Thread: small time vendor looking into credit card processing

Hopefully y'all can help.

I am a website vendor who occasionally vends for events. I have never taken credit cards at vending events but am looking into doing this.

My issue? I use paypal for the website. To use a processing center for credit cards, I would need to sell a minimum each month at vending events. Since my vending events are far and few between - i need a solution.

A long time ago, someone told me that I could do the old credit card machines that slide your credit card over the copy and then process them all at once each night.

I need help. Any suggestions? Who do you use?

Thank you.

Ravena

Oh yes...I'm also looking for a similar solution. I can take cards via googlecheckout and paypal online, but I really want to take cards at the ticket booth for our shows. Again...the show are few and far between.

I'll be watching this thread!!

Samira
Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive

why not bring a laptop to the vending events and have people pay you with paypal on your laptop at the event?

i belive a wireless access card/monthly fees are much lower than setting up a cc processing acct. [i've been very happy with the verizon usb device/service]

you won't have the worry of taking bad cards and not getting paid if you use the hand machines. although chargebacks are always a possibility.

hope this helps. if you find a better solution, please post.

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

why not bring a laptop to the vending events and have people pay you with paypal on your laptop at the event?

i belive a wireless access card/monthly fees are much lower than setting up a cc processing acct. [i've been very happy with the verizon usb device/service]

you won't have the worry of taking bad cards and not getting paid if you use the hand machines. although chargebacks are always a possibility.

hope this helps. if you find a better solution, please post.

In my case, the set up fees for online access at the Casino Convention center is really really cost prohibitive. We've definitely considered that one!! But thanks!!

I was determined that if I was going to be a vendor I would have to be able to take credit cards, but was scared the startup fees would be a dealbreaker. Just from needing to take payment for tickets and workshop registrations I can tell you that lots of people don't have PayPal accounts or are too nervous to do online transactions period.

I did a whole bunch of looking around and just opened my merchant account with United Payment Services. Here's the specifics:

Annual fee $69
Monthly customer service fee $7.50 (they have 24/7 support, critical if you are vending on weekends!)

Swiped card fees (customer is there in front of you)
Mastercard/Visa 1.69%, .20 per transaction
Debit cards 1.35%, .20 per transaction
(slightly higher for Amex, can't find the exact amount)

Taking cards over the phone or online orders 2.19%, .20 transaction

They give you the unit!!! I have a POS terminal that will store transactions until l I can get access to a phone line for processing. $45 for programming and secured delivery via UPS.

Now I'll be able to take all major CC cards for tickets, registrations, vending, gigs, everything! If this sounds good to anyone else, call Dick Nolan at (800) 680-6436. Friendly and helpful as all get out, tell him I sent you--he was very intrigued to get bellydance business

I hope this helps!

~~Kimahri

*to answer your question Ravena, you could get a "knuckle-buster" for use at events but you can't process them without a merchant account.

One that I've used in the past is Propay.com. For $35 you can process Visa or Mastercard online up to a limit. There are a couple of pricing schemes depending on how much you need to process per month. The rates take a larger percent than the one Kimahri recommended so I think I would only recommend it if you are looking for something to use once in a while and therefore need a cheap option especially since you don't get the cool machine. But in case you're curious . . . :)

I use TransFirst, and do it the old fashioned way - with a manual swiper. I've had no problems with bad credit cards yet, and if a month goes by that I have no transactions, it costs me $20.47. I call my transactions in on an 800 number after I get home from the event. They have no setup fees at all. I highly recommend them.

For me a laptop is out of the question, and those sellers who use PayPal know how high their fees are. I have found that it costs less for me to take an actual credit card than to use PayPal.

Originally Posted by Samira_dncr

In my case, the set up fees for online access at the Casino Convention center is really really cost prohibitive. We've definitely considered that one!! But thanks!!

maybe i didn't describe it accurately:
you wouldn't need the con center network or any other venue network.
what i'm suggesting is a usb wireless broadband device that connects directly to the verizon network using its own internal 'modem'
the wireless access would be your own account, independent and working anywhere you can get a cell signal.
check out this link [for some reason it has a wierd auto title]
Enter your location

If you're going to go with a company, I would be careful to read through every term and condition. I found with my old cc company, they charged very little for the service, but if I discontinued service it was like 500 dollars - that was wayyy down there in the small print. Akk!

I would go with the wireless thing Sabrina mentioned. I think in the long run you'd be happier that way and spend the same or less.

That's way more than it costs me for my account. I think I'll stick to the old fashioned way, I have no problems with it, and don't plan to switch.

A laptop would just be something else to schlep with all my merchandise. Also, if anyone has ever attended Bedouin Bazaar in San Diego, it's strictly cash or check, there's an ATM in the hotel across the street, and there's never been a problem with it.

