VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

todd ellis · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 8:22 am Post subject: do you take credit cards?

a friend of mine turned me on to this on monday of this week.

https://squareup.com/

take credit cards through your smart phone - free dongle - service only costs if you use it - 2.75% - kinda high - but not too bad considering the convenience and the alternatives.

i got my dongle today & just tried it out --- pretty cool. you can enter the number - or swipe the card through the dongle - sign on the screen with your finger and get a receipt SMS or email.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:09 pm Post subject:

yep, big fan. But note that fee is higher if you key it in, which most of us will do. It's on par with paypal fees, but more convenient for the customer.
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COURVO · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:26 pm Post subject:

I'm using MerchantWareHouse.com for taking #'s over the phone, which is what will happen most of the time for VO's (not being in the presence of our clients to swipe the card).

CourVO
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:34 pm Post subject:

Dave, with Square, you can take #s over the phone and key them in at a 3.5% fee. This is a bit higher than paypal, but offers more convenience and seems much more professional.
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ronharpervoice · Club 300 Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 347 Location: Ohio

It's worth looking at local options. I found a processing service thru one of the Chambers I belong to. Best rates I ever found, MUCH less than PayPal.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:50 am Post subject:

How do you run the card, Ron? Do you do it online or do you call the processing center?
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Scott Pollak · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 1:14 pm Post subject:

I had ONE client ask during the past year if I took credit cards. I don't, so I began to look into the options. I also surveyed my clients and almost NONE of them said it made any difference to them. Since most clients tend to be part of a larger organization, such as a corporation or production house, almost all of them submit the invoice and a check is cut 30 days or so later. I have one client in NYC who does direct deposit into my account. And I did have one single client who said he COULD pay me via c.c., but that honestly it wouldn't make his life any easier and he didn't really care.

But since none of my clients indicated that it would be something they cared about one way or another, I dropped it and haven't worried about it since.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:46 pm Post subject:

I had one client who could only pay me via corporate Amex. I didn't have any credit card support at the time, so I had to use Courvo to run the number and then he paypal'd me the money. I was grateful to Dave, but it was a huge pain in the butt.

While I've not had a client like that since, I've had several clients that did pay directly over the phone, so I can assume it's was convenient for them.
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todd ellis · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:51 am Post subject:

i don't have a LOT of people who pay via credit card - but that MIGHT be because i haven't made the option available before. i know i buy stuff on a card that i could well pay for with a check or cash simply for the miles/points. maybe others are that way too. but hey, it doesn't cost anything to find out.
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ronharpervoice · Club 300 Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 347 Location: Ohio

Donna · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 1:05 pm Post subject:

Credit cards haven't been an issue for me yet, but that's a good point about using the card for the mileage. I wonder if it would make a difference.

The other thing is that I like the quote in your sig, Ron.
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