Peggy Thompson on sun 10 aug 08
John,
Your information makes it seem possible but what other fees and charges ae
involved? Also, I seem to remember some craftspersons saying if a customer
has a problem and disptes a charge that your bank account is frozen, which
can cause havoc. Is this true,anyone? This so far as you have described is a
lot less expensive than the older system with a card impressing machine we
used to use.
Meg in SC
On Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 11:10 AM, John Rodgers wrote:
> Following my precious post on Credit Card machines and processing, here
> is more on the Laptop Computers as credit card terminals
>
>
> Three things are needed - card scanner, laptop(with appropriate
> software) and a cell phone. The card scanner plugs into the LAPTOP
> using a USB cable and port. On the other side, the cell phone - by way
> of USB cable - plugs into the LAPTOP USB port. Now the cell phone serves
> as a modem. With this arrangement, any laptop will do, and virtually any
> cell phone will do - if it has a usb port on it.With this arrangement
> you DO NOT have to have the cell phone company as your internet server.
> You can dial anywhere to any server for service.
>
> Lets presume I already have an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a
> dial up connection. All I need do is, with the laptop, dial the ISP
> server number - the cell phone will carry out the task with no
> problems.You can then log to the merchant service account of your
> choice, and deliver your scanned CC data, and get an instant approval on
> the card.
>
> If you own a laptop and a cell phone you have it made.
>
> I use Propay as my merchant service provider. Currently they are selling
> scanners on an introductory offer for $99.00 and they are waiving the
> monthly charge ($4.95 or so,) until Jan 1st
>
> Check it out.
>
> www.propay.com
>
> Works.
>
> John Rodgers
> Chelsea, AL
>
John Rodgers on sun 10 aug 08
Following my precious post on Credit Card machines and processing, here
is more on the Laptop Computers as credit card terminals
Three things are needed - card scanner, laptop(with appropriate
software) and a cell phone. The card scanner plugs into the LAPTOP
using a USB cable and port. On the other side, the cell phone - by way
of USB cable - plugs into the LAPTOP USB port. Now the cell phone serves
as a modem. With this arrangement, any laptop will do, and virtually any
cell phone will do - if it has a usb port on it.With this arrangement
you DO NOT have to have the cell phone company as your internet server.
You can dial anywhere to any server for service.
Lets presume I already have an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a
dial up connection. All I need do is, with the laptop, dial the ISP
server number - the cell phone will carry out the task with no
problems.You can then log to the merchant service account of your
choice, and deliver your scanned CC data, and get an instant approval on
the card.
If you own a laptop and a cell phone you have it made.
I use Propay as my merchant service provider. Currently they are selling
scanners on an introductory offer for $99.00 and they are waiving the
monthly charge ($4.95 or so,) until Jan 1st
Check it out.
www.propay.com
Works.
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
John Rodgers on mon 11 aug 08
here is my experience.
When dealing credit cards, you must have the following.
*Merchant Services Account* - this is an account set up with a merchant
services company who will handle all the collection of funds from each
credit card sale. The collected money goes into our merchant account
first and then is transferred to your personal or business checking account.
*Special Checking Account *- for protection, a special checking account
needs to be established at your bank to handle receipt of funds from
your merchant services company. When money is received, transfer it to
your regular checking account. If there is a dispute, most likely it
will be with a customer over a sale - and even that because the customer
forgot what they bought. It happens a lot with me. In your merchant
services account contract, the merchant service company is allowed to
collect from your any disputed amounts by a customer. However, unlike
Paypal and EBay - they cannot screw you over. They can take the disputed
amount, but nothing more, and they cannot block or lock up your account.
Stiff bank laws apply here.
I have used Propay.Com for three years now and there has never been a
problem of any kind. For a web based service they have served me well.
using them allowed me to get into the Credit Card Sales very
inexpensively. Now that they have added a small "Point of Sale" card
scanner it is going to be even more simple.
