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ATM Machine
I'm in a quandry. I am tired of taking credit card payments for a few reasons.
1- The fees- although it was just passed that we can charge customers a convenience fee there are still some challanges like telling them at the time of booking when already I have so much to say like taking cc #, cancellation policy, directions. the credit card machine is not set up for these kind of fees and it has to be clearly stated on the reciept.
2- It is agony doing all the accounting and paperwork around this
3- Even though we tell them we will charge them for a no show we never do we only have a handful every year anyway.
4- My credit card company just upgraded the program and it took away the features I liked.
5- Sometimes I have lost money because a charge was not put in correctly and I could not recover the payment for different reasons
If I got an ATM machine in the office:
!- I would own it and not have to put more than a maybe thousand dollars in it at a time
2-I would not be spending hours doing paperwork around credit card charges
3-when the deal is done it is done you have money in your hand there is no finding out later that you pushed the wrong button
4- The cost of the machine is what I pay in yearly cc fees
5- I could make a couple dollars on each transaction too
BUT:
1-I would have to have security cameras and there is a risk of robery but I would not advertise the ATM it would be only for my customer use
2-People would not get thier miles or rewards and may be hoping to so I would dissappoint them
Anyway my questions are:
Do you think customers would be upset by having to use the ATM?
Is it creepy to have cameras in the waiting room of a massage office?
Anyone have any ideas or thoughts about all this?
Views: 530
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Carrie Patrick on
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How do you take cc payments at the moment? Could you try a different payment service that might be less of a headache? Clients really do prefer to pay by credit/debit cards and I feel like it would be a drawback if you stopped offering that payment method completely.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Reynolds on
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Over the past 2 years, the place I work at has went through 4-5 different CC services. You just have to shop around for the one that gives you the best service. It is a headache at times. However, we never charge a fee for clients using their CC even though we are allowed to. If you do away with accepting CC you may eventually cause people to drop off and go to someone else that does.
shop around for an accountant also. you would be amazed at how much of a headache that can take out of your day
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Permalink Reply by Amanda Barp on
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We just started using GoPayment via Intuit. It integrates directly into your quickbooks program, and the fees are pretty reasonable. 2.75%. If you charge regularly over $1500 a month, it's worth it to pay them $15 monthly to get that fee down to 1.75%. We use an iPad to run the credit cards. It's been working well for us.
On the accounting end of things, the money will show up in the bank for the full amount charged, and there will be a separate transaction that shows the fee taken out. We've tried Square and it takes the amount out of the total price, so it can be hard to match up the fees to the transaction.
I have to say that I would be irritated if I had to use an ATM. There are lots of cc options, and I feel that it's part of business to offer credit cards. ATMs often have pretty hefty transaction fees. I know that I've avoided going places because I didn't have cash and didn't want to pay the fees.
Hope that's helpful!
Amanda
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I use intuit GoPayment and though they take about 1.75% at the time of transaction there is a monthyly withdrawl they take as a make up fee according to what each bank charges them. I was shocked when i saw these monthly withdrawls for lump sums of $60 $ 85 or more and called to ask them what it was. It comes out in the wash at 3% by the end of the year. I feel like it is bait and switch on thier part but chose to live with it.
Yes all of this is helpful.
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Permalink Reply by lauren stewart on
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What about Paypal from their phone to your phone. anyone have experience with that?
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We would have to pay 2.9% to Paypal for the transaction.
lauren stewart said:What about Paypal from their phone to your phone. anyone have experience with that?
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Let me be the first to actually answer the questions you asked.
- Do you think customers would be upset by having to use the ATM? I personally would never use it and I would think it tacky of you to have an ATM machine rather than just accept credit cards. I can see the potential for this to alienate clients.
- Is it creepy to have cameras in the waiting room of a massage office? I think so. I think it sends the wrong message to have obviously placed cameras in your waiting room.
- Anyone have any ideas or thoughts about all this? Honestly, this is something I would never even consider doing in my office. How much are you really spending in merchant processing fees over the course of a year and is that really such a huge amount of money that it's worth alienating your clientele to save it? I also wouldn't consider passing along the credit processing fees to my clients either even though we are now permitted to do so.
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Permalink Reply by Sharon Seller on
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As a client, I would be upset with the ATM because then I would incur fees for using it which would add another 3.00 - 5.00 to what I already paid for the massage. I accept CC's and just absorb the cost of the fees. I would never consider passing on the transactions fees to my clients. If you set your prices accordingly then you wouldn't feel ripped of by accepting CC's.
I'm curious why you spend so much time on accounting and paperwork? What is it you do that causes agony and hours worth of paperwork?
If you use an ATM you will spend alot of time making change thereby having to keep a stocked bank at your disposal. Most ATM's only allow you to withdraw money in $20 increments. Maybe your clients normally tip $20 but I could see the potential of having to balance a cash drawer every night and that would only add to your hours of paperwork.
I had been going to a nail salon for many years and they put an ATM in the lobby and will no longer allow you to add the tip to the credit card. All tips have to be paid in cash. Guess who doesn't go there anymore?
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Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on
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Paypal works great for me. 2.7%, no transaction fee, and the money sans their fee automatically--instantly is credited to your paypal debit car, which you can use for purchases, cash withdrawals or transfers. Helps keep business income separate from household money. Square and Intuit's a bit higher fee, Square's is deposited directly to your bank account, sometimes after a couple days delay.
lauren stewart said:What about Paypal from their phone to your phone. anyone have experience with that?
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What percentage of payments is on plastic? When I had my business I was cash or check only, but that was when people still used checks, so many (including myself) don't anymore. Is it legal for you to offer a deep discount for cash? Maybe encourage cash, and eventually phase it out?
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I use Intuit. As much as I dislike the delay in transactions because nothing is transacted over the weekends, the fees associated with it can be written off at tax time. Maybe add 5 bucks to your rate to cover it. They don't need to know why, that's your rate, period.
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I think Paypal transactions are hassle free. With regards to security cameras in a massage office, it feels little annoying but it is good for our own security.
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