Rising Sun Earthworks on mon 31 may 04
http://www.propay.com/index.html=0D
=0D
Does anyone use this service? I lost a couple of sales at the last show =
due
to my inability to accept credit cards. I only started doing shows last
fall, and plan to do one small show a month, so I really need to keep it
affordable. This one says it charges $35 yearly, plus 3.5% plus $.35 per
transaction. It looks like I can just run to Staples, pick up an imprint
machine and some forms, send in my 35 bucks and register, and I'm good to=
go
=0D
=0D
When you all are at a show, do you use a manual imprint machine to get in=
fo,
go home and send in the info online afterwards? I understand there would=
be
some risk due to declined or stolen or even cards that have not been
activated. Or does everyone use the type of equipment that you send in t=
he
information right there on the spot to get an approval or denial? I just
don't ever see me going that route, financially. My number of sales woul=
d
not really support it! =0D
=0D
How did you all get started with credit cards?=0D
=0D
-June=0D
=20
Ingeborg Foco on tue 1 jun 04
Hi June,
I am not familiar with Propay but I do have a credit card company I use.
Prior to choosing
a company, I did a lot of research in trying to decide who and what offered
the best rates for me. I picked a company and after six months they were
bought out by someone else and of course all of the rates changed. (not
until my one year contract ended though)
When I signed up there was no annual fee. Now there is. I was originally
charged 25 cents per transaction and now it is 28 cents. There is a monthly
fee of $10 and it costs 20 cents to put my funds into my account.
I am charged 1.68 % when I swipe the card and if I don't have the card,
they soak me for 2.5% which in my opinion is a lot since I don't speak to a
real person ...just key in the numbers on my machine. I don't have a
minimum monthly which a lot of companies have. I find your quoted rates
rather high. American Express charges something like 3.5 %. Because of
their high fees, I don't accept their cards.
You need to really look at the charges involved, both up front and hidden
before you can make a decision. It may or may not pay for you to accept
credit cards.
I don't know about shows but in my retail situation I know if I didn't
take cards, a lot of the people would write checks or pay in cash. The
minute they know you do accept credit cards, they use them. Everyone seems
to have a card where they get frequent flyer miles or some other promotion.
Consequently, they want to use the card if they can.
It's a hard decision. If you don't accept cards, you're apt to lose a sale
and if you do accept them, you will pay for it, often times dearly. If I
accept a corporate or international card, I really get hit. Unfortunately,
there is no way for me to distinguish these cards from an ordinary card.
Look into it carefully and then make the decision that fits your situation.
Check around though, there are better rates out there.
Good luck.
Ingeborg
Potter's Workshop & Gallery
P.O. Box 510
3058 Stringfellow Road
St. James City, Florida 33956
239-283-2775
Does anyone use this service? I lost a couple of sales at the last show due
to my inability to accept credit cards.
How did you all get started with credit cards?
Simona Drentea on wed 2 jun 04
<take cards, a lot of the people would write checks or pay in cash. >>
Are you sure? I don't carry cash & I never carry my check book. If someone
doesn't take credit cards, I don't buy it. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I
haven't carried cash or checks for MANY years. I carry a very small amount of
cash for incidentals, but that's it. I frequent art shows, but never carry
cash even there. I figure if a seller doesn't take credit cards, they're not
really serious about selling.
What's worse though than a place or vendor not accepting credit cards is a
store that accepts them but asks you not to use them b/c "it's such a small
amount". The good part is if I my purse ever gets snatched, they'll be lucky to
get $20 :-)
Best,
Simona in Colorado
Lois Ruben Aronow on wed 2 jun 04
I'm with you on this one, simona, as both a consumer and a "vendor". I've
done big shows and small shows and shows right out of my studio. I take
credit cards at all, and even at my studio, people will still prefer to use
a card. I did one show where NOT ONE PERSON paid in cash. I have also
learned to bring my terminal to bigger shows (and pay for the phone line)
because I save a ton in swipe fees vs. key-in.
I'm still surprised by the number of people who use checks.
...Lo
Who has $2.57 in her pocket - enough to buy a juice and bagel for her kid
after school
* * * * * * *
Lois Ruben Aronow
Modern Porcelain & Tableware-Updated for Spring 2004!
www.loisaronow.com
Jeanette Harris on wed 2 jun 04
>
>What's worse though than a place or vendor not accepting credit cards is a
>store that accepts them but asks you not to use them b/c "it's such a small
>amount". The good part is if I my purse ever gets snatched, they'll
>be lucky to
>get $20 :-)
>
>Best,
>Simona in Colorado
Ah, but think of the credit cards they would get.
Jeanette Harris
in Poulsbo
(who always carries her cards away from her purse when traveling.)
