Accepting Credit Cards

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livinlowkey

New member
I have been researching accepting visa and mastercard but there are so many companies that I dont know where to start. If anyone knows of a good reputable company that I could look into I would greatly appreciate it. There are so many different fees and rates that vary so much from company to company that Im having a little difficulty deciding. Thanks again for any help you can give.
 
livinlowkey said:
I have been researching accepting visa and mastercard but there are so many companies that I dont know where to start. If anyone knows of a good reputable company that I could look into I would greatly appreciate it. There are so many different fees and rates that vary so much from company to company that Im having a little difficulty deciding. Thanks again for any help you can give.
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I have been approached by a so many credit card machine sales people it’s unbelievable. All I can say is it must be very profitable. As a product vendor, yes. As a production car wash, yes. As a mobile detalier why? Everyone pays me with check or cash!!! Oh, the credit card machine sales people say your missing 30% opportunities , this and that. I have never missed any opportunity because of it!!! IMO the credit card company’s are a bunch of .......................
 
If you have a laptop and wireless card (mobile). or a computer and internet connection ( fixed location) you can simply use paypal's virtual terminal



Its a very cost effective solution
 
doged said:
I have been approached by a so many credit card machine sales people it’s unbelievable.
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No shi. . . I had a sales-lady (who found me through my lender, a local bank) calling me every week for almost two months trying to get me to sign up for her wireless terminal. Something crazy like $135 a month per rental and 2.5% off each transaction with a base processing fee of $20. :think: :LOLOL After she left a half a dozen voicemails post take-a-hike conversation I called my lender and asked them to resolve the matter. Rant, rant rant. Sorry.



doged said:
I have never missed any opportunity because of it!
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Neither have I, to my knowledge. In the last two months I have been asked if I accept Credit Cards as payment once. When I said currently I can only process a CC through Paypal he popped out a wad of cash, problem solved :)
 
Taking credit cards is good and bad.



When the customer comes to you for a outside detail only and then sees your work on the inside they may want to have a complete detail done. If they do not have the cash they can charge the detail which brings in more profit for you.



Be sure to have the customers sign a form that all work is complete and they are statisfied with the detail. This way if they go home and call the credit card company and try to dispute the charge they can not. People are always looking to get something for nothing.



I have taken credit cards for the last 3 years and maybe had 50 charges. Most people pay cash.



NYD
 
livinlowkey said:
I have been researching accepting visa and mastercard but there are so many companies that I dont know where to start. If anyone knows of a good reputable company that I could look into I would greatly appreciate it. There are so many different fees and rates that vary so much from company to company that Im having a little difficulty deciding. Thanks again for any help you can give.
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My merchant services is through Merchant Warehouse.com. There are a ton of online places, your local bank probably has some options for you as well. Make sure you take all the fees into account when comparing companies.
 
I recently picked up a new PDA phone with windows mobile on it. I can launch internet explorer off wifi through the customers house or a neighbors house, and through verizon (@ $45/monh unlimited access.) I log into paypal send them a money request, they log into their email and everything is done. It really has come in handy with driving directions to customers houses, organizing appointments, it really is worth every penny.



-Shaun
 
I can find out who my brother uses, he seems pretty happy with whomever does his processing. He has a computer networking/repair/service business.



Personally, I get asked so seldom if I take credit cards it isn't worth the cost of accepting them.
 
Thanks for all the info. I feel the same way about credit card companies they are always soo overwhelming, and not to mention a pain to deal with. The only reason I am even gettin a credit card terminal is because I just got a contract with the Department of Transportation for between 40 and 50 vehicles and all they will pay with is VISA. I have been waiting for a definite response from them to see if I definitely had the contract. Once it was a sure thing I agreed to get the terminal.

Fortunately I ended up meeting the right people to make it happen. I actually help train the police officer in charge of the decision to compete in the UFC. Needless to say I told him about my company and he was more than happy to help.
 
About 35-40% of my clients prefer to pay by cc. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for clients to choose my company and to make payments to me. I just go through Fifth Third's Merchant Services. It's a dial pay system and the cost is pretty reasonable for the convenience it offers my customers, plus I'm guaranteed the money that way. As for cash, I accept it but I'd rather not take that form of payment as I'm not crazy about carrying around cash to make change.



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
 
I went though Costco which uses Authorize.net. The base charges are 20 per month for the gateway and merchant service- 40 total. The percentage is around 2.7 of each purchase. 95+% of my sales are online, so that is different than daily local detailer situations. For local, I paid $10 for the ol' style of credit card machines that "slide". I give the customer a receipt, go home and process the card manually. Since I only do about 10 per year, it's not a big deal.



If your customers are not asking if you take credit cards, spend the money on marketing/advertising each month. As you grow, add the cc service. My brother does weight balancing, prop balancing, and detailing for airplanes. Charges start at around $250 for just one of the services. He does not take credit cards and customers pay every time with cash, or checks.



Rob
 
Speaking strictly as a consumer, all else being equal, if I had a choice between two merchants, one of which took credit cards and the other didn't, I would go with the guy that took a credit card .



I even use a credit card to buy a soda at McDonald's, because I get mileage back for my purchase.
 
NY detailer said:
This way if they go home and call the credit card company and try to dispute the charge they can not. People are always looking to get something for nothing.
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There is a dispute process, so even though they call them doesnt mean you wont get paid.



I've only disputed one charge with my CC (double billed), and I got a refund due to the fact the merchant never sent a reply to American Express. So my dispute was automatically approved, then the merchant issued a credit.



I was nice and call Amex to tell them the first charge was valid, so the merchant did get paid
 
If credit cards work for you ....thats GREAT! I am an auto paint rejuvenation expert....NOT A BANK. Dead presidents are KING. OR cash is KING. I agree with the towel man. I also DONT disagree with credit cards....I realize many of us need them. Geographically we all need something different to survive. We all have to do what feels right....if people are down on cash they use credit...its a no brainer. I get at least 3 calls a week from credit card companies.
 
Many folks use credit cards for free miles and such. I say great. I have two cards myself with 10K credit lines....they both have ZERO balances...Thank GOD! Like I said I am on the down side and trying to figure on PRE-RETIREMENT at this point. Again-we all have our own approach to the many faces of life.
 
paintxpert said:
If credit cards work for you ....thats GREAT! I am an auto paint rejuvenation expert....NOT A BANK. Dead presidents are KING. OR cash is KING. I agree with the towel man. I also DONT disagree with credit cards....I realize many of us need them. Geographically we all need something different to survive. We all have to do what feels right....if people are down on cash they use credit...its a no brainer. I get at least 3 calls a week from credit card companies.
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Consumers use credit & debit cards for a number of different reasons, mostly though for the convenience and safety of not having to carry cash around. Sure we all love cash, but that's not the point. The point is how can I make this transaction easier and more convenient for my customer so they have a better experience.
 
Like I said on your 39th year in business you might feel different about credit cards. I did several hundred cars last year and had NO call for credit cards. I guess I feel lucky
 
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