credit cards?

[kennycrane]

Hey K.C. from okla. are any of you guys accepting credit cards? if so how has it helped or has it? I just started to accept them and not sure.

[Brent Deines]

The vast majority of our customers either pay by insurance or credit card. We find a lot of people don't carry cash or checks these days, so we want to make working with us as convenient as possible, and in my opinion it adds professionalism to your business. I don't carry checks, and very little cash, myself, so I tend not to do business with anyone who doesn't accept credit cards. In fact I even get irritated with companies who don't accept American Express as I prefer to pay with my AMEX card whenever possible.

When we started accepting credit cards we saw a noticeable increase in business within a few months, but I think our business model and the area we work in has a lot to do with that as well. I did straight mobile windshield repair for awhile, but I think it was less than a year before I added a fixed location as well.

[kennycrane]

Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate this forum. I will try it for a few months, just have to figure out how to let everyone know, any suggestions from you guys will be appreciated.

[bpdenverco]

40% of my work is credit cards, I use my Iphone for credit card work, I also accept payPal. also I think it makes the customer think, you are more of a company.(waiting for response on that statement). Plus I think, a customer may be more willing, to throw $30 or $40 on the old Credit/Debit card.

[paulrsf]

Same here - I use my iPhone to process credit cards through my paypal account. Accepting credit cards is definitely and asset since not everyone has enough cash to cover the cost of a repair, which is very often spontaneous and not planned. Also, I believe accepting credit cards contributes to a positive perception in the way customers view my business. It helps to make the business seem more grounded and established. Hopefully the quality of my repairs takes care of the rest.....

[Eco Steam]

I would have to say that accepting Credit Cards has it's ups and downs, but I wouldn't not take them. Not everyone has cash on hand, and when they do, it's always smaller than what you charge....

We accept all major Credit Cards, but 99% of our Customers only use Visa & MC

[David T]

Great post. Can anyone explain how to use an I-phone to accept credit card charges via PayPal? I have a PayPal account, is it as simple as getting the customers credit card number and filling in the appropriate form/web page on PayPal? Or am I missing something?
I was considering "Charge America" that seems to charge $5.95/month and lets you use a cell phone (any type of cell phone) to process credit cards through your cell phone (and there is no $5.95 charge if you don't use their service in the month).
I want to be able to accept credit cards for WSR, but the choices are many and it's easy to make the wrong one. Any feedback from those that have walked this path and help guide a newbie would be appreciated.
Thanks,
David

[paulrsf]

Paypal has an iPhone app that is meant to work with paypal's interface. it is called wCharge and the URL for the site is: https://www.wcharge.com/

The site also includes very easy to follow instructions on how to proceed. There are all sorts of iPhone apps that allow you to accept credit cards. I chose wCharge because like many, I already have a paypal merchant account and I trust paypal.

Hope this helps...

[bpdenverco]

Hello all
Just read the deal on wcharge...
Ok to answer the pay-pal question for you all that use pay-pal.

1. If you have paypal, you can use via your Iphone, is that can bill your customer,and if you are lucky, they have a mobile device that they can pay you at the location. if not you will have to wait until they get home...
2. If you want to use the pay-pal system, and want to charge them in real time, you need to have a gateway company set up...This does include the monthly charges. pay-pal will set you up..
3. Now their are iphone applications that will merge, with your gateway company or they have their own gateway.
4. I use Merchantware mobile on my Iphone, and they provide the gateway..I pay 25.00 a month min...
5. long story short, you are looking for the lowest monthly price, NO CONTRACTS month to month and you GET YOUR MONEY in 2 days or less, some take a week.
6. some places charge per transaction, plus percent. etc.. just do the math. I know how hard it is to figure how many transaction's you may have a month..

Good luck

[paulrsf]

wCharge used with Paypal allows you to charge your customers in real time and the money is deposited directly to your paypal account at the same time that you accept the charge. That's the benefit of using wCharge with Paypal. Its very simple: Customer gives you their credit card info, you enter it into the app on your iPhone, and you get an immediate approval (or declined) message. As soon as you receive the approval message from wCharge, the money is deposited directly to your paypal account. You can even email your customer a receipt for the transaction. The cost is $4.99 per month for the use of the application. You can use the app as little or as often as you like. I use the app every day without any problem. It can also be used with a Blackberry, though I have never tried that.