--
Simona Drentea on wed 2 jun 04
In a message dated 06/02/2004 10:29:57 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
monkeymind@COMCAST.NET writes:
<>
Yes but you have typically only have $50 liability on those & most co's waive
that. We actually had our credit card # stolen by a cab driver last year.
The co. called me b/c they noted suspicious activity, we had new credit cards a
few days later & our liability was zip. The only downside is to all cc
users, b/c they don't bother going after the criminals unless the dollar amount is
very, very large :-(
Simona in Colorado - near the AFA heading to the front porch to see the
Thunderbirds fly any minute now for graduation.
Laurie Kneppel on sat 5 jun 04
> ATM's are available, in the world of impulse
> buying, which art often is, and where in the problem with instant
> gratification is it takes too long...your suggestion to direct people
> to
> ATM's will lose more sales than it will gain. I've tried it. :-(
> To
> walk 60-feet away is too far for some folks!
>
Dave is right. No matter how enthusiastic they are while in your booth,
once they leave, if they haven't bought it, most of the time they don't
come back.
Of course it's always nice when sometimes they DO come back! But that
is a rare thing.
Laurie
Sacramento, CA
Frank Bales on sat 5 jun 04
With the availability of ATM's literally everywhere, all you may need to do
is scout where the ATM's are, and tell people. If I wanted a particular
work, I'd certainly go to an ATM for the cash. On the other hand the
convenience of plastic can't be disputed. If that's what people want, then
they can pay for the privilege. Add the cost of processing credit cards to
your work, and maybe offer a cash discount.
FrankB
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of Simona
Drentea
S
<take cards, a lot of the people would write checks or pay in cash. >>
Are you sure? I don't carry cash & I never carry my check book. If someone
doesn't take credit cards, I don't buy it. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I
haven't carried cash or checks for MANY years. I carry a very small amount
of
cash for incidentals, but that's it. I frequent art shows, but never carry
cash even there. I figure if a seller doesn't take credit cards, they're
not
really serious about selling.
Dave Finkelnburg on sat 5 jun 04
Dear Frank,
While you are correct, ATM's are available, in the world of impulse
buying, which art often is, and where in the problem with instant
gratification is it takes too long...your suggestion to direct people to
ATM's will lose more sales than it will gain. I've tried it. :-( To
walk 60-feet away is too far for some folks!
As sellers we need to make things as convenient as possible if we are to
sell successfully.
Regards,
Dave Finkelnburg
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Bales"
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2004 6:16 AM
> With the availability of ATM's literally everywhere, all you may need to
do
> is scout where the ATM's are, and tell people. If I wanted a particular
> work, I'd certainly go to an ATM for the cash. On the other hand the
> convenience of plastic can't be disputed. If that's what people want,
then
> they can pay for the privilege. Add the cost of processing credit cards
to
> your work, and maybe offer a cash discount.
Lois Ruben Aronow on sat 5 jun 04
> With the availability of ATM's literally everywhere, all you
> may need to do is scout where the ATM's are, and tell people.
It may work in theory, but not in practice. In NY, you get hit with a huge
surcharge (up to $3) for using and ATM that is not at your particular bank.
The ones that charge the most are the ones at bodegas and gas stations.
Many of those ATMs have been sources for fraud and cc number collecting.
Additionally, my credit card sales are about 80% of my total sales, and
that's an awful lot of people to turn away.
I feel that asking the buyer to walk even a few blocks out of their way and
incur a charge, then come back and make a purchase, is asking way too much
of your buyers. All this so you can save what is probably less than a
dollar on a sale? They may do it the one time, but they are certainly not
going to buy from you again after being sent on this kind of a scavenger
hunt. And worse, it makes the seller look greedy. Likewise, I'd really be
nervous walking around with a lot of cash in my pocket.
I take credit cards for my customer's convenience, not for mine. It is a
legitimate business expense, just like buying clay, postcards and packaging
materials, that gets reported on my taxes. Perhaps it comes down to how you
do business. If you do a show or 2 a year, then maybe you can go without.
But accepting credit cards is also the preferred form of payment for many
wholesale buyers, and I'd rather have the money in the bank than wait 30, 60
or 90 days for a check. It also makes it extremely convenient for
bookkeeping purposes.
* * * * * * *
Lois Ruben Aronow
Modern Porcelain & Tableware-Updated for Spring 2004!
www.loisaronow.com
Jennifer Boyer on sat 5 jun 04
Giving a discount for cash sales is usually a big no-no with charge
card companies. You agree not to do that when you sign their contract.
Don't know how they'd catch you, but I just make sure my retail prices
cover the charge card fees over all. People really expect to be able to
use a card, so I just figure it's part of the cost of doing business.
