Credit Cards

[DDM]

How many of you accept them? Are they an asset to picking up more customers or just a hassle?

 

[BostonBull]

We accept them and it brings in more customers than before becuase not too many co's. around here take them.

 

[l2edneck]

I dont take them.When i was workin for a guy who did it had to be a good sized amount due to processing.The good point was he had the nextel with the swiper so in the hurricanes he could still get paid.I would say it wouldn't hurt.Im just to small to deal with it.Just cut me a check.

 

[John464]

Haven't in the past but we will start to accept them in 07' once we set it up. For those of you that accept them is there any suggestions of do's and dont's ?

 

[l2edneck]

always get a written receipt signed by the customer.That way they cant back out a few days later.Had that happen,guy called his cc company when he got his bill.Company reversed the charges and re-took the money out of the bank.Needless to say he got a few new lawn ornaments.

 

[treeseer]

When I had a larger company I avoided creidt cards because of the hassle.

Now i avoid them for the same reason, plus I do not want to enrich banks any more than I have to.

 

[12guns]

What do most card companies charge for the equipment/processing? I think it's like 2 percent, not sure. I don't have a tree business, but would think it may be worth while as most tree jobs are $100 and up. Around here in AR, some gas stations don't accept cards if the purchase is less than $1. But in tree business, seems like it may open doors to better serve customers. Some people use them cause that's all they have, others may be getting frequent flyer miles, others building good credit, etc. JMO

 

[ASD]

we take um you will find that people in a jam / emergency will look in the yellow pages / web for a co. that takes cards if they have no $$ on hand

also some city / fed and state departments have to use a card if the job is under 5k!

 

[woodchux]

I get about two customers a year ask if we take cards. I checked into it and the % that the processing company charged was reasonable, but there was like a $30 per month min. Not worth it for my biz.

 

[ATH]

I have considered setting up a PayPal account for the purpose of taking cc. The fees are only 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction on sales less than $3000. 1.9% on sales over $100,000 (oh...plus that $0.30).

Less headache than actaully dealing with cc, but on the downside, less of the convienience for customers.

I don't know, but I would think that most people who are cc dependent are also on-line. Anybody tried this, or have thoughts on that?

 

[woodchux]

Paypal would work but be very inconvenient.
I just got some free accounting software from Microsoft, and it is supposed to enable you to process credit cards right from the software. I haven't had time to check it out good yet.

http://www.ideawins.com/faq.html#q15

 

[ATH]

But you still need the bank who will collect the $$$ from the customer and give it to you. I don't think Microsoft has gotten that far yet in their world domination plan, have they?

 

[begleytree]

If you only take a few a year, do what I do. make them meet you at the bank, and have the bank run their card and deposit into your account. CCs are kind of a hassel, so I don't feel bad hasseling the customer to drive 2 miles to the bank. heck, I'll even drive them.
just a small each time fee, and no recurring charges that way. doesn't stop the cc processing outfits from calling 100 times a day though.
-Ralph

 

[Ekka]

Definate asset these days. Most people live on credit!

If you are a low volume user get a Paypal account, get verified and you can process cc's via email too.

I got rid of the bank terminal, rent fees etc and process all credit cards via Paypal. There's ways around it if they dont have an email address. Fee is 2.5% which is what the bank was charging.

 

[woodchux]

But you still need the bank who will collect the $$$ from the customer and give it to you. I don't think Microsoft has gotten that far yet in their world domination plan, have they?

software faq says
Integrated Online Services
Accept credit card payments via Chase Payment Services

 

[bendtrees]

If you only take a few a year, do what I do. make them meet you at the bank, and have the bank run their card and deposit into your account. CCs are kind of a hassel, so I don't feel bad hasseling the customer to drive 2 miles to the bank. heck, I'll even drive them.
just a small each time fee, and no recurring charges that way. doesn't stop the cc processing outfits from calling 100 times a day though.
-Ralph

Lemme see if I understand you here... You go to your bank and the bank runs their card into your account?
Any restrictions on card types? Or customer complaints otherwise?
This sounds ideal for us. Thanks

 

[SRT-Tech]

Woodchux i love those avatars!! :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[DDM]

I have a paypal acct with a debit card but most of the people requesting do not use paypal.

 

[begleytree]

Lemme see if I understand you here... You go to your bank and the bank runs their card into your account?
Any restrictions on card types? Or customer complaints otherwise?
This sounds ideal for us. Thanks

I've not had any problems with it myself. The only cards I've taken were due to the customer wanting the 'miles' from the purchase. As far as I know, a bank can handle any credit card. You may check into it at your bank, fee and availability-wise. The bank swipes the card to pay themselves (the bank), the customer signs the reciept, and the bank deposits the funds to your account. The reciept shows the customer paid the bank, so any reversals would be a bit hard to come by, imo.
The customers were happy about it as they got their wish, and I got paid.
-Ralph

 

[JohN Dee]

I havn't really had the time to consider it. From what i've read it seems i'm missing out.. It does make sense that it'd boost sales so i'm going to look into it now..