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

maybe i didn't describe it accurately:
you wouldn't need the con center network or any other venue network.
what i'm suggesting is a usb wireless broadband device that connects directly to the verizon network using its own internal 'modem'
the wireless access would be your own account, independent and working anywhere you can get a cell signal.
check out this link [for some reason it has a wierd auto title]
Enter your location

I see what you are saying. I don't know. It's $150 with a 2 year contract, and although it bypassess all the other stuff, I think I'm still leaning towards an actual merchant account. I'm adding a shopping cart to my website this year, so having a merchant account my be justified anyway.

Additionally, the casinos here in Vegas are really great at blocking your cell phone service. It's to their advantage to make sure your phone doesn't distract you from gambling...hahahaha.

Originally Posted by gypsydanse

I use TransFirst, and do it the old fashioned way - with a manual swiper. I've had no problems with bad credit cards yet, and if a month goes by that I have no transactions, it costs me $20.47. I call my transactions in on an 800 number after I get home from the event. They have no setup fees at all. I highly recommend them.

For me a laptop is out of the question, and those sellers who use PayPal know how high their fees are. I have found that it costs less for me to take an actual credit card than to use PayPal.

So as long as you have some transactions, you don't pay the $20.47?
Do they offer a POS machine and you chose not to take it?

Samira

If I have NO transactions, it costs me $20.47 per month. I was offered either a POS machine, or a program where I can process transactions on my computer. I declined both due to the cost. I like what I have due to the low cost, and flexibility.

I'm a small time vendor, and don't vend for a living. Since I don't vend for a living, I'm not obligated to go everywhere to sell, I can pick and choose. I tried vending every weekend and more, and decided that it was for the birds. Most bellydance festivals charge you individually per rack and table, and it's starts ge tting expensive.

I don't have any help, and by the time that I load/unload/setup/takedown/ load again, I was exhausted, had to go to my regular job on Monday, and then I had to start all over again for the next weekend.

So I'll stick to being small time.

I have propay. I was looking into it before i started my mary kay business. Now that i do that I got a better deal with propay! although i dont have a terminal, i can call in the transactions or do it online.

now that i think about it, im gonna go look and see if they offer a terminal...brb

for propay all they offer is a manual device to imprint the card and your info on credit card slips. then you still need to do the online processing or the telephone processing. They are less then $30 depending on which one you want.

Hi there!

If you have low volume transactions, you might want to try Paynet systems:
Paynet Systems

They have various options to choose from. We tried Paypal & still use it, but to lug laptop during festivals, especially outdoors one, may be a little tricky.

We use it & they charge set up fee ~$50, ~1.59% on visa/MC purchases (different rates for diners, disocver, & Am express), 25 cents per transactions. And I just call it in thru my cell phone . They have options where you can upgrade to a cellphone that you can swipe the card (I would recommend if you want a faster transactions so you don't have to press in numbers, etc) for ~$80 (pay additional $30 if you start up with basic cell phone package & decide you want the swiper phone later). They also offer the swipe machines, but I didn't look into that. Usually wireless swipe machines are expensive (to buy or rent) & they take the same amount of time for the transaction compared to using the regular cellphone.

I've been really satisified with them. I get the transactions within 2-3 business days of the purchase. I do all my phone & direct sales thru them. My internet is set already for paypal, but I use Paynet Systems more frequently.

If you don't have purchases on a month, then they will charge you a fee~$18-20, so I usually try to make at least 1 sale a month to cover the costs.

The good thing with this system is that you will know if the card is authorized or declined. It happened to me on a few occasions where they declined the card & fortunately, they had another card which went thru. Sometimes, it's hard to keep credit card info until you can get to pay pal because you worry that the card may not go thru....

Credit cards really increase your sales & sometimes better that taking a check. Always keep a copy of the transactions & still get a copy of the card with the customer's signature in case there are questions later on & please check ID's. I had a transvestite who pruchased something with a credit card & the name on the card did not make the ID card. I did not take it even though she/he said so & so, but it was for a costume & $500 transaction, I wasn't going to do it (vendor policy: ID has to match name on card), so she/he went to the bank to give me cash. We were both happy. I just hoped in the back of my mind that it was really her/his card & not a newly stolen card.

Well, good luck!


-Tipsuda

I don't have anything useful to add to this thread ! However, I thought you would be interested to know that in the Uk I have heard some banker types refer to the manual 'swipe over' machine (the one that you use with a carbon 'voucher' document) as "zip-zap machines", and I thought it was an unusually creative name for the industry !

Originally Posted by Samira_dncr

I see what you are saying. I don't know. It's $150 with a 2 year contract, and although it bypassess all the other stuff, I think I'm still leaning towards an actual merchant account. I'm adding a shopping cart to my website this year, so having a merchant account my be justified anyway.

