Credit Card Machines...

[98rammer]

anyone have any opinions/experience? it would be better for me to do it mobily (since my business is so), though i'm looking at prices $500+ or so than a land line one. what costs and problems are involved with the machines? my use would be about once or twice a month if that.

 

[Bob Wagner]

for one or twice a month paypal may work better. There are so minimums to meet to process credit cards, its not as easy as you think.



I went through Costco which offers a great deal through http://merchantconnect.com



credit cards can be process on a pc with their software.

 

[MKoth]

Nextel has phones now that have a credit card reader built it, dunno what merchant service company they use, or what the rates are, but it might be somthing to look into. Maybe try talking to one of your local mobile tool salesmen, snap on, mac, matco, etc, as they have wireless credit card machines on their trucks.



Keep a close eye on rates and service charges, they will nail you for everything they can, some companys have it cheaper if you do online statments, and stuff like that, as they don't have to print off and mail your paper work to you.



I would contact your bank/credit union and see if they have a recomended service, as some banks have in house merchant services, and that always makes things a little easier. My credit card stuff is through Commercial Federal bank, same place my business checking is at.



If you have any more questions, hit me up through IM or PM or something, and I will try and answer more questions.

 

[nickleinonen]

if the transactions are so few, going with paypal is a good idea...



at the electronics store i worked at before, the CC companies charged 2% for visa and mc, and almost 5% for amex... if you aren't making a large profit, that can hurt your bottom line...

 

[98rammer]

now, if i go the paypal way or at least through the computer... how do i keep safe when doing the transaction (if they're not signing anything like you would with a normal transaction)? i don't want to put myself in the position to be taken adavantage of, especially when i'm dealing with jobs of many thousands of dollars.



Tom

 

[bmoeller]

To use a Paypal account and accept credit card payments you have to have a Merchant account. The personal one won't allowCC payments. The Merchant accounts do charge a fee to use (only when you accept a cc payment).



https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-receiving-fees-outside