In order to get to Propay, you must be able to connect to the internet,
since Propay is a Web Based service. If for the purposes of your
business, you are willing to establish an account with a "Dial-up"
internet service provider, you can use your laptop, out in the field.
Just connect to your cell phone, and dial in your ISP to get on the
interent. Once connected you should be able to log onto Propay.
Propay has special software for their new scanner, which allows you to
connect the scanner to the laptop, dial through your cell phone to your
dial-up ISP, and connect to Propay on the internet.. So what you need to
do all this is the following:
*Propay Merchant Account
Internet Service Provider - Dial Up
Cell Phone
Laptop Computer - w/Propay software (free, by the way)
Credit Card Scanner (works only with Propay account)*
With this set up, you can get rapid approval on any credit card sale on
approved card types - Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, AMEX
If you already have a laptop yo have it pretty much made, as that is the
single biggest expense.
Now - I don't have the system in place myself yet, but I went to AT&T,
Verizon, and T-Mobile and checked it out. It does work this way. What
happens is that your cell phone becomes a wireless modem to connect to
the Internet. Pretty slick actually.
And finally - and once again - if you choose to use the scanner only at
a show, it is easy enough to simply go home at night, to your PC, or to
your room at the hotel and log onto Propay to upload the captured sales
data for the day.It is hard to beat.
BTW - my credit card sales are two thirds of my total sales at any give
show. If you don't have a merchant account for credit cards, you would
be wise to get one and start taking cards.
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Peggy Thompson wrote:
> John,
>
> Your information makes it seem possible but what other fees and charges ae
> involved? Also, I seem to remember some craftspersons saying if a customer
> has a problem and disptes a charge that your bank account is frozen, which
> can cause havoc. Is this true,anyone? This so far as you have described is a
> lot less expensive than the older system with a card impressing machine we
> used to use.
> Meg in SC
>
> On Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 11:10 AM, John Rodgers wrote:
>
>
>> Following my precious post on Credit Card machines and processing, here
>> is more on the Laptop Computers as credit card terminals
>>
>>
>> Three things are needed - card scanner, laptop(with appropriate
>> software) and a cell phone. The card scanner plugs into the LAPTOP
>> using a USB cable and port. On the other side, the cell phone - by way
>> of USB cable - plugs into the LAPTOP USB port. Now the cell phone serves
>> as a modem. With this arrangement, any laptop will do, and virtually any
>> cell phone will do - if it has a usb port on it.With this arrangement
>> you DO NOT have to have the cell phone company as your internet server.
>> You can dial anywhere to any server for service.
>>
>> Lets presume I already have an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a
>> dial up connection. All I need do is, with the laptop, dial the ISP
>> server number - the cell phone will carry out the task with no
>> problems.You can then log to the merchant service account of your
>> choice, and deliver your scanned CC data, and get an instant approval on
>> the card.
>>
>> If you own a laptop and a cell phone you have it made.
>>
>> I use Propay as my merchant service provider. Currently they are selling
>> scanners on an introductory offer for $99.00 and they are waiving the
>> monthly charge ($4.95 or so,) until Jan 1st
>>
>> Check it out.
>>
>> www.propay.com
>>
>> Works.
>>
>> John Rodgers
>> Chelsea, AL
>>
>>
>
>
>
May Luk on mon 11 aug 08
Hello John;
I was alerted to this scanning device by a friend recently. Because I use a=
Mac, this option is off for me. Also we have a discussion about it not bei=
ng able to have print out records. What if the scanner fail and I don't hav=
e a hard copy to verify? This is a question best asked at Propay, I reckon.
Although it is not instantaneous, I thought of getting a Blackberry type ph=
one to get to the internet and then punch in my sales. From what I know, it=
's only $30 a month for the cell phone service and internet with AT&T. I th=
ought that could be an easy option and I can also check my email on the roa=
d (if I get to that stage.)
