Accepting Credit Cards at Shows

Taking credit cards at shows can mean a big boost in business, especially for higher-priced items. Many shoppers only carry a limited amount of cash and can be reluctant to spend all of it at one booth. Accepting credit cards is a convenience to shoppers that may be the difference between a purchase or not. For a new business, it may seem like a logistical nightmare. With a little research, you’ll find that accepting credit cards at shows isn’t as difficult as you thought.

Card Processors

There are a number of different options for card processing companies. Popular companies include ProPay, Discover Network, and Innovative Merchant Solutions. Some key factors to consider:

• what cards to accept – Visa and Mastercard are the most common, but also consider American Express and Discover cards

• setup fee – this often covers things like the cost of the imprinter

• equipment rental – if you choose to go with a wireless electronic Point of Sale (POS) terminal, you may decide to rent this from your processor

• annual/monthly fee – is there an annual or monthly fee for the service?

• transaction fee – the amount of money taken from every transaction regardless of the transaction amount

• transaction % – the amount of money taken from every transaction relative to the amount of the transaction. This is often in addtion to the fixed transaction fee

• security fees – some processors charge a fee for transactions that do not include certain customer information like address, zip code, or phone number

Additionally, there may be fees for going a certain amount of time without a transaction.

Also consider how you would like to enter and authorize the credit card numbers. Some processors allow you to enter online, others require it be done over the phone. If you opt to go with a wireless terminal, the cards will be authorized through the terminal.

Be sure to read all the fine print when picking the processor that is best for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Knucklebusters – Accepting cards manually

The most common way to accept credit cards at shows is by using a manual imprinter, aka “knucklebuster.”

Imprinters work by placing the customer’s card on the machine along with a metal plate containing your merchant information and then imprinting the card and merchant information onto a sales slip. The cards are then processed after the show, keying them in online or by phone. If your card processor provides phone-in authorization and you have a cell phone, you can process the card on the spot.

Depending on who your card processor is, they may provide an imprinter and imprinter plate for you. Others may only provide you with the plate, or the whole ensemble may be up to you to purchase. If you must purchase your own plate, make sure you find out from your processor what information needs to be on it. Generally processors will require your merchant number, name, city, and state. Imprinters are fairly inexpensive, new ones generally cost $20-$50. A used imprinter will work just fine, but you will need to get your own plate for it. Suction cups on the bottom of the imprinter can be helpful in anchoring it to your table.

Avoiding Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud is a real concern, but there are a few things you can do to protect yourself:

• Always check the signature on the back of the card and compare it to the signature on the charge slip

• If the back of the card is not signed, ask to see a valid photo ID

• Make sure the card has a valid expiration date

• Get a clear imprint of the customer’s card. In the event of a chargeback, you will need this to prove that the card was presented to you at the sale.

You may ask to see a photo ID or request information such as a customer’s zip code, but in most cases where there is no reason to suspect fraud, you cannot decline a sale simply because a customer refuses to provide such information. Your merchant agreement with your card processor should outline what you may and may not ask for.

Declined Cards

Having a card declined is stressful, especially if you’re processing cards at home after the show. The good news is that in most cases, a declined card is not an instance of fraud but simply the customer going over their limit. If you do get a declined card, try processing it again the next day, or the following Monday. Cards get declined more frequently during the holiday season when folks are spending more and may not be keeping track of their credit limit.

Kelly Farrell – http://kfarrell.etsy.com
Kelly is an alumna of the Richmond Craft Mafia, and currently works out of Brooklyn, New York. In addition to selling jewelry and accessories, Kelly works behind the scenes at Etsy, Inc.