Taking Credit Cards

Please visit my web site http://www.cherisimmons.com/

I've read enough about artists at art festivals to know that I should take credit card payments. When I sell on EBay, it's easy...I take PayPal. Would this work for me out in the field? I was sure that if I had a wireless card for my laptop, that I could have the PayPal web site open on my laptop and that people could simply use their credit cards on PayPal's web site to 'send' me money for a purchase. But I quickly discovered that even though this is possible, it requires the purchaser to create a PayPal account and I didn't see that as an option.

I needed another way. As luck would have it, the September issue of Sunshine Artist Magazine had an article about different artists and their experience taking credit cards. After reading it and researching more on-line, I decided to call Chase Paymentech. I saw one of their brochures in our local BJ's store. After speaking to the sales rep, I signed up. My transaction fees would be as follows: 1.69% for Visa & MC credit cards, 1.67% for Visa & MC check cards plus $0.15 per transaction. No monthly fees, no contracts, no application fees and during a special September promotion for BJ's customers they would waive the first 3 months of transaction fees. Perfect! Since my first 2 festivals are both in October, my trial period for art festivals would be transaction free.

I filled out the required paperwork and was approved for a merchant account the next day. The following day, an investigator came to the house to make sure I was who I said I was, and to view my art or product.

The next day, I had telephone training on how to process credit card payments via my cell phone...very easy to do, by the way. I originally thought I wanted a wireless credit card terminal but I was told that to purchase one it was $890 and the other option was to lease one for a minimum of 36 months at $40 per month. That sounds too steep for me right now.

I'll let you know if I have any problems.