The Newest Options for Accepting Credit Cards

For those of us who travel to various destinations to promote our trade, we each have our challenges regarding the 8871849471?profile=originalability to accept credit cards. Some of us use PayPal, while others opt for the more traditional Merchant Account. Still, for years as we've looked right and left to our various boothmates, not much has changed. Some use wireless solutions, but more often than not, they'll be using those old knuckle-busters with paper receipts.

Starting about a year ago we starting seeing more solutions that let us make charges on our iPhones, BlackBerry, and Android smartphones. 1st National Processing, for example, offers FREE downloads for these phones that work with your Authorize.Net account. And of course, if you need an Authorize.Net account, they are happy to help also.

But for those of you who haven't seen the PaySaber swipe/print cradle for the iPhone, you should check it out. Even if you don't have an iPhone, it's worth a peek. This has to be the slickest looking credit card processing device on the planet. At first, you probably can't tell it's an iPhone accessory. And for $129 bucks for the swipe/print for the 3 series iPhones, it's looks to be a great bargain!  Have any of you seen one, or even better, do you use one?

The Saber... http://www.1nbcard.com/afcepay
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  • Jake why would you pay those rates at payanywhere when something like the square is free.  Also make sure to ask payanywhere if the rate shown on their website is the only rate charged, that they don't charge different rates for different card types.  Like Amex, or airline mileage cards.
  • I work with 1st National Processing and would be happy to answer any questions you have.  They do make the Paysaber for Iphone 4 and the cost is $529.  Also the The Sc40 is a blue tooth swiper that works with the droid.  You can find these options at http://www.1nbcard.com/content/wireless_credit_card_machines_artisa...  if you have any questions feel free to contact me toll free at 877-964-1622 x 30  or email me at mary@1nbcard.com
  • Yes, but with 1st National there are monthly fees (minimum of $9.00 statement fee for store and forward) as well as PCI compliance of $129 a year (or +$10.00 a month) plus the percentage.  There is no "oodles" to pay -- there is no charge for the swiper.  You'd have to have far more charges than I have to make up for the monthly fees at the higher percentage rate.  Plus, I don't have to give pause wondering if a large purchase will go through -- I know right now. 

  • Although I commented many posts ago, I would still highly recommend 1st National and the Nurit 8000 Store and Forward machine.  I purchased my machine for 89.95.  It's mine to keep and if I switch processors, I can still utilize the machine with a new processor.  Why pay oodles for these new machines that may or may not get a signal when you're at the art fair.  Why risk your iphone not getting a signal?
  • HI!  I am looking for a cheap solution for credit card processing.  i have a blackberry.....i understand that square up for iphone is incredibly convenient and cheap, there are no monthly carrying fees; but some reviews indicate they withhold your money.  advanced payment solutions says they will have a similar device for the blackberry soon. $10 per month, 1.59% per hundred.  is this a good deal?  what other fees might there be?
  • Alice: using PayPal and laptop would require a WiFi connections where your show site is. OR another option would be using your smartphone as a modem for your laptop which also costs from your service provider.  It works great if the show promoter offers the Wifi.   I know my small town in Kansas offers free Wifi, but you have to already have some type of service with them which doesn't help the out-of-town exhibitors.  Wamego, Kansas has two pretty good shows a year.  The major one and it is one to attracts a lot of visitors is the Tulip Festival in April.
  • Hi Pati, Sorry you had that problem. I just went to the site and it seems to be working fine this morning. Did you maybe forget to add the 's' on artists? I've done that before. Also, www.gopayment.com works as well. They came up with the 'for artists' in order to track how many people respond as a result of my efforts. Good luck.
  • Hey Dan....I tried your link at gopayment and it is not working...no biggie...just thought I would let you know.
  • does anyone out there have experience  taking  credit cards with pay pal or something on a lap top?

    I heard that some people can do that.  How?

  • Connie, I read with interest your post about the newest options for accepting credit cards, but was so disappointed that you did not cover Intuit Corporation's new GoPayment system for use with smart phones. Having been in the arts festival industry for over 35 years as an artist, exhibitor and festival producer, I've heard many of the 'horror' stories of the abuse heaped on exhibitors by their merchant providers. In the interest of full disclosure, I am presently working with a word-of-mouth marketing company here in Atlanta and have been attending festivals since last September showing exhibitors how GoPayment works. I do not sell products for Intuit nor am I directly related to their company. I just visit with exhibitors if their interested and show them what the card reader looks like and how quickly and easily it works. If they'd like to sign up for it, they can do so at the web site. I'm not involved in sales in any way. But, I do believe it's one of the coolest new products out there for accepting credit card payments and one of the most cost effective, with a reasonable % rate and a low monthly fee. If anyone's interested you can go to www.gopaymentforartist.com and learn more. Having said all this, I realize that there is no one solution out there that works for everyone. We all have different needs from our credit card servicer. GoPayment is one of many options available for folks that would like to handle transactions using their smart phones while at shows. If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at dann@fizzcorp.com or 404-824-6903. I hope this info helps further the discussion. Too many folks are being ripped off by their merchant providers.
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