Robert Briscoe on sat 24 may 08
I want to offer an exception in this credit card debate. I must first off
say I completely believe that up front sales are rarely lost if one does not
accept credit card sales. I also think it wonderful that we as a community
hold up trust as a still viable virtue in this culture.
I take credit cards and have for over 20 years. I avoided for a long time
but became a believer. It is one of the "coins of the realm" as they say.
People are used to it and are less likely these days to carry large amounts
of cash and in many parts of the US people assume we do not accept personal
checks.
We just finished our St Croix Valley Potters Tour, (which by the way was
very again successful, in a down economy) and the sales at my stop on this
Tour were 58% credit card sales. That is down from last year at 62%. Ten
years ago we only had 25% in credit card sales. That is mostly because in
Minnesota personal checks have been universally accepted for almost
everything. This has changed dramatically (writing checks). I have shopped
for the best rates (credit card discount rate) and for the lowest monthly
fees. I have it down about as low as I think I can get it. My observation
over the years is that my sales would be greatly affected by refusal to
accept, even with the "check" option which I always encourage customers to
use (or cash) and do offer to accept checks for later payment.
Here is my reason for taking Cards. We do not know what decision making is
happening in the person's mind at the point of setting pots down in front of
you to buy. They say do you take credit cards and you say no and they
happily write the check. What we don't know is that they were also planning
on getting the two large platters for $800. So they decide ah maybe later
or next year. Maybe they are flying and that is all they can fit in their
luggage and they were about to ask if you can ship, but your no CC policy
shrank the other possibility. I have had many of these scenarios happen in
my credit card taking experience. When they ask and I say yes often the
next words oh that's great I'll also get those two platters. Can you ship?
I try to (when I am wearing the business guy hat) to view my business life
on the income side of the equation rather than spending too much time at the
expense side, and I am not disregarding the importance of that side.
Thanks, Bob Briscoe
www.minnesotapotters.com
Tony Ferguson on sat 24 may 08
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It is good to hear from someone who inspired me to make pottery and a voice of long and serious experience. Thanks for sharing Bob.
Tony Ferguson
Robert Briscoe wrote: I want to offer an exception in this credit card debate. I must first off
say I completely believe that up front sales are rarely lost if one does not
accept credit card sales. I also think it wonderful that we as a community
hold up trust as a still viable virtue in this culture.
I take credit cards and have for over 20 years. I avoided for a long time
but became a believer. It is one of the "coins of the realm" as they say.
People are used to it and are less likely these days to carry large amounts
of cash and in many parts of the US people assume we do not accept personal
checks.
We just finished our St Croix Valley Potters Tour, (which by the way was
very again successful, in a down economy) and the sales at my stop on this
Tour were 58% credit card sales. That is down from last year at 62%. Ten
years ago we only had 25% in credit card sales. That is mostly because in
Minnesota personal checks have been universally accepted for almost
everything. This has changed dramatically (writing checks). I have shopped
for the best rates (credit card discount rate) and for the lowest monthly
fees. I have it down about as low as I think I can get it. My observation
over the years is that my sales would be greatly affected by refusal to
accept, even with the "check" option which I always encourage customers to
use (or cash) and do offer to accept checks for later payment.
Here is my reason for taking Cards. We do not know what decision making is
happening in the person's mind at the point of setting pots down in front of
you to buy. They say do you take credit cards and you say no and they
happily write the check. What we don't know is that they were also planning
on getting the two large platters for $800. So they decide ah maybe later
or next year. Maybe they are flying and that is all they can fit in their
luggage and they were about to ask if you can ship, but your no CC policy
shrank the other possibility. I have had many of these scenarios happen in
my credit card taking experience. When they ask and I say yes often the
next words oh that's great I'll also get those two platters. Can you ship?
I try to (when I am wearing the business guy hat) to view my business life
on the income side of the equation rather than spending too much time at the
expense side, and I am not disregarding the importance of that side.
Thanks, Bob Briscoe
www.minnesotapotters.com
Tony Ferguson
315 N. Lake Ave. Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
...where the sky meets the lake...
Artist, Educator, Photographer, Film Maker, Web Meister
fergyart@yahoo.com
(218) 727-6339
http://www.tonyferguson.net
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It is good to hear from someone who inspired me to make pottery and a voice of long and serious experience. Thanks for sharing Bob.
Tony Ferguson
Robert Briscoe <rbstonwr@ECENET.COM> wrote: I want to offer an exception in this credit card debate. I must first off
say I completely believe that up front sales are rarely lost if one does not
accept credit card sales. I also think it wonderful that we as a community
hold up trust as a still viable virtue in this culture.
I take credit cards and have for over 20 years. I avoided for a long time
but became a believer. It is one of the "coins of the realm" as they say.
People are used to it and are less likely these days to carry large amounts
of cash and in many parts of the US people assume we do not accept personal
checks.
We just finished
our St Croix Valley Potters Tour, (which by the way was
very again successful, in a down economy) and the sales at my stop on this
Tour were 58% credit card sales. That is down from last year at 62%. Ten
years ago we only had 25% in credit card sales. That is mostly because in
Minnesota personal checks have been universally accepted for almost
everything. This has changed dramatically (writing checks). I have shopped
for the best rates (credit card discount rate) and for the lowest monthly
fees. I have it down about as low as I think I can get it. My observation
over the years is that my sales would be greatly affected by refusal to
accept, even with the "check" option which I always encourage customers to
use (or cash) and do offer to accept checks for later payment.
Here is my reason for taking Cards. We do not know what decision making is
happening in the person's mind at the point of setting pots down in front of
you to
buy. They say do you take credit cards and you say no and they
happily write the check. What we don't know is that they were also planning
on getting the two large platters for $800. So they decide ah maybe later
or next year. Maybe they are flying and that is all they can fit in their
luggage and they were about to ask if you can ship, but your no CC policy
shrank the other possibility. I have had many of these scenarios happen in
my credit card taking experience. When they ask and I say yes often the
next words oh that's great I'll also get those two platters. Can you ship?
I try to (when I am wearing the business guy hat) to view my business life
on the income side of the equation rather than spending too much time at the
expense side, and I am not disregarding the importance of that side.
Thanks, Bob Briscoe
www.minnesotapotters.com
Tony Ferguson 315 N. Lake Ave.
Apt 312 Duluth, MN 55806 ...where the sky meets the lake... Artist, Educator, Photographer, Film Maker, Web Meister fergyart@yahoo.com(218) 727-6339
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