Of course everyone has different variables of # of shows etc, and many
craftspeople may be able to skip offering charge cards.... I take
almost 7000.00 of charges a year. That would be ALOT of work if I was
trying to get those customers to use alternative pay methods...
Jennifer
On Jun 5, 2004, at 8:16 AM, Frank Bales wrote:
> With the availability of ATM's literally everywhere, all you may need
> to do
> is scout where the ATM's are, and tell people. If I wanted a
> particular
> work, I'd certainly go to an ATM for the cash. On the other hand the
> convenience of plastic can't be disputed. If that's what people want,
> then
> they can pay for the privilege. Add the cost of processing credit
> cards to
> your work, and maybe offer a cash discount.
>
> FrankB
************************
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, VT
http://thistlehillpottery.com
Chris Schafale on sat 5 jun 04
On 5 Jun 2004 at 10:12, Jennifer Boyer wrote:
> Giving a discount for cash sales is usually a big no-no with charge
> card companies. You agree not to do that when you sign their contract.
Actually, on my credit card agreement, it says basically that the big no-no is
charging an extra fee for the use of the credit card, but specifically says that
this does not prohibit giving discounts for cash sales. In other words, you
can charge the cash-payers less than full retail, but you can't charge the
credit card users more than full retail. Thought that was interesting.
YMMV.
Chris
--
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh, NC)
www.lightonecandle.com
NEW email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
(insert the @ and . as appropriate)
lewis ramage on sat 5 jun 04
Just for information, legislation in the UK (and maybe he whole of the
EU) permits merchants to charge extra for credit card purchases
regardless of what might be in any merchant agreement. Few do in the
high street (travel agents mostly in my experience): some do online.
Small merchants rarely take cards anyway. Credit cards are great for
getting protection against failure to deliver/shoddy goods, as our
consumer legislation can make the credit card company jointly and
severally liable with the merchant (exceptions apply). I'm surprised
credit card companies even in the US can get away with restrictive
practices like preventing merchants from setting their own prices, but
nothing I learn about the way the US banking system milks its customers
surprises me any more!
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Jennifer
> Boyer
> Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2004 3:13 PM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Propay credit card processing
>
> Giving a discount for cash sales is usually a big no-no with charge
> card companies. You agree not to do that when you sign their contract.
> Don't know how they'd catch you, but I just make sure my retail prices
> cover the charge card fees over all. People really expect to be able
to
> use a card, so I just figure it's part of the cost of doing business.
> Of course everyone has different variables of # of shows etc, and many
> craftspeople may be able to skip offering charge cards.... I take
> almost 7000.00 of charges a year. That would be ALOT of work if I was
> trying to get those customers to use alternative pay methods...
> Jennifer
>
> On Jun 5, 2004, at 8:16 AM, Frank Bales wrote:
>
> > With the availability of ATM's literally everywhere, all you may
need
> > to do
> > is scout where the ATM's are, and tell people. If I wanted a
> > particular
> > work, I'd certainly go to an ATM for the cash. On the other hand
the
> > convenience of plastic can't be disputed. If that's what people
want,
> > then
> > they can pay for the privilege. Add the cost of processing credit
> > cards to
> > your work, and maybe offer a cash discount.
> >
> > FrankB
> ************************
> Jennifer Boyer
> Thistle Hill Pottery
> Montpelier, VT
>
> http://thistlehillpottery.com
>
>
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Simona Drentea on sat 5 jun 04
In a message dated 06/05/2004 7:37:27 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
fbales@LIGTEL.COM writes:
<< With the availability of ATM's literally everywhere, all you may need to do
is scout where the ATM's are, and tell people. If I wanted a particular
work, I'd certainly go to an ATM for the cash. >>
Sorry Frank, I stand by my original statement. If I were buying at an art
fair (which I frequently do) & a vendor told me to go to an ATM, withdraw cash,
come back, find a place to park again, walk back to their booth & pay him/her
in cash all for the privilege of buying their pieces, well, honestly, I would
find it pretty amusing. I don't like to be inconvenienced (who does) & I
especially don't like to be inconvenienced when I'm trying to spend my money with
someone. One thing I've learned from art fairs is that if I don't buy it
then, I rarely miss it. It's not like I think about the piece weeks later & say
'gosh I should've bought it'. Most of my many art fair purchases have been
impluse buys & there's just nothing at an art fair that I need to own bad enough
to go through that kind of rigamarole.
Plus, to be honest it would leave a bad taste in my mouth about the vendor.
If you want to sell, you need to make it easy for people to buy or they will
go buy elsewhere.
Simona in Colorado where we're having our daily dry thunderstom
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