Posted by Hugo Cruz on September 18, 2009 at 9:56am
I'm in the market for a new Merchant Account for my wireless card/swipe. These are the details. Let me know how it stacks up and compares to your account. All knowledgeable advice and constructive comments are welcome.
*Device Used: Verifone VX-610 which can be purchased for $859 or leased for 12 months @ $91/mo. or 24 months @ $54/mo.
*Contract: 2 Year agreement with a $95 termination fee
*Fees: Wireless fee of $19/mo and $20/mo minimum transaction fee ... No other fees. Thus, $39 per month.
*No application fee (waived) or other incidental fees to speak of
*1.64+20¢ for VISA/MC/DISC, 1.89+21¢ for VISA/MC/DISC cards with "Rewards" (Airline Miles points, etc.), 2.96+32¢ for VISA/MC/DISC business cards or key-in-manually rate, 2.89+10¢ for All AMEX cards,
*"Vacation Mode/Notice" is allowed. Just inform them which months you will not need the service and the $39 monthly fee will be waived.
*Charge backs = $10 per incident
I thinks that's the brunt of it.
Thank you
Hugo Cruz
www.HugoCruzGallery.com
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I've also used Propay at shows without any problem, but I just use an old-fashioned knuckle buster. I'd like to get a little netbook style laptop soon to use. I don't know about the card reader. My husband looked into it at one point in time and saw some bad reviews for its quality - that's been a year or more ago though. If you have a laptop and wireless access, I would think that most merchant accounts would be pretty easy to use without any kind of card reader.
And, thanks for the info Pamela on Paybizness. I may check into that.
I read a bad review of Propay earlier in this thread but I've used them for over a year now without issue. I think they're the least expensive as far as set up fees, etc. I know of other artists/crafters who use Propay as well. I don't have their Microsecure Card Reader, but I use my laptop with an AT&T wireless usb so I can have internet everywhere I go. It just uses the cell phone signal for access. I enter in the info directly at the Propay site, get an instant approval/disapproval, and the customer's good to go :).
Beverly Smith said:
Does anyone use Propay with the microsecure card reader? Sounds like a great deal, but I haven't seen anyone mention it.
I copied the email my current salesrep sent me and if you contact her she'll send you brochures etc. This company has been really great and technical support is superior to any others.
I started originally with propay and a knuclebuster and I WOULD NOT recommend them. Terrible support, payments held for like 3-4 days then you still have to intiate a transfer to your bank account. Their phone system and website went down several times while I was at shows and I couldnt process payments till I got home. I've also used I believe Mercant Services and they are pretty good but not as competive price-wise or as good with the support as what I Have now...Heres some brief info and Michelle can give you the rest if you call her..
Hi Pam,
It was great talking to you earlier and I will be thanking Bob Bauer (Perfect Networker) for the referral!
I'm attaching some additional information for you to review and I'd like for you to check out my new website at www.paybizness.com. On the website is a place for you to look at the demo site for the Payments Gateway. With the Payments Gateway, your will be able to accept/process both credit cards and checks from your clients online and you can even process paper checks that you receive via the mail and credit card payments over the phone or in person.
Our Payments Gateway is similar to PayPal but has more functionality and it is less expensive than PayPal! Our Payments Gateway provides daily online financial reports that can be exported to Quickbooks, Microsoft Excel and Word. Our Gateway also allows you to accept online payments via your website (see the attached document titled "Secure Webpay").
The Payment Gateway fees are as follows:
$49.99 (one time setup and system training fee)
$9.95 per month Gateway Fee
$10.00 monthly Statement Fee
There are no monthly minimuns in terms of procsssing volume
.35 cents per electronic check (flat fee regardless of the dollar amount of the check)
2.39% for Visa and Mastercard transactions
.25 cents authorization fee for Visa and Mastercard transactions (flat rate)
I have also attached information (with photo) about our Wireless Credit Card Terminal (Vx670). There is a one-time $100 setup fee for the wireless terminal. The credit card rate on this terminal is 1.79% plus .25 cents authorization for Visa/Mastercard. There is a $25 monthly wireless air charge.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Do you ever eat at restaurants? Hand your card to a waiter or to a cashier in a retail store behind the counter? Until the credit card companies come up with a retinal scan, implant or more secure form of payment, it is quite easy for anyone wilh malicious intent to get all the information you mentioned below (phone camera, portable swipe, etc.). This is why I have "SEE ID" on all my cards (never my signature). Although, it is amazing that 80% of the time the cashier never even bothers to ask for ID :-P
Chris Hoyt said: It's unbelievable how many credit card numbers have been stolen just by the customer giving out their full 16 digit card number, expiration date, their signature, phone number, AND the CVV number on the back to a complete stranger. Sorry, not me!
