; I'd be very hesitant to do it again given there's PayPal out there to make it so easy. PayPal is more expensive though. Ed's provider sounds very good. The merchant fees aren't the big deal in my limited experience, it's the equipment rental/software lease that's a bugger.
 
http://www.onlinecreditcard.com/

Above is a link to the company that I used to get setup. It was easy and cheap. The cost is $10 a month for the service whether you use it or not. Transactions are 1.79% if I swipe the card and 3% if I have to manually type the number in.

You can go with a wireless unit that swipes CC's. I have a swiper that plugs into my cell phone, I run a Java based program and I get an authorization number.
It's actually pretty easy. If you have a laptop or a smart phone you can use their virtual terminal.
 
IMO I think in today's world that if your not accepting credit cards, your missing out on a lot of sales. Many of them you may not even realize. Put yourself in the customer's place. You walk up to a table, or see a knife on the internet....its simply a psychological thing....its much easier for most folks to pull out that piece of plastic.....its much more difficult for them to have hundred dollar bills in their hand and give those to someone else.

Whomever you go with for a credit card vendor, I HIGHLY suggest that you ask a lot of questions, and investigate the charges (what its going to cost you) thoroughly. Prior to finding the individual I now use, I spent an entire day on the phone and pouring over the internet. It seemed that ever single one of them had "a catch"....meaning some hidden fee(s), or some special little clause that always tipped the balance in their favor.
We all know that times are tough, and although most of us are frugal people, make sure you take the time and effort to find a plan that fits your needs, that you understand, and most of all, can afford.
 
A lot of customers are impulse buyers and when they go to a show most only bring so much cash. If you accept CC's they can pay off the knife over a few months. It's also a way some collectors can buy new pieces and not let their significant other know.
One sale and it pays for itself, and the monthly fee is a business write off.
 
I have been taking credit cards for over thirty years with no problems. Started with a small local bank which was eventually ate up by the big bank which now is Wells Fargo. Took two CC's today that I normally don't think I would have gotten cash or check.
 
Hello!!

I too have been taking VISA and MasterCard for at least 30 some years, without a single problem at all, again with Wells Fargo..my "discount rate" (what the back charges me to take the card) is 1.05% so on a 1000 $$ sale it costs me 10.05 in bank charges....

Now if you have a website and do a lot of "over the net" business (like I do)...it does make a real difference...Plus there are numerous things that you can do as a "merchant" to make sure the card you get is legit...I(n fact I would sooner take the card than a personal cheque...

Hope this helps..

NVHammerHead
 
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