How do you take credit card payments?

[Red Tie Photography]

I am looking into taking credit card payments for retainers and wedding packages, and am thinking about just using Paypal Merchant services. Are there other types out there that work better?

Also, when the cost comes through paypal, they charge you a fee. Do you just eat the fee?

[jimbob85]

If you have a smart phone, get square. It's free for an account and reader but you pay per transaction fees. I haven't actually used mine yet and I've had it a few months which is the beauty of it, you don't have to pay a recurring fee for something you don't use. If you do a certain volume of transactions it may be worth going to a different provider with recurring plans. It depends on you.

[Reminisce]

Paypal merchant services works just fine. Their new invoice system is fantastic and keeps great records.

SWIPE for the iPhone integrates with it and you can take credit card payments in person and they sign with their finger tips. People think its the coolest thing :P

[theextremist04]

I have an iPhone, so square for me. Cheap and super easy.

[MT Stringer]

Originally Posted by jimbob85

If you have a smart phone, get square. It's free for an account and reader but you pay per transaction fees. I haven't actually used mine yet and I've had it a few months which is the beauty of it, you don't have to pay a recurring fee for something you don't use. If you do a certain volume of transactions it may be worth going to a different provider with recurring plans. It depends on you.

+1 What Jimbob said. I use it at events like softball tournaments to process credit card payments. Or for a slightly higher fee, you can punch the info in like when you get an order over the phone. I have done it both ways. If I had not had the service, I could have possibly missed out on several nice sales.

You can send a receipt either immediately from your phone via email or text message. The customer will get a receipt containing the GPS coordinates where the sale took place. You can also take a picture of the product or item and it will be included as part of the receipt.

I use a Samsung TAB which has wi-fi. the tablet is easier for me to use. I haven't had any customers that were concerned about the card swipe. Mainly because they are standing beside me and I have them sign the screen with their fingernail.

Note: One dad bought ten digital images at a tournament. I told him it would take a few minutes for me to get them ready. He took the girls back to their hotel so they could swim. He came back about 20 minutes later. I had the DVD ready and when I asked him if he got his receipt, he replied "Yes sir."

Gotta love it when plan comes together.
2.75% per transaction if you swipe the card.
3.5% if you punch the numbers in manually.

Hope this helps.

[nathancarter]

Another vote for Square.

For some of my wife's video-editing contract work, she gets paid through Paypal. It's more hassle than it's worth - getting the money moved to a different account often takes several days, plus there are the fees. I wish they'd just send a paper check sometimes. At least we can use a Paypal debit card to make purchases.

[tracknut]

Originally Posted by Red Tie Photography

Also, when the cost comes through paypal, they charge you a fee. Do you just eat the fee?

All credit card processors will charge a fee, somewhere between 2.5-3% depending on your volume. Yes, you eat it, so set your rates accordingly!

Dave

[cdifoto]

Square or Intuit GoPayment. I have better swiper reliability with Square but fees are pretty much the same. Intuit has an online terminal as well as high volume option that Square lacks though.

[Jimconnerphoto]

I am using square too.
just too easy.

[RobertLindsey]

Square just processes the transaction. New services like ordersm.com process the transactions and allow you to maintain contact with your customers via SMS. Kind of like order and transaction processing and a CRM all in one.

[digirebelva]

Another 1 for square, just used it last weekend at an art fair on my android phone...super easy, went out and got a stylus so the customer can sign with that instead of their finger...heck they had their receipt before they even walked away..

[PhotosGuy]

Square
www.squareup.com
2.75%
$1,000/week initial limit.

PayAnywhere
www.PayAhywhere.com
Phone support.

Intuit GoPayment
www.gopayment,com
Phone support.

Taking credit cards via PayPal?

Paypal on a website

[R Hardman]

Another Square user giving thumbs up!

[MJPhotos24]

I'm using InTuit on the iPhone, only once so far but was nice and easy.

[umphotography]

We host our site through photobiz and use their merchant services. I think its under 2.5%. Works great. I love our shopping cart. we can control everything. Very happy with our set up. We can keep everthing in one spot