Process Credit Cards on a Mobile Detail

Holden_C04

Holden_C04

New member
What options are out there for processing credit cards/debit cards completely wireless? Ideally, I would like to use a Blackberry for processing transactions but the software I see for doing so costs $700. :nono



Costco offers a service and the regular (i.e. wired) one is like $25/month rent for the machine, 1.67% on swiped transactions for Visa and Mastercard, $0.08 per debit transaction, $25 application fee, and $5/month statement fee.



It's not bad but I don't know how much the wireless unit will be and how reliable service is.



What options are there?
 
Do you have enough customers that demand credit card acceptance? If so, will it offset the cost of the machine and processing fees? In my case, very few people ask. The ones that do, simply pay cash or check when I say I do not accept CC's.
 
brwill2005 said:
Do you have enough customers that demand credit card acceptance? If so, will it offset the cost of the machine and processing fees? In my case, very few people ask. The ones that do, simply pay cash or check when I say I do not accept CC's.
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My thinking is that it will provide my business with more flexibility. I don't have customers demanding credit card payments, but very few people carry around hundreds or thousands of dollars in cash. I don't accept checks from first time customers so they only have the option to pay in cash which isn't always convenient.



I would also like to get set up at car shows and take deposits for appointments. Credit card acceptance will make this a lot easier.
 
There was an article I had read in Wired a couple years ago about billing done through text messaging services on your own cell phone provider. Just like all those dumb late night ads on television for ring tones or songs by "texting Bling to 555555", your client will be billed through their wireless company.



I haven't heard anything about it recently, but it may be worth looking into. You can give the client your personal "text to" number and you will receive a confirmation on your own cell phone that it has been paid. It's instantaneous.



As a matter of fact... I think I will look into this again to see if it has been adapted anymore.
 
Holden_C04 said:
My thinking is that it will provide my business with more flexibility. I don't have customers demanding credit card payments, but very few people carry around hundreds or thousands of dollars in cash. I don't accept checks from first time customers so they only have the option to pay in cash which isn't always convenient.



I would also like to get set up at car shows and take deposits for appointments. Credit card acceptance will make this a lot easier.
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Don't accept checks? I have taken hundreds of checks from customer's and never had one not clear. I guess I should knock on wood:) If the cost is worth it to you, and your customers demand it, go for it.
 
Holden, I just reciently signed up with Capital 1 with a business account that allows me to accept credit card payments. It's a free business checking account and I think they only take like 2% of the transaction and it's all dial/pay. Basically you call it in over the phone and they give you an autorization #. It also come with a "knuckle buster" machine, the old fashion swipe it back and forth machine, but I never use it, just dial in and it's all good.



Josh
 
JoshVette said:
Holden, I just reciently signed up with Capital 1 with a business account that allows me to accept credit card payments. It's a free business checking account and I think they only take like 2% of the transaction and it's all dial/pay. Basically you call it in over the phone and they give you an autorization #. It also come with a "knuckle buster" machine, the old fashion swipe it back and forth machine, but I never use it, just dial in and it's all good.



Josh
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All the good stuff is south of the border. :cry:



Capital One only provides credit cards up here. No checking/savings accounts of any kind. I've got a business account with TD Canada Trust so I'll check what they have.
 
brwill2005 said:
Don't accept checks? I have taken hundreds of checks from customer's and never had one not clear. I guess I should knock on wood:) If the cost is worth it to you, and your customers demand it, go for it.
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I accept checks but not from first time customers. Too much risk from a first-time client.
 
Also when ever you have to pay that fee just charge it to the customer I know of a few businesses that do it that way. My boys tint shop he charges a few extra bucks if you use a card to cover the cost.
 
Propay is a good credit card processor. I used them for a few years (still do) and I like them. I never had any problems or any charge backs using them. I also accept Google checkout, I usually have the client send the funds to my account, verify payment, setup appointment or the client can send the payment to me at the time of appointment. I also accept checks. I used to accept PayPal, but not anymore.
 
JonP said:
Propay is a good credit card processor. I used them for a few years (still do) and I like them. I never had any problems or any charge backs using them. I also accept Google checkout, I usually have the client send the funds to my account, verify payment, setup appointment or the client can send the payment to me at the time of appointment. I also accept checks. I used to accept PayPal, but not anymore.
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Not available in Canada. :sadwavey:
 
How I process my customers that pay with credit cards.



I have an online store that sells detail supplies in my country through which I use paypal to accept credit cards. On a private access side of the store I have my detail services set up just like any other product I sell with its pricing scale. When the customer wants to pay by card I just access the store through a cell phone wireless internet connection on my laptop/or customers computer and have him purchase the service online just like he was purchasing wax or any other product.



I came up with this due to the problems I was faced with not having the ability to do cards. I had no option to process any other way actually.



All you need is an online store type software like oscommerce, paypal and a connection to the internet. I assume in North America there should be wireless internet through cell phone also.



I remember doing a detail for a vetenarian at his clinic and he was totally impressed that he had trouble processing cards from his clinic due to the system failing at times and I was able to do it from the trunk of his car with no problems.:sign
 
Holden_C04 said:
What options are out there for processing credit cards/debit cards completely wireless? Ideally, I would like to use a Blackberry for processing transactions but the software I see for doing so costs $700. :nono



Costco offers a service and the regular (i.e. wired) one is like $25/month rent for the machine, 1.67% on swiped transactions for Visa and Mastercard, $0.08 per debit transaction, $25 application fee, and $5/month statement fee.



It's not bad but I don't know how much the wireless unit will be and how reliable service is.



What options are there?
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I don't have a lot of time to read all the relies, so forgive me if this is a repeat. But I would keep it simple and use an imprinter. Then process everything when I got home through the landline reader or Authorize.net.



I actually have a cell phone credit card reader and its one of the worst purchases I ever made. Just not worth it. Its not even that reliable.



Another option is if you have a laptop with mobile internet (through Sprint or Verizon or something), then you can just load up the laptop, connect to Autbhorize.net and process it through their. But really, I'd just use the imprinter, very simple, and you have physical records, and the customer can sign the receipt and stuff.



Chris
 
that is a good idea however what happens if you get home and the CC is denied? Any other ideas on processing credit cards?
 
however upon second though you could use a blackberry and send an email invoice to your customer via google checkout and have them pay it online while you are there. If they dont have internet at there home you could have them logon to there email account from your blackberry and enter there payment info and pay you all on your blackberry :)
 
bwalker25 said:
however upon second though you could use a blackberry and send an email invoice to your customer via google checkout and have them pay it online while you are there. If they dont have internet at there home you could have them logon to there email account from your blackberry and enter there payment info and pay you all on your blackberry :)
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Thats a good point. If you have a cell phone with internet. Then you automatically can process credit cards out on the job through an internet payment gateway such as Authorize.net. The only difference would be that that the wireless card reader would be a point of sale transaction and only cost like %1.67 and the one through the blackberry would be more like %2.2



As to the question of "what happens if you get home and the card is denied?" Same thing that happens if their check bounces.



I actually try to get credit card information over the phone when I am booking the appointment. In that case you can pre-authorize an amount. However I don't do that. Maybe I should though...



I find that if you have credit card information before going out, the customer is much less likely to flake on you. Once we're already out, I'd rather the customer pay with cash or check.
 
Holden_C04 said:
All the good stuff is south of the border. :cry:



Capital One only provides credit cards up here. No checking/savings accounts of any kind. I've got a business account with TD Canada Trust so I'll check what they have.
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Well, not *all* the good stuff. You guys have all the good beer and chocolate.
 
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