STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Hi Lynnie,

What I use is a "knucklebuster" (manual slider machine to imprint the cards), not a wireless terminal. This requires that I have an imprinted plate for the slider (the plate has my biz name and merchant ID on it), but the whole setup cost me $30 a few years ago.

Using this means that I pay no monthly fee to accept CC's, but also that I don't get immediate approval for transactions. I could call in each card on my cell (assuming the location I'm in gets service; some don't), but customers hate to wait, especially when we're busy, so I don't call in until after the event. In fact, I have a whole stack of transactions to process today (just finished a show this w/end).

I use the CC receipt to imprint the customer's card, fill out the necessary info, and then write up my own reciepts so I have a record of what's purchased and I can track specific inventory items. Then both receipts are stapled together and given to the customer.

Calling in cards after the fact means that I could get stuck with a bad card...but ~knock wood~ I'm going on four years now, and not a bad card yet.

One thing you CANNOT do is ask customers for additional information. MC/Visa and all the other card issuers are quite firm on this. You cannot ask for address, phone #, etc. If you do, and someone reports you, you can lose your merchant status and then can't take cards anymore. And believe me, it *does* happen...some people are very concerned about their cardholder rights and their privacy, and will gladly report merchants who don't follow these rules. Whomever sets up your merchant account will NOT tell you this, even if you ask directly. But if you ask MC/V/Amex, etc directly, they will definitely let you know about it. I'm not saying this to scare you, but just to make you aware.

I actually get a discount on the rates if I have street address (just the #) and zip code info, so I ask every customer if they want to be on my contact list. I'd ask them this anyway, so I'm not doing it for CC purposes, but then I have the addr. info for when I call in my CC sales. And if they say no, I just pay the higher percentage when running the cards without that info.

Regarding rates - they can vary widely based on your merchant account provider. I pay a small transaction fee for every card I accept, plus a percentage of the total sale. MC/Visa are the same fee structure, and Amex is more. I actually stopped taking Amex at events because they annoy me so much with their extra charges. I only accept Amex now if someone says they don't have any other card with them (Amex cardholders are very loyal customers). And I took so few Discover cards each year that I can't remember their rates.

Hope that helps. If you need more info, feel free to PM me.

I actually saw a really nice one.. all electronic and portable.. on Costco.com

Check there and see if that is what you are looking for!

so i asked my office manager. she wasn't exactly forthcoming i swear they act like things are a state secret. 

anyway our machine is from citibank, which is also the bank that processes all our checks, etc. she didn't tell me how much it costs, but she did mention there is a monthly fee, and an extra fee if you want to process debit card payments as well as cc payments. she did not say anything about a monthly  fee.

i'm guessing the easiest way would be to talk to your employer's bank and see what they say.