Additionally, the casinos here in Vegas are really great at blocking your cell phone service. It's to their advantage to make sure your phone doesn't distract you from gambling...hahahaha.

Wait, maybe I *do* have something useful. Those mobile phone blockers devices that the big hotels etc. use have a geographical range. If you find out its geographical range, you could have someone stationed in a coffee shop nearby with your laptop to do the paypal processing ?

I use a "knucklebuster" through TransFirst. I had no transactions last month, because I did not go away to sell anywhere. My statement came in the mail yesterday, and the fee was $20.47 with no transactions.

If you do that make sure that you take Phone # and addresses....I baught quite a bit of stuff one night at an out of town event, and had planned to drive back that night, I used my debit card for the stuff and ended up in a HUGE storm at 1 in the morning, being exausted I pulled over to the nearest hotel and again used my debit not thinking that DUH I just used it, well the hotel went through first and I ended up gettin a call from the vendor the next day saying that my card didnt go through, I am an honest peron and just gave her a different card and she got her $$$ but truethfully I didnt have to, and not all people are honest....I could have skipped out on it and she would have had to waited till I got paid again (1.5 weeks) for her to try the card again and have it work....Just keep that in mind...If it happend to me it will happen with one of your transactions im sure more than 1 time

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

Wait, maybe I *do* have something useful. Those mobile phone blockers devices that the big hotels etc. use have a geographical range. If you find out its geographical range, you could have someone stationed in a coffee shop nearby with your laptop to do the paypal processing ?

LOL...that just sounds tooo darn complicated. Most people pay in advance, so I'm not sure it's worth that much aggravation. I'll figure something out. But thanks for your brainstorm. It's always worth looking at the options...

Wow! A lot of great information. I think I am going to take the next few days to review each option and find out what works for me.

A friend of mine mentioned that Costco (a warehouse club) offers a great merchant plan to their members. Since I have been a Costco member for a while, I will toss that one into the mix.

I am gonna continue to monitor this thread.

I think for me - the old carbon swipe and call in later may be the option for me. I am not to concerned about CC fraud. If my vending schedule increases to larger shows, I will then upgrade to realtime swiping.

You all are beautiful - thank you!

Originally Posted by Kimahri

I was determined that if I was going to be a vendor I would have to be able to take credit cards, but was scared the startup fees would be a dealbreaker. Just from needing to take payment for tickets and workshop registrations I can tell you that lots of people don't have PayPal accounts or are too nervous to do online transactions period.

I did a whole bunch of looking around and just opened my merchant account with United Payment Services. Here's the specifics:

Annual fee $69
Monthly customer service fee $7.50 (they have 24/7 support, critical if you are vending on weekends!)

Swiped card fees (customer is there in front of you)
Mastercard/Visa 1.69%, .20 per transaction
Debit cards 1.35%, .20 per transaction
(slightly higher for Amex, can't find the exact amount)

Taking cards over the phone or online orders 2.19%, .20 transaction

They give you the unit!!! I have a POS terminal that will store transactions until l I can get access to a phone line for processing. $45 for programming and secured delivery via UPS.

Now I'll be able to take all major CC cards for tickets, registrations, vending, gigs, everything! If this sounds good to anyone else, call Dick Nolan at (800) 680-6436. Friendly and helpful as all get out, tell him I sent you--he was very intrigued to get bellydance business

I hope this helps!

~~Kimahri

*to answer your question Ravena, you could get a "knuckle-buster" for use at events but you can't process them without a merchant account.

Kim,

do they charge you a fee if you do NOT make any sales during the month??

I use Paynet as well. I'm pretty satisfied b/c their fees are relatively low. I haven't had any issues with the service either. However, they do charge a fee if you don't make a transaction during any given month.

I think all the companies charge a fee if you have no transactions in a month. The old fashioned method works fine for me, because vending isn't my primary income. If it was, I would get POS machine. I haven't had any problems with bad cards at all.

The only problem that I have is that customers think that they don't have to pay sales tax, and get irritated when I give them the total including tax.

I'm not sure if it's an issue in the States or not, but I remember when I looked into credit card processing here in Australia, many of the manual swipe options imposed a low $$ limit on transactions that required an authorisation call. That is, if the sale was over $x, I had to call and get instant authorisation. For some merchant companies, the amount was less than my average transaction and so not workable. I also had the problem that my merchant provider suddenly told me I wasn't able to process over-the-phone payments for the first 6 months....after I'd signed up with them and organised to take enrolments over the phone! Grrr.

Perhaps there's no restrictions like this in the States, but it's worth asking!

After much research - I am going to use Propay and monitor my business credit card use. If I find that I am using CC a lot and have a lot of shows lined up, I will upgrade to an electronic method. Thank you all so very much for your suggestions. Hugs to you all...