Members Maureen Posted April 7, 2011 Members Report Posted April 7, 2011 Hi guys we're new to the forum but not new to the business. I appreciate the replies I've had on my other posts elsewhere so I thought I'd post this to maybe help someone else out. It's a pretty undisputed fact that accepting credit cards will increase your sales if you are at a craft fair or other venue where people are browsing around and maybe impulse shopping. It's usually been a pain in the rear to get a merchant account and process cards for a small time seller though. There is a new player in town called Square. They are a credit card processor whose goal is to get everyone able to accept credit cards - even Joe-Schmoe at his garage sale. You do need a smart phone (iPhone or Android) or an iPod touch or iPad and internet access in order to use their service. The very best thing about it though is that it is FREE to sign up, their device is FREE and there are NO monthly charges. The only charge is a 2.75% fee on each swipe. Receipts get emailed or text messaged to the customer and include your location and a picture of their purchase if you choose to take one. I have a traditional merchant account and a wireless swiper. I have to pay $14/month for wireless access + $10/month minimum fees + $185/year for PCI compliance fees as well as the percentages (which are less than 2.75% but not by a whole lot). I have started transitioning to Square and eventually will drop my other account. One great thing about Square is that now I can accept American Express which I never could before. I don't get anything by telling y'all this. I'm just tickled with the service and want to share. My customers think it is cool to sign on my phone. This is their website for more information Quote
Members Menolly Posted April 7, 2011 Members Report Posted April 7, 2011 Hi guys we're new to the forum but not new to the business. I appreciate the replies I've had on my other posts elsewhere so I thought I'd post this to maybe help someone else out. It's a pretty undisputed fact that accepting credit cards will increase your sales if you are at a craft fair or other venue where people are browsing around and maybe impulse shopping. It's usually been a pain in the rear to get a merchant account and process cards for a small time seller though. There is a new player in town called Square. They are a credit card processor whose goal is to get everyone able to accept credit cards - even Joe-Schmoe at his garage sale. You do need a smart phone (iPhone or Android) or an iPod touch or iPad and internet access in order to use their service. The very best thing about it though is that it is FREE to sign up, their device is FREE and there are NO monthly charges. The only charge is a 2.75% fee on each swipe. Receipts get emailed or text messaged to the customer and include your location and a picture of their purchase if you choose to take one. I have a traditional merchant account and a wireless swiper. I have to pay $14/month for wireless access + $10/month minimum fees + $185/year for PCI compliance fees as well as the percentages (which are less than 2.75% but not by a whole lot). I have started transitioning to Square and eventually will drop my other account. One great thing about Square is that now I can accept American Express which I never could before. I don't get anything by telling y'all this. I'm just tickled with the service and want to share. My customers think it is cool to sign on my phone. This is their website for more information I looked at the website. That IS pretty cool. Thanks so much for sharing the info Quote Facebook YouTube Twitter Etsy
dirtclod Posted April 7, 2011 Report Posted April 7, 2011 I guess i'm still liveing in the stone age. How much does a I phone cost and how much is their service any ideal ? I do have a pre paid cell phone but never talk on it. The cell phone i have is for just incase i break down or something like that. Heck i don't even talk on my home phone unless i need to order something. Last year i was selling in Florida and it would of been nice to have something like Square because i had some folks ask about useing a credit card and i couldn't take one. Quote I'm old enough to know that i don't know everything.
Pounder Posted April 7, 2011 Report Posted April 7, 2011 Hi guys we're new to the forum but not new to the business. I appreciate the replies I've had on my other posts elsewhere so I thought I'd post this to maybe help someone else out. It's a pretty undisputed fact that accepting credit cards will increase your sales if you are at a craft fair or other venue where people are browsing around and maybe impulse shopping. It's usually been a pain in the rear to get a merchant account and process cards for a small time seller though. There is a new player in town called Square. They are a credit card processor whose goal is to get everyone able to accept credit cards - even Joe-Schmoe at his garage sale. You do need a smart phone (iPhone or Android) or an iPod touch or iPad and internet access in order to use their service. The very best thing about it though is that it is FREE to sign up, their device is FREE and there are NO monthly charges. The only charge is a 2.75% fee on each swipe. Receipts get emailed or text messaged to the customer and include your location and a picture of their purchase if you choose to take one. I have a traditional merchant account and a wireless swiper. I have to pay $14/month for wireless access + $10/month minimum fees + $185/year for PCI compliance fees as well as the percentages (which are less than 2.75% but not by a whole lot). I have started transitioning to Square and eventually will drop my other account. One great thing about Square is that now I can accept American Express which I never could before. I don't get anything by telling y'all this. I'm just tickled with the service and want to share. My customers think it is cool to sign on my phone. This is their website for more information Thanks for the information, I am beginning my leather business and have been looking for something like this, could not have come at a better time. Quote Crooked Finger Leather 5514 E. Hwy 40 Greenfield, IN 46140 (317) 947-8046
Moderator Johanna Posted April 7, 2011 Moderator Report Posted April 7, 2011 I'm trying to set up an account with my bank to accept credit and debit cards, and so far they've done everything but demand DNA from my first-born. Thanks for the link- I'm interested, too. Johanna Quote You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain
Members CitizenKate Posted April 7, 2011 Members Report Posted April 7, 2011 Looks like it just works when the credit card is present at the point-of-sale. I wonder if they allow you to take CC payments over the phone? Kate Quote
Members MHolzer Posted April 7, 2011 Members Report Posted April 7, 2011 I actually just got my Square card reader in the mail yesterday! Yes, you can accept credit cards over the phone w/ square, but the fee goes up to 3.5% + $.015, which is still fairly reasonable. I'm excited to start using it at our first show at the end of the month Quote 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Members MHolzer Posted April 7, 2011 Members Report Posted April 7, 2011 (edited) I guess i'm still liveing in the stone age. How much does a I phone cost and how much is their service any ideal ? I do have a pre paid cell phone but never talk on it. The cell phone i have is for just incase i break down or something like that. Heck i don't even talk on my home phone unless i need to order something. Last year i was selling in Florida and it would of been nice to have something like Square because i had some folks ask about useing a credit card and i couldn't take one. iPhone or Android -based smart phones aren't cheap, at least $100 or so. Throw on top of that a required data plan at about $30/month. So if you don't already have a smart phone and wouldn't have a need for it outside of accepting credit cards it's probably not worth it. Also, Intuit has a similar service but I don't much about it. Go Payment Edited April 7, 2011 by MHolzer Quote 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Members MHolzer Posted April 7, 2011 Members Report Posted April 7, 2011 One other gotcha with Square is that if you exceed $1000 in sales in a 7-day period, the remainder won't be deposited into your account (by default) for 30 days. This can be changed by talking with their customer support, but I figure for many people it's not a huge issue. Quote 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
dirtclod Posted April 7, 2011 Report Posted April 7, 2011 I tired the bank route to. But when they wanted to charge me 500.00 for the machine ( and that i could only use theirs a bunch of crap ) that i could buy for alot less i took them i wasn't intrested. Intuit is Homestead web site company one owns the other. Thanks for the information on the phone and plan MHolzer. Good thing is you can take it off your taxes. Quote I'm old enough to know that i don't know everything.
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