Just be careful. As I said, many states have passed laws forbidding collecting any information other than a Zip code. Something about "privacy" concerns for the customers. What if the customer doesn't have a driver's license? And I haven't given out my real phone number in over 10 years. Because it's none of anybody's business.
I was at a show a few years back and there were people purchasing from the exhibitors. And when a phone number was asked for, they declined saying there's no place on that slip that says "Phone number" so they aren't required to furnish it. They then handed out business cards saying they were from VISA and were "reminding" mechants that their contracts do not allow them to ask for personal information. One B/S vendor said "I'm not going to get burned." And they simply replied it's the merchant's choice not to get the card authorized at the time of the sale. Get the card authorized and you don't need any personal information.
But what are you going to do with the new cards that you can't imprint? If you get a chargeback, you must furnish proof you had the card. And the only acceptable methods are imprinting or electronic capture. And with no raised numbers to imprint anymore, if you get a chargeback, you will lose and the customer will get their money back.
It's been common knowledge for a few years now the card companies want the knucklebusters eliminated. They want all transactions done electronically. And now they're moving in that direction.
Maybe it's time to get a used or reconditioned terminal on Ebay.
Linda,
I too have had customer volunteer their phone number. I then explain that nobody is allowed to demand this information and then tell them to give "seven random numbers" when asked. Each and every time the customer thanks me. Nobody feels comfortable today giving out personal information to a complete stranger. Let alone a driver's license number. That's ID theft waiting to happen.
It's unbelievable how many credit card numbers have been stolen just by the customer giving out their full 16 digit card number, expiration date, their signature, phone number, AND the CVV number on the back to a complete stranger. Sorry, not me!
In most states, asking for a phone number is not a legal request. A patron (purchased quite a bit actually), nicely pointed that out to me.... I checked with my merchant account "guidelines" and sure enough, not legal anymore to ask - so check your states. When checking for myself, I found MI,WI,IL,MN all had that law on the books. Most patrons do not know and since I've stopped asking for phone numbers, many have volunteered them anyway.
Pauline Ross said:
I absolutely get phone numbers and the rest of a customers info when using knuckle buster method. The drivers license comes out too. A couple times the imprint didn't take right and the customer did not mind my call for number again or a different card number. I don't plan on giving away any merchandise by being negligent.
Chris Hoyt said:
One thing to consider when taking plastic today. Many states have enacted laws making it illegal to require a phone number or anything other than the Zip code when taking a charge unless the item is to be shipped.
I see many exhibitors requiring a phone number and the customer gives then a false one. Nobody has gotten my real phone number is years. My phone number is nobody's business.
So no matter who you go with as your provider, make sure you get that card authorized at the time of the sale, or YOU as the merchant accepts all the responsibilities. In other words, if the card is bad, you just gave away your merchandise.
I absolutely get phone numbers and the rest of a customers info when using knuckle buster method. The drivers license comes out too. A couple times the imprint didn't take right and the customer did not mind my call for number again or a different card number. I don't plan on giving away any merchandise by being negligent.
Chris Hoyt said:
One thing to consider when taking plastic today. Many states have enacted laws making it illegal to require a phone number or anything other than the Zip code when taking a charge unless the item is to be shipped.
I see many exhibitors requiring a phone number and the customer gives then a false one. Nobody has gotten my real phone number is years. My phone number is nobody's business.
So no matter who you go with as your provider, make sure you get that card authorized at the time of the sale, or YOU as the merchant accepts all the responsibilities. In other words, if the card is bad, you just gave away your merchandise.
Check to see what they cover (if you lease) if your machine starts having problems. If you buy then you will be fully responsible for repairs. (my company allows for two repairs...as long as they are not from my negligence)
Look pretty reasonable to me in comparison to what I have. (I think my per card rate is lower but my monthly fee is higher)
When I researched all of this a couple years ago, it seemed like all of the "wireless" swiping fees all ended equaling out in the long run....although, I really like your option of vacation mode. I do not have that and plan on researching again to find something better or get my company to match something better.
Replies
And, thanks for the info Pamela on Paybizness. I may check into that.