Thank you for sharing
May
Kings County, NY
--- On Mon, 11/8/08, John Rodgers wrote:
> From: John Rodgers
> Subject: Re: Laptop Computers as Credit Card Terminals
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Date: Monday, 11 August, 2008, 11:23 AM
> here is my experience.
>=20
> When dealing credit cards, you must have the following.
>=20
> *Merchant Services Account* - this is an account set up
> with a merchant
> services company who will handle all the collection of
> funds from each
> credit card sale. The collected money goes into our
> merchant account
> first and then is transferred to your personal or business
> checking account.
>=20
> *Special Checking Account *- for protection, a special
> checking account
> needs to be established at your bank to handle receipt of
> funds from
> your merchant services company. When money is received,
> transfer it to
> your regular checking account. If there is a dispute, most
> likely it
> will be with a customer over a sale - and even that because
> the customer
> forgot what they bought. It happens a lot with me. In your
> merchant
> services account contract, the merchant service company is
> allowed to
> collect from your any disputed amounts by a customer.
> However, unlike
> Paypal and EBay - they cannot screw you over. They can take
> the disputed
> amount, but nothing more, and they cannot block or lock up
> your account.
> Stiff bank laws apply here.
>=20
> I have used Propay.Com for three years now and there has
> never been a
> problem of any kind. For a web based service they have
> served me well.
> using them allowed me to get into the Credit Card Sales
> very
> inexpensively. Now that they have added a small "Point
> of Sale" card
> scanner it is going to be even more simple.
>=20
> In order to get to Propay, you must be able to connect to
> the internet,
> since Propay is a Web Based service. If for the purposes of
> your
> business, you are willing to establish an account with a
> "Dial-up"
> internet service provider, you can use your laptop, out in
> the field.
> Just connect to your cell phone, and dial in your ISP to
> get on the
> interent. Once connected you should be able to log onto
> Propay.
>=20
> Propay has special software for their new scanner, which
> allows you to
> connect the scanner to the laptop, dial through your cell
> phone to your
> dial-up ISP, and connect to Propay on the internet.. So
> what you need to
> do all this is the following:
>=20
> *Propay Merchant Account
> Internet Service Provider - Dial Up
> Cell Phone
> Laptop Computer - w/Propay software (free, by the way)
> Credit Card Scanner (works only with Propay account)*
>=20
> With this set up, you can get rapid approval on any credit
> card sale on
> approved card types - Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, AMEX
>=20
> If you already have a laptop yo have it pretty much made,
> as that is the
> single biggest expense.
>=20
> Now - I don't have the system in place myself yet, but
> I went to AT&T,
> Verizon, and T-Mobile and checked it out. It does work this
> way. What
> happens is that your cell phone becomes a wireless modem to
> connect to
> the Internet. Pretty slick actually.
>=20
> And finally - and once again - if you choose to use the
> scanner only at
> a show, it is easy enough to simply go home at night, to
> your PC, or to
> your room at the hotel and log onto Propay to upload the
> captured sales
> data for the day.It is hard to beat.
>=20
> BTW - my credit card sales are two thirds of my total sales
> at any give
> show. If you don't have a merchant account for credit
> cards, you would
> be wise to get one and start taking cards.
>=20
> John Rodgers
> Chelsea, AL
>=20
>=20
=0A=0ASend instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yaho=
o.com
John Rodgers on mon 11 aug 08
May,
What I described is a system that allows you to use your existing cell
phone. If you have a dial up connection for your computer at home - to
an internet service provider - then it is simply a matter of dialing
through your computer by way of your cell phone to connect to the internet.
However, most cell phone services also have internet service, so you may
prefer to use them instead of a separate service. For example - I have
AT&T cellular phone service. AT&T also offers Internet service. By
having AT&T Internet Service, all I need do is dial the number and
connect wirelessly to the internet, then log onto the Propay website.
THIS IS NOT WIFI! This is cellular phone service.
The two are very different. For each cell phone CC approval there will
be a cellular minutes charge, just like any call.
