Credit Cards

I've used it on a few transactions, super nice the customers love it. I only do a few credit transactions a month, cash is still king. They love the fact they get an email reciept. The only thing I wish is that I would get their email from the transaction, for follow up marketing stuff. I could do it the old fashion way I guess.



Cheers,

GREG
 
Greg Nichols said:
I've used it on a few transactions, super nice the customers love it. I only do a few credit transactions a month, cash is still king. They love the fact they get an email reciept. The only thing I wish is that I would get their email from the transaction, for follow up marketing stuff. I could do it the old fashion way I guess.



Cheers,

GREG
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Yeah that would be nice Greg. I usually get their email by sending them my price list (no web page yet) or from sending them articles. I often send them several links to the blog for reference on washing or other questions they may have. :)
 
I've been using Square since September and absolutely love it. I also love the fact you can use it to track your cash transactions as well. I used Gopayment by intuit before I received my square reader. Intuit just came out w/ the new program to basically crush Square. I was paying $19.99 a month for intuit and now I'm only paying $12.99 and received a free card reader w/ rates about 1% lower than Square BUT a monthly fee.



While in the end Intuit comes out cheaper, Square is just more simplistic and works incredibly well. The first time I tried and used my free card reader from Intuit, it said card not compatible (guess I need to sign up to accept amex). Square, you just swipe and you're great to go no matter the card and also the % fee is still the same no matter the card with Square. Also I am using the iPhone 4 and my intuit card reader does not fit w/ my case..and taking it off every time I need to use it just a pain and dangerous to the wellbeing of my phone! Square, fits perfectly and works perfectly every time. I shall stick it out w/ Square unless I'm keying a card then I'll use intuit. Not to mention Square has only been out for a super short time. They stick to everything they say and keep progressing. This is just my input from using both for some time now.



Hope this helps!
 
I have a few thoughts on credit cards. I have been debating whether to accept credit or not. Honestly, it is very rare that any of my customers brings up using a credit card. When I tell them I accept only cash or check, it is never a problem. I think that the segment of people who purchases auto detailing services are usually higher income individuals. Their purchases will not be overly influenced by the acceptance of credit cards. Obviously, accepting credit is an added expense, which ultimately reduces profit. The main reason why I have considered it is to make it more convenient for my customers to pay and for me to get payment. As for the phone apps, it could be a security issue. Smart phones are now a target for cyber criminals because most people are simply not aware of the vulnerabilities. Running lots of credit card numbers through them seems like it could become a problem.
 
So I'd just like to add that my card reader has already shipped. Considering it was after 3:00pm on Monday when I signed up I'd say that's pretty dang quick. I noticed some of the reviews where people said they waited forever to get theirs so they must have improved on this. :)
 
RaskyR1 said:
So I'd just like to add that my card reader has already shipped. Considering it was after 3:00pm on Monday when I signed up I'd say that's pretty dang quick. I noticed some of the reviews where people said they waited forever to get theirs so they must have improved on this. :)
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Got mine in 3days.
 
brwill2005 said:
I have a few thoughts on credit cards. I have been debating whether to accept credit or not. Honestly, it is very rare that any of my customers brings up using a credit card. When I tell them I accept only cash or check, it is never a problem. I think that the segment of people who purchases auto detailing services are usually higher income individuals. Their purchases will not be overly influenced by the acceptance of credit cards. Obviously, accepting credit is an added expense, which ultimately reduces profit. The main reason why I have considered it is to make it more convenient for my customers to pay and for me to get payment. As for the phone apps, it could be a security issue. Smart phones are now a target for cyber criminals because most people are simply not aware of the vulnerabilities. Running lots of credit card numbers through them seems like it could become a problem.
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I think they are encrypted. Unless you have physical access, its very hard to unscramble it.
 
brwill2005 said:
I have a few thoughts on credit cards. I have been debating whether to accept credit or not. Honestly, it is very rare that any of my customers brings up using a credit card. When I tell them I accept only cash or check, it is never a problem. I think that the segment of people who purchases auto detailing services are usually higher income individuals. Their purchases will not be overly influenced by the acceptance of credit cards. Obviously, accepting credit is an added expense, which ultimately reduces profit. The main reason why I have considered it is to make it more convenient for my customers to pay and for me to get payment. As for the phone apps, it could be a security issue. Smart phones are now a target for cyber criminals because most people are simply not aware of the vulnerabilities. Running lots of credit card numbers through them seems like it could become a problem.
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I think using Square gives you that ability to accept them on a limited basis. It doesn't cost you ANYTHING to have the account and reader as a back up option. Cash is king and I tell my clients that I prefer cash, most oblige this. I don't take checks anymore unless this is primo client, too many problems and too hard to deal with bounced checks.



