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Mobile credit card processing?

chechnya

Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2006
Messages
20
Location
Houston
Hey there.

I know some of you guys do residential work which makes me wonder, how do you charge a person? Do you ask for only checks, money orders or cash? Has anyone done mobile credit card processing? I really want to do this, which is fast, safe and instant. It seems like since im so young, i come up with ideas no one around here does. It sort of works like UPS, how their little tablets are connected via satellite. I have some pictures of what the terminals look like. Some can be connected to a blackberry, a nextel and a pda. The neat thing is the price, alot offer $6.95 a month with 1.75% fee per transaction. Im just impatient and i hate waiting for checks to clear and then the "what if."

What does everyone think about this?

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5275/nextel15ac.gif
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/4835/blackberry0bg.jpg
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1386/number36wl.jpg
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/4820/number27nk.jpg
 

smalltime

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2005
Messages
104
Location
wv
I have thought about it, but never pursued it. I became interested in the idea after being told (after finishing the job) they were "short" & it would be a couple days. I also think it could provide more business because some people would be more likely to get things done around their homes when they don't have the money, but they need or want done. If you do start using the setup, let me know how it goes.
 

bobcatuser

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2005
Messages
89
Location
Richmond BC
Occupation
Excavation Contractor
I have a mobile card reader from my bank, it accepts all major credit and bankcards. The reader costs $60.00 per month and 3% of purchases.

This device is handy if you do lots of delivery’s or small jobs, for bigger jobs I prefer cheques because the 3% charge will cut into profits.
 

chechnya

Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2006
Messages
20
Location
Houston
The only thing is to convince the people that it is safe and secure. The ones im looking into have 128bit encryption which is the same on any site processing credit cards. The main one im interested in handles all of the transactions so you just subscribe to their service and you just process credit/debit cards.
 

cat320

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Messages
913
Location
Stoneham,MA
This sounds like a great idea, so what i want to know is if you have one of these portable machines you can just plug into any phone line to process regardless of where you are? that's if you don't have those type s of cell phones and use that big one with the paper receite . Now does any one charge more if they use a charge machine because of the cost taken away?
 

bobcatuser

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2005
Messages
89
Location
Richmond BC
Occupation
Excavation Contractor
Most of the machines I have seen have a cell phone built in and will print a receipt. As far as charging more for using a credit card I don't think you can, just build it into the price before you do the job.

If you don't want to buy the electronic machine, set up a merchant credit account with you're bank. When you have a merchant account get a manual card imprinter and call the 1 800 numbers to get payments authorized. This is what I did before I got the portable machine.
 

salesrep

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
204
Location
Illinois
Occupation
Sales Rep
Shop carefully. All of the following are variable with processores.
Transaction fees.
interst rate. cost/lease of the machine, be careful .

In this industry i would go for higher trans fees and lowest possible interest rate. Some will take over the phone, saving the cost of the machine.
The cc processing industry in filled with crooks and those seeking to take advantage of the unknowing. There is a lot of "bells and whistles" many of which are designed for retailers that will add fees for services you don't need or use..
My 2 cents.
 

heavylift

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
1,046
Location
KS
the auction places around here charge 3% to 5 % for using a credit card... cash or check you save the extra percents...

Occasionally you see a gas station with a cash or credit price sign
 

Stevenbrla

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Messages
175
Location
Louisiana
I resisted the urge to take credit cards for my first 4 years of business, as I was usually delivering to their house... where most people either have their checkbook or cash. This seemed to work great 99% of the time, because I never had to pay a penny to a bank and to VISA/MC/Discover.

I recently opened a store, so I knew that many people dont carry checks... and also allows me to take orders over the phone, and get the money immediately.

I shopped hard to keep my over the phone rates lowest... b/c that's where I anticipated my biggest dollars... only 2 months into it, but I do admit, I like having the money in the bank that night (most of the time... same bank account company, same merchant account company...Chase.)

Do realize that there is different charge rates for different cards... those "reward" cards cost the seller more... I haven't seen anything to really scare me though.

I don't think most customers would be bothered by a mobile unit.

I think its pretty standard in the Visa contract that you "can't do anything to discourage" the use of a card... (i.e. charge extra fee).... they supposedly audit you occasionally... can't imagine they have time to really do this, if ever. They did audit my place of business before they turned my account on.... (just to make sure I really had a store.)

If you think it will help you... go far it!! (younster)
 

kmickels

Active Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
30
Location
Oregon
Occupation
Law Enforcement
Wow this actualy an old post but I will still throw my two cents in. IPhone!!! Yes IPhone. I use my iphone for everything from bidding to payments. It has a nice camera for stills and video tons of available apps for mobile cc processing and it doesn't cost me any more per monh for another piece of equipment to carry around. You can also get recipt printers or Bluetooth to a normal printer for bids and receipts. All in all the easiest way to go.
 

sandnsnow

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2008
Messages
149
Location
sandpoint idaho
Occupation
adult babysitter
Wow this actualy an old post but I will still throw my two cents in. IPhone!!! Yes IPhone. I use my iphone for everything from bidding to payments. It has a nice camera for stills and video tons of available apps for mobile cc processing and it doesn't cost me any more per monh for another piece of equipment to carry around. You can also get recipt printers or Bluetooth to a normal printer for bids and receipts. All in all the easiest way to go.

I started using my phone too. I have the receipts emailed to the customer. But I bank with a credit union and I can call them and they will process the card if I need them too. They do not charge me a dime. :D No bounced checks cash in the bank.
 

Auctioneerhere

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2009
Messages
138
Location
USA
Guys, I have been in the auction business a long time. One thing not mentioned here is the dreaded charge back.

If your buyer decides for any reason to dispute the charge you will begin a long road of absolute BS trying to get your money back from the credit card company as they will take it directly out of your account without telling you.

The credit card company's will side with the consumer every time. Make sure your paper work is in order.
 

Monte1255

Senior Member
Joined
May 6, 2008
Messages
317
Location
Minnesota USA
Occupation
Farming/forestry/TSI
Thanks for the info 95...... getting awful tired of beng the second national bank of MN.. I'll deffinatly look into that app
 
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