So far as the scanning device is concerned - any scanning device can
break down. They are after all, electronic devices and subject to
failure. This is why you still do a written receipt for your customer,
including the name, the address, card type, and last four digits of the
credit card number as well as their signature at the bottom of the page.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
May Luk wrote:
> Hello John;
>
> I was alerted to this scanning device by a friend recently. Because I use a Mac, this option is off for me. Also we have a discussion about it not being able to have print out records. What if the scanner fail and I don't have a hard copy to verify? This is a question best asked at Propay, I reckon.
>
> Although it is not instantaneous, I thought of getting a Blackberry type phone to get to the internet and then punch in my sales. From what I know, it's only $30 a month for the cell phone service and internet with AT&T. I thought that could be an easy option and I can also check my email on the road (if I get to that stage.)
>
> Thank you for sharing
>
> May
> Kings County, NY
>
> --- On Mon, 11/8/08, John Rodgers wrote:
>
>
>> From: John Rodgers
>> Subject: Re: Laptop Computers as Credit Card Terminals
>> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>> Date: Monday, 11 August, 2008, 11:23 AM
>> here is my experience.
>>
>> When dealing credit cards, you must have the following.
>>
>> *Merchant Services Account* - this is an account set up
>> with a merchant
>> services company who will handle all the collection of
>> funds from each
>> credit card sale. The collected money goes into our
>> merchant account
>> first and then is transferred to your personal or business
>> checking account.
>>
>> *Special Checking Account *- for protection, a special
>> checking account
>> needs to be established at your bank to handle receipt of
>> funds from
>> your merchant services company. When money is received,
>> transfer it to
>> your regular checking account. If there is a dispute, most
>> likely it
>> will be with a customer over a sale - and even that because
>> the customer
>> forgot what they bought. It happens a lot with me. In your
>> merchant
>> services account contract, the merchant service company is
>> allowed to
>> collect from your any disputed amounts by a customer.
>> However, unlike
>> Paypal and EBay - they cannot screw you over. They can take
>> the disputed
>> amount, but nothing more, and they cannot block or lock up
>> your account.
>> Stiff bank laws apply here.
>>
>> I have used Propay.Com for three years now and there has
>> never been a
>> problem of any kind. For a web based service they have
>> served me well.
>> using them allowed me to get into the Credit Card Sales
>> very
>> inexpensively. Now that they have added a small "Point
>> of Sale" card
>> scanner it is going to be even more simple.
>>
>> In order to get to Propay, you must be able to connect to
>> the internet,
>> since Propay is a Web Based service. If for the purposes of
>> your
>> business, you are willing to establish an account with a
>> "Dial-up"
>> internet service provider, you can use your laptop, out in
>> the field.
>> Just connect to your cell phone, and dial in your ISP to
>> get on the
>> interent. Once connected you should be able to log onto
>> Propay.
>>
>> Propay has special software for their new scanner, which
>> allows you to
>> connect the scanner to the laptop, dial through your cell
>> phone to your
>> dial-up ISP, and connect to Propay on the internet.. So
>> what you need to
>> do all this is the following:
>>
>> *Propay Merchant Account
>> Internet Service Provider - Dial Up
>> Cell Phone
>> Laptop Computer - w/Propay software (free, by the way)
>> Credit Card Scanner (works only with Propay account)*
>>
>> With this set up, you can get rapid approval on any credit
>> card sale on
>> approved card types - Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, AMEX
>>
>> If you already have a laptop yo have it pretty much made,
>> as that is the
>> single biggest expense.
>>
>> Now - I don't have the system in place myself yet, but
>> I went to AT&T,
>> Verizon, and T-Mobile and checked it out. It does work this
>> way. What
>> happens is that your cell phone becomes a wireless modem to
>> connect to
>> the Internet. Pretty slick actually.