Cheers,

GREG
 
brwill2005 said:
I have a few thoughts on credit cards. I have been debating whether to accept credit or not. Honestly, it is very rare that any of my customers brings up using a credit card. When I tell them I accept only cash or check, it is never a problem. I think that the segment of people who purchases auto detailing services are usually higher income individuals. Their purchases will not be overly influenced by the acceptance of credit cards. Obviously, accepting credit is an added expense, which ultimately reduces profit. The main reason why I have considered it is to make it more convenient for my customers to pay and for me to get payment. As for the phone apps, it could be a security issue. Smart phones are now a target for cyber criminals because most people are simply not aware of the vulnerabilities. Running lots of credit card numbers through them seems like it could become a problem.
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Like you said, it all depends on your clientele. 99 out of 100 people pay me with plastic (be it Interac, Visa or Mastercard). Not having that option would put me out of business, plain and simple.



I wouldn't worry about the phone apps, assuming you're referring to someone intercepting the transaction information vs someone physically stealing the device. Most of these apps are running through a cellular network, which I can tell you from first hand experience is much more secure than a POS terminal in a retail store.
 
The more options of getting the money from your clients, the better. That's why I like Square, you don't use it, you don't pay.
 
Yea, obviously if most of your customers use or require credit it is an easy decision. I am skeptical about anything that claims to offer you a service such as credit card processing for 'free'. Credit card processing is a huge business. This company is making money somehow. Cell transmissions are encrypted, but that does not mean someone can not put malware on a smart phone and skim the numbers as you swipe them.
 
brwill2005 said:
Yea, obviously if most of your customers use or require credit it is an easy decision. I am skeptical about anything that claims to offer you a service such as credit card processing for 'free'. Credit card processing is a huge business. This company is making money somehow. Cell transmissions are encrypted, but that does not mean someone can not put malware on a smart phone and skim the numbers as you swipe them.
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Well a 2.75% fee adds up pretty quick on most my jobs, so I'd say the company makes some pretty good money. Funny because I have a guy coming to get his car in 2hrs and he just emailed me asking if I accept credit cards. :)



That's a $21 fee right there, but if it makes payment easier for my client than it's worth it to me. Plus now I don't have to drive to the bank and deposit the money. ;)
 
RaskyR1 said:
Well a 2.75% fee adds up pretty quick on most my jobs, so I'd say the company makes some pretty good money. Funny because I have a guy coming to get his car in 2hrs and he just emailed me asking if I accept credit cards. :)
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Looks like you got it just in time :-)



There have been studies done that show that when people have the option of using a credit card, they spend more.
 
brwill2005 said:
Yea, obviously if most of your customers use or require credit it is an easy decision. I am skeptical about anything that claims to offer you a service such as credit card processing for 'free'. Credit card processing is a huge business. This company is making money somehow. Cell transmissions are encrypted, but that does not mean someone can not put malware on a smart phone and skim the numbers as you swipe them.
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Free, until you use it. When you use it, then they make their money. So the processing isn't free.
 
brwill2005 said:
Cell transmissions are encrypted, but that does not mean someone can not put malware on a smart phone and skim the numbers as you swipe them.
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True enough, but then again someone can put malware on your PC in the office and skim numbers from your tabletop POS machine too. Even though I think the risk of this is extremely low, it's one reason I prefer BlackBerry to all other smartphones, there isn't a single wireless device out there that's more secure.



To add to that, I *believe* that credit card transactions are encrypted when they head across the "internet" to the merchant account provider. I would assume AES standard encryption, along with HASH checks.
 
AeroCleanse said:
Free, until you use it. When you use it, then they make their money. So the processing isn't free.
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free as in no monthly..unlike intuit..if you don't use it once you are charged extra..i found that out the hard way. Also...2.75% is Squares flat rate no matter what while my AMEX w/ intuit is 2.89%. Again...Squares simplicity is what makes me want to stick with them. Great company and I see great things w/ them coming up in the future. Not to mention folks just love the fact i take cards on phone and they have to sign w/ finger.
 
Just got an email from square........ they have dropped the 15 cent processing, but the rate stayed the same....FYI



I'm still dang happy to use them easy to deal with, and clients like the option.



Cheers,

GREG
 
Greg Nichols said:
Just got an email from square........ they have dropped the 15 cent processing, but the rate stayed the same....FYI



I'm still dang happy to use them easy to deal with, and clients like the option.



Cheers,

GREG
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Yea, love the fact they dropped .15 fee....so simplistic and just awesome! Hopefully one day they'll come down just a few % on their rates soon. I read on their twitter they process around $1 million a day..
 
EcoAuto said:
Yea, love the fact they dropped .15 fee....so simplistic and just awesome! Hopefully one day they'll come down just a few % on their rates soon. I read on their twitter they process around $1 million a day..
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That would mean they make 30,000$ a day?



I also heard that Chase Bank bought them? I hate chase bank!



Cheers,

GREG
 
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