Beverly Smith said:
I started originally with propay and a knuclebuster and I WOULD NOT recommend them. Terrible support, payments held for like 3-4 days then you still have to intiate a transfer to your bank account. Their phone system and website went down several times while I was at shows and I couldnt process payments till I got home. I've also used I believe Mercant Services and they are pretty good but not as competive price-wise or as good with the support as what I Have now...Heres some brief info and Michelle can give you the rest if you call her..
Hi Pam,
It was great talking to you earlier and I will be thanking Bob Bauer (Perfect Networker) for the referral!
I'm attaching some additional information for you to review and I'd like for you to check out my new website at www.paybizness.com. On the website is a place for you to look at the demo site for the Payments Gateway. With the Payments Gateway, your will be able to accept/process both credit cards and checks from your clients online and you can even process paper checks that you receive via the mail and credit card payments over the phone or in person.
Our Payments Gateway is similar to PayPal but has more functionality and it is less expensive than PayPal! Our Payments Gateway provides daily online financial reports that can be exported to Quickbooks, Microsoft Excel and Word. Our Gateway also allows you to accept online payments via your website (see the attached document titled "Secure Webpay").
The Payment Gateway fees are as follows:
$49.99 (one time setup and system training fee)
$9.95 per month Gateway Fee
$10.00 monthly Statement Fee
There are no monthly minimuns in terms of procsssing volume
.35 cents per electronic check (flat fee regardless of the dollar amount of the check)
2.39% for Visa and Mastercard transactions
.25 cents authorization fee for Visa and Mastercard transactions (flat rate)
I have also attached information (with photo) about our Wireless Credit Card Terminal (Vx670). There is a one-time $100 setup fee for the wireless terminal. The credit card rate on this terminal is 1.79% plus .25 cents authorization for Visa/Mastercard. There is a $25 monthly wireless air charge.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thanks!
Michelle McBride
Office (888) 992-5551
Cell (410) 698-3548 Fax (410) 298-1236
And like you, I also have "See ID" on the back panel.
Do you ever eat at restaurants? Hand your card to a waiter or to a cashier in a retail store behind the counter? Until the credit card companies come up with a retinal scan, implant or more secure form of payment, it is quite easy for anyone wilh malicious intent to get all the information you mentioned below (phone camera, portable swipe, etc.). This is why I have "SEE ID" on all my cards (never my signature). Although, it is amazing that 80% of the time the cashier never even bothers to ask for ID :-P
Chris Hoyt said: It's unbelievable how many credit card numbers have been stolen just by the customer giving out their full 16 digit card number, expiration date, their signature, phone number, AND the CVV number on the back to a complete stranger. Sorry, not me!
Just be careful. As I said, many states have passed laws forbidding collecting any information other than a Zip code. Something about "privacy" concerns for the customers. What if the customer doesn't have a driver's license? And I haven't given out my real phone number in over 10 years. Because it's none of anybody's business.
I was at a show a few years back and there were people purchasing from the exhibitors. And when a phone number was asked for, they declined saying there's no place on that slip that says "Phone number" so they aren't required to furnish it. They then handed out business cards saying they were from VISA and were "reminding" mechants that their contracts do not allow them to ask for personal information. One B/S vendor said "I'm not going to get burned." And they simply replied it's the merchant's choice not to get the card authorized at the time of the sale. Get the card authorized and you don't need any personal information.
But what are you going to do with the new cards that you can't imprint? If you get a chargeback, you must furnish proof you had the card. And the only acceptable methods are imprinting or electronic capture. And with no raised numbers to imprint anymore, if you get a chargeback, you will lose and the customer will get their money back.
It's been common knowledge for a few years now the card companies want the knucklebusters eliminated. They want all transactions done electronically. And now they're moving in that direction.
Maybe it's time to get a used or reconditioned terminal on Ebay.
Linda,
I too have had customer volunteer their phone number. I then explain that nobody is allowed to demand this information and then tell them to give "seven random numbers" when asked. Each and every time the customer thanks me. Nobody feels comfortable today giving out personal information to a complete stranger. Let alone a driver's license number. That's ID theft waiting to happen.
It's unbelievable how many credit card numbers have been stolen just by the customer giving out their full 16 digit card number, expiration date, their signature, phone number, AND the CVV number on the back to a complete stranger. Sorry, not me!
Pauline Ross said:
Chris Hoyt said:
Look pretty reasonable to me in comparison to what I have. (I think my per card rate is lower but my monthly fee is higher)
When I researched all of this a couple years ago, it seemed like all of the "wireless" swiping fees all ended equaling out in the long run....although, I really like your option of vacation mode. I do not have that and plan on researching again to find something better or get my company to match something better.
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