Robin MacGrogan on wed 11 aug 99
Hi folks,
I'm interested to know how those of you doing shows/fairs handle credit
card sales with and without electricity, without a phone line. More
specifically, how do you, or do you get authorization?
Looking into cell phones, it's not possible for me to get a decent rate, or
a one rate deal, due to my location. The combination of merchant service
fees and phone rates for long distance and roaming make verifying with a
cell phone out of the question! Do you use manual imprinters and risk the
charge backs... or?
Many of you have solved this problem. I'll appreciate your suggestions and
information.
In the Ozarks where there is no AT&T or Sprint and it's very hot... very
dry... but still... absolutely GORGEOUS!
Robin
Kathi LeSueur on sat 14 aug 99
A rather radical approach to this question is....... don't take charges. I
took charges for years. With all of the promotions cards were doing people
were charging everything to get "points" on their card. Then one day I booth
sat for a friend. A woman came up with $300 worth of pots and pulled out her
card. "I'm sorry the artist doesn't take credit cards, but she does take
checks." This woman just reached in her purse and took out $300 in cash.
After about an hour booth sitting I realized that lots of people bring cash
for the artists who don't take charges, and charge with people who do. At the
next show I put out a small sign on my wrapping table, "Due to increased
processing fees we can no longer accept credit cards, but we will be happy to
accept your personal check." No one complained. And, the few people who
didn't have checks I gave a bill to and said to send it. That was seven
years ago. I no longer put out the sign, I just tell them when they take out
their credit card. I have yet to have anyone not send the check and have
never lost a sale. I do get lots of notes with the checks thanking me for
being so trusting. And I no longer pay those fees.
Kathi LeSueur
Ann Arbor, MI
Jean Cochran on sun 15 aug 99
Dear Kathi,
I have been doing exactly the same thing for about three years, no credit cards.
Folks who do not have the money or a check on them are astounded when I let them
take away pots and send the money later, never been stung, knock-on-wood. Can't
imagine how much money I've saved in fees.
Yours for fine crafts,
Jean Cochran
Fox Hollow Pottery, late at night, listening to the roar of the kiln in Kentucky
Kathi LeSueur wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> A rather radical approach to this question is....... don't take charges. I
> took charges for years. With all of the promotions cards were doing people
> were charging everything to get "points" on their card. Then one day I booth
> sat for a friend. A woman came up with $300 worth of pots and pulled out her
> card. "I'm sorry the artist doesn't take credit cards, but she does take
> checks." This woman just reached in her purse and took out $300 in cash.
> After about an hour booth sitting I realized that lots of people bring cash
> for the artists who don't take charges, and charge with people who do. At the
> next show I put out a small sign on my wrapping table, "Due to increased
> processing fees we can no longer accept credit cards, but we will be happy to
> accept your personal check." No one complained. And, the few people who
> didn't have checks I gave a bill to and said to send it. That was seven
> years ago. I no longer put out the sign, I just tell them when they take out
> their credit card. I have yet to have anyone not send the check and have
> never lost a sale. I do get lots of notes with the checks thanking me for
> being so trusting. And I no longer pay those fees.
>
> Kathi LeSueur
> Ann Arbor, MI
Carolynn Palmer on mon 16 aug 99
This is simply my personal experience for what it is worth:
Since 1971, for 28 years, I have sold pots on the streets, in parks and in
malls, etc to wonderful people. Most years I do about 35-40 retail shows.
I've taken Visa and Master Card with an old slide-type imprinter (no phone
near me) and deposited them into my bank sometimes weeks later.
The same with checks. I've always taken anyone's check for any amount,
anywhere, and have never even gotten a driver's license number! But, I
always ask for a telephone number.
In all these years, I've taken one bad check that failed to clear because the
account was closed and I was unable to locate the buyer. And I've had one
little old lady in Indianapolis stop the payment on her Visa charge because
she thought it was bogus because her charge statement showed that I was in
Michigan, and she knew she'd never been to Michigan to purchase anything. We
straightened it out over the phone and she sent me a check to replace the
Visa.
So, that's one in 28 years. Not bad I think.
There is something about people who are attracted to objects made out of
clay. Something good.
Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
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