>>
>> And finally - and once again - if you choose to use the
>> scanner only at
>> a show, it is easy enough to simply go home at night, to
>> your PC, or to
>> your room at the hotel and log onto Propay to upload the
>> captured sales
>> data for the day.It is hard to beat.
>>
>> BTW - my credit card sales are two thirds of my total sales
>> at any give
>> show. If you don't have a merchant account for credit
>> cards, you would
>> be wise to get one and start taking cards.
>>
>> John Rodgers
>> Chelsea, AL
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
>
>
>
Dale Neese on mon 11 aug 08
As there is so much other stuff that I have to carry besides pots to a
crafts fair sale that I have a hard time thinking that I have to constantly
be watching a laptop, cell phone and scanner in my booth. Taking credit
cards at shows is just a new facet of doing business. I have adapted as much
as having a knuckle buster for now and pay a few cents more to process my CC
sales. If I did a sale every weekend it might be different and make the use
of an electronic device more of a convenience but not a necessity.
Dale Tex
"across the alley from the Alamo"
Helotes, Texas USA
www.daleneese.com
John Rodgers on wed 13 aug 08
For the longest time I didn't even use a knuckle buster. I hand wrote by
hand everything down in my sales receipt book. When I got home, I turned
on my computer and logged in to my merchant account on line, and typed
all that info all over again. Slow, tedious, but effective. it got'ter done!
Nest I moved up - so I thought - to the knuckle buster slide thingy. I
hated it! I still had to write down everything on the sales slip, and
could only capture with the knuckle buster the card number and and name.
And that didn't give andy customer info for my mailing list, and I had
the added burden of keeping up with loose receipt copied. I abandoned
the knuckle buster and went back to my sales book.
By this weekend, I will have a new electronic capture system. Then I
will be able to get some relief.
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Dale Neese wrote:
> As there is so much other stuff that I have to carry besides pots to a
> crafts fair sale that I have a hard time thinking that I have to
> constantly
> be watching a laptop, cell phone and scanner in my booth. Taking credit
> cards at shows is just a new facet of doing business. I have adapted
> as much
> as having a knuckle buster for now and pay a few cents more to process
> my CC
> sales. If I did a sale every weekend it might be different and make
> the use
> of an electronic device more of a convenience but not a necessity.
>
> Dale Tex
> "across the alley from the Alamo"
> Helotes, Texas USA
> www.daleneese.com
>
>
Eleanora Eden on mon 25 aug 08
Hi John and all,
We actually had a real hard time finding a phone that would work as a modem
without risking exorbitant extra charges. Up in Vermont there was no choice at
all. Can't remember if I sent a post about this or not.
IMHO, before making a commitment to this technology, find out as much as you
can about the actual cost of using this or that cell phone in a particular area. You
need to have modem use of your cell phone with unlimited volume. If you are
paying by "byte" (or whatever) you are into huge bucks very fast. Each company
has all sorts of packages and they can be expensive. The Unicel internet capacity
cost us something like $30 extra per month. You could turn it on and off. Every time
we wanted to turn it back on it was a big gamble if they would let us do that.
Just 3c worth of info, but could save somebody the big bucks.
Eleanora
>here is my experience.
>
>When dealing credit cards, you must have the following.
>
>*Merchant Services Account* - this is an account set up with a merchant
>services company who will handle all the collection of funds from each
>credit card sale. The collected money goes into our merchant account
>first and then is transferred to your personal or business checking account.
>
>*Special Checking Account *- for protection, a special checking account
>needs to be established at your bank to handle receipt of funds from
>your merchant services company. When money is received, transfer it to
>your regular checking account. If there is a dispute, most likely it
>will be with a customer over a sale - and even that because the customer
>forgot what they bought. It happens a lot with me. In your merchant
>services account contract, the merchant service company is allowed to
>collect from your any disputed amounts by a customer. However, unlike
>Paypal and EBay - they cannot screw you over. They can take the disputed
>amount, but nothing more, and they cannot block or lock up your account.
