So I'm getting ready for the Long Grove Chocolate Festival and was wondering if I should take credit cards or not. I realized that right now I use credit cards almost exclusively, and thought that I couldn't be alone. Debt? Credit? It seems to be a way of life.
So I checked with the Festival organizers and asked them. They said cash only!
Then I called my bank and asked them what it took to take debt/credit cards. WOW it's amazing! Did you know that every time you use a card it costs the vendor money?!?! And then there's the cost of that little pin pad you use! Those suckers are $1000!!!
I think that paypal online works well for me but with this being my first event I'll go cash only and see how it goes. If I loose a ton of sales because I don't take plastic then I'll re-think it.
What are your thought? Comments welcome
Here's a plan - get a nationwide wireless connection and a laptop. When someone wants to use a credit card, just log in to your site, create an order and check out as usual - as if the customer were a web user.
They're standing right there so you shouldn't have any trouble with the CC number, name address, etc.
Or turn the laptop around and make them do it while you wait on cash customers.
Now, all you have to do is figure out how to refund shipping costs for pick-up customers... but I have a strategy for that too.