GPRS Credit Card terminals

[Martin]

Do any of you guys accept credit cards and process them through hand held GPRS units in the customers own home I wonder?

I’ve just switched banks (as you may know?- to stop their rip-off bank charges 👿 ) and am looking at what I consider is the only true effective way I can process credit/debit cards beyond the crap system and charges my former bankers where stitching me up for?

Anybody out there got experience of these gizmo’s I wonder? And do you know of any merchant service company that can supply a GPRS system for less than £34.66 per month rental?

[bobokines]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

I have signed up through streamikne in conjuction with the Federation of Small Businesses.

I get a 123 Send terminal at an annual fee of £290.82 (inc VAT). I pay this quarterly but it can be paid monthly.

The rates for transactions vary by card issuer but is approx 2{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} for a credit card or £0.305 for a debit card transaction.

I have yet to finds an area where I can’t get a signal. (Even where my mobile refuses to work. )

It does cost me more than normal bank charges for banking cheques but the convenience and professional image makes it worth doing.

I now take this method of payment as my prefered method.

http://www.123send.net/

Bob

[Martin]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

bobokines wrote:I have signed up through streamline in conjuction with the Federation of Small Businesses.

Thanks for that Bob.

Spookily enough I have just signed a deal direct with Streamline (I’m not a member of FSB by the way) using a 123 send GPRS terminal for £30 per month rental. Visa 2.050{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}, M/C 2.15{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Debit cards 31p and Am/Express at 3.5{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}. Plus a multitude of other cards at similar rates and best of all…. “CNP” (Cardholder Not Present) transactions. Which is great when the old man shoots off to work leaving his card with the missus to pay for the repairs…very handy!

So, with a quick calculation I am paying only £26 a year more than you for the same service (by not being with the FSB – which ain’t bad I reckon) So I’m quite happy with that and look forward to processing loads of dosh through my high-tech gizmo in the fullness of time.

The expression “laughing all the way to the bank” no longer applies by the way…..I no longer need to go there, the machine does it for me… 😆

[Linda]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

We are also thinking about taking credit card payments, especially as cheques might soon be a thing of the past. Did you put your rates up to cover the annual charge and per transaction charge?

[Martin]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

Linda wrote:Did you put your rates up to cover the annual charge and per transaction charge?

Oh yes Linda of course but only by around 5{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} above a normal cash transaction. But only because in my own case I’m not VAT registered, so an extra 5{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} is neither here nor there in all honesty. But those that are VAT registered stand to lose a lot more per transaction. As VAT is not deductable and forms part of the interest percentage per transaction, then a higher mark-up would be a must in order to offset the outlay. 😉

[Martin]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

Update

I’ve only had the unit since last week but it is a fantastic piece of kit and a super dooper high tech way of getting customers to pay. They are very impressed at being able to pay up in that way too, so it’s win win! 8)

[timdowning]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

Do you still pay cheques and cash into your normal bank as before?
Cheers.

[Martin]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

timdowning wrote:Do you still pay cheques and cash into your normal bank as before?

Oh yes indeed, no change there, in fact whatever way a customer chooses to pay I welcome gladly. 😀

[iadom]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

I can think of only two or three instances when my customers have asked if I take credit cards. Here, int’ backerds North, I am more likely to be offered talents. 😉

Jim.

[Penguin45]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

I’ve got a few customers who pay by Paypal. Very convenient.

Chris.

[Martin]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

iadom wrote:Here, int’ backerds North, I am more likely to be offered talents.

Eh up lad! Dunt folk up theer use plastic to buy owt? Does tha offer tick then? Co-op tokens? Xmas club? or summat?

[iadom]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

Cash on the nail, or cheques. most weeks its 50/50. Had one or two rubber ones over the years but not that many, less than ten in almost 28 years. You develop a nose for the dodgy ones.

There are still ‘Tallymen’ doing the rounds up here though. 😀

Jim.

[Martin]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

iadom wrote:There are still ‘Tallymen’ doing the rounds up here though.

Good lord! You’ll be telling me next they still deliver milk with a horse & cart? 😯

But, to be serious for a moment if I may? Cheques are on there way out sooner than you may think. Almost everyone that has a chequebook also has a Chip & pin Debit Card (I bet you have too?) More customers (especially in the cash strapped neighbourhoods by the way) look out for those companies that accept plastic. The sight of a Visa and Mastercard sign attracts them like moths to a lightbulb. 😉

A good customer of mine owns a hairdressing salon and as her landlord had ramped up her rent she was struggling to survive. During a conversation with her one day (whilst fixing her tumble dryer for the umpteenth time!) I suggested she seriously consider taking plastic for that very reason I mentioned. Weeks later I spotted the Visa sign on the shop door and some months later I’m back there again and she’s taken on another stylist and she thanked me for putting her onto taking plastic! 🙂

[iadom]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

Funny you should say that, there is still one local farmer who uses a horse & cart for milk deliveries.

I have a debit card but have used it only once in more than 20 years. I do use my credit card quite often though. I can still see cash & cheques being around long enough to see me to the end of my time in the trade.

As I have not advertised anywhere for over 20 years, nobody would see a Visa/Mastercard logo in the first place.

Jim.

[Bryan]

Re: GPRS Credit Card terminals

Thanks for the info. on this Martin , very interesting and it`s something I`m going to consider for the future 😀 .

I`d have thought it an almost essential piece of kit for anyone selling appliances as most major purchases are done using credit card.

Bryan

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