>Stiff bank laws apply here.
>
>I have used Propay.Com for three years now and there has never been a
>problem of any kind. For a web based service they have served me well.
>using them allowed me to get into the Credit Card Sales very
>inexpensively. Now that they have added a small "Point of Sale" card
>scanner it is going to be even more simple.
>
>In order to get to Propay, you must be able to connect to the internet,
>since Propay is a Web Based service. If for the purposes of your
>business, you are willing to establish an account with a "Dial-up"
>internet service provider, you can use your laptop, out in the field.
>Just connect to your cell phone, and dial in your ISP to get on the
>interent. Once connected you should be able to log onto Propay.
>
>Propay has special software for their new scanner, which allows you to
>connect the scanner to the laptop, dial through your cell phone to your
>dial-up ISP, and connect to Propay on the internet.. So what you need to
>do all this is the following:
>
>*Propay Merchant Account
>Internet Service Provider - Dial Up
>Cell Phone
>Laptop Computer - w/Propay software (free, by the way)
>Credit Card Scanner (works only with Propay account)*
>
>With this set up, you can get rapid approval on any credit card sale on
>approved card types - Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, AMEX
>
>If you already have a laptop yo have it pretty much made, as that is the
>single biggest expense.
>
>Now - I don't have the system in place myself yet, but I went to AT&T,
>Verizon, and T-Mobile and checked it out. It does work this way. What
>happens is that your cell phone becomes a wireless modem to connect to
>the Internet. Pretty slick actually.
>
>And finally - and once again - if you choose to use the scanner only at
>a show, it is easy enough to simply go home at night, to your PC, or to
>your room at the hotel and log onto Propay to upload the captured sales
>data for the day.It is hard to beat.
>
>BTW - my credit card sales are two thirds of my total sales at any give
>show. If you don't have a merchant account for credit cards, you would
>be wise to get one and start taking cards.
>
>John Rodgers
>Chelsea, AL
>
>
>Peggy Thompson wrote:
>>John,
>>
>>Your information makes it seem possible but what other fees and charges ae
>>involved? Also, I seem to remember some craftspersons saying if a customer
>>has a problem and disptes a charge that your bank account is frozen, which
>>can cause havoc. Is this true,anyone? This so far as you have described is a
>>lot less expensive than the older system with a card impressing machine we
>>used to use.
>>Meg in SC
>>
>>On Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 11:10 AM, John Rodgers wrote:
>>
>>>Following my precious post on Credit Card machines and processing, here
>>>is more on the Laptop Computers as credit card terminals
>>>
>>>
>>>Three things are needed - card scanner, laptop(with appropriate
>>>software) and a cell phone. The card scanner plugs into the LAPTOP
>>>using a USB cable and port. On the other side, the cell phone - by way
>>>of USB cable - plugs into the LAPTOP USB port. Now the cell phone serves
>>>as a modem. With this arrangement, any laptop will do, and virtually any
>>>cell phone will do - if it has a usb port on it.With this arrangement
>>>you DO NOT have to have the cell phone company as your internet server.
>>>You can dial anywhere to any server for service.
>>>
>>>Lets presume I already have an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a
>>>dial up connection. All I need do is, with the laptop, dial the ISP
>>>server number - the cell phone will carry out the task with no
>>>problems.You can then log to the merchant service account of your
>>>choice, and deliver your scanned CC data, and get an instant approval on
>>>the card.
>>>
>>>If you own a laptop and a cell phone you have it made.
>>>
>>>I use Propay as my merchant service provider. Currently they are selling
>>>scanners on an introductory offer for $99.00 and they are waiving the
>>>monthly charge ($4.95 or so,) until Jan 1st
>>>
>>>Check it out.
>>>
>>>www.propay.com
>>>
>>>Works.
>>>
>>>John Rodgers
>>>Chelsea, AL
--
Bellows Falls Vermont
www.eleanoraeden.com
| |
|
