mobile detailers and credit cards

S

Secret Chimp

New member
Hi everyone.

This is a question for legit mobile detailers (ie ones who have tax id/dba/etc).

Do you accept credit cards as a form of payment for your services? If yes, how do you accomplish it? Do you write the numbers down and charge them at the end of the day?

If you don't accept credit cards, why? Too much paperwork? Don't know how?

I am working on a system that allows me to use my pda (with an aircard) to access a secure website and instantly charge customers who choose to use credit. I was thinking that this system might be useful for other mobile detailers as well.

What do you think?

SC~
 
I accept credit cards, but take down the numbers and then process it when I get home. The good side of processing credit cards through a PDA is that you know instantly whether or not a card is denied. The downside is at times the latency associated with and aircard/PDA combo (it could take a while).

Regarding taking credit cards in general, the fees that the credit card companies take out are horrendous. Not only do they take out the 2.4x(?)% per transaction, but a monthly fee if you do not meet a certain amount of posted transactions. My company even charges a $10.00/month customer service fee, even if I do not call in for customer service!

Granted, the ease of taking credit cards is appealing - and necessary if your business takes in money remotely. If I were strictly doing only detailing, I would hold off on taking credit cards for as long as I can, and keep some of your money in the bank.

I hear PayPal allows you to take credit cards without a monthly fee. Does anyone know if that is true?

...my 2 cents...
 
waxon said:
I hear PayPal allows you to take credit cards without a monthly fee. Does anyone know if that is true?
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Yes. No monthly fee, although they do charge a fee for recieving money, much like the credit card companies. They also offer free transfers from your paypal account to your bank account. Very easy to use.
 
I accept credit cards through paypal. I have a tablet PC that is very portable that I carry around with me and I just plug my Sprint PCS phone into it to connect to the internet. They can log in and pay me right there. It has worked out pretty well. I've been doing that for the last 4 or 5 years and I know it has gotten me business that I wouldn't have had otherwise. There are other options, obviously, but PayPal is something I have access to all the time and if I don't get a credit card payment for a couple months then I don't have to worry about paying the lease on the equipment and not even using it.
 
I like the paypal Ideal. How do you go about accessing your account when your in the field. Can it be done via cell phone?
 
The same for me, cash or check. I deal with wealthy people and when they pull out a wallet, all I see is cash, no cards.
 
SA Detailer said:
The same for me, cash or check. I deal with wealthy people and when they pull out a wallet, all I see is cash, no cards.
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I deal with all ends of the spectrum, and typically it is the 1op 10% of my clients the ones taht are multi multi millionares that ask to use a credit card. Typically they get the ones that rack up airline miles, and while the wife is out shopping they are getting a free flight to wherever their next vacation is!

I dont take cards in the field. what i do instead is tell the customer to log on to mywebsite and click the "payment" button on the top right of any page. It is a real simple way for them to pay me, and i never even have to touch the card. Cyou can see what i mean at www.ddetail.com on the top right. Even if you fill in bogus info, it will let you proceede to my paypal payment screen. Once the transaction clears, i get an e-mail telling me the invoice #, and the total paid. Then i hit transfer to my bank acct. I dont even have to drive there!! Much easier than cash or check imo.
 
What ever works for you but this is what I deal with everyday. The only people that ask if I take credit cards are those who work for my clients.
 
I just recieved a call from a company that charges 35 cents for the transaction plus 3% or something then 28 bucks a month to rent the machine and after 40 months you own it.

I told her to send me some information, so when I get it I'll post it here for you all to look at, so you can judge for yourself, like a good DC member should :D
 
stluciedetail said:
screw credit cards. Cash only or checks made out to cash
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Here in SoCal, people even buy their Micky D's lunches with their credit and atm cards. So to allow them the convenience they expect at virtually every other business in town, I am gearing up to accept credit.

SC~
 
Secret Chimp said:
Here in SoCal, people even buy their Micky D's lunches with their credit and atm cards. So to allow them the convenience they expect at virtually every other business in town, I am gearing up to accept credit.

SC~
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Now there's an intelligent Detailer!
 
foris2 said:
Now there's an intelligent Detailer!
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Nah....but sometimes you can hear my business degree speaking silently in the background of my comments. :P I just think that the acceptance of credit cards by a local business is one thing that a potential client will use to formulate their impression of your businesses professionalism.

I mean, who would you rather deal with?
1. The service who arrives looking like a dirtball, uses your electricity and water, then only accepts cash as payment.
or
2. The service who shows up in an amazingly clean vehicle, dressed professionally (khakis and a polo), is fully self sufficient, and accepts cash, checks and credit...

It seems clear to me. I am trying to be the latter.

The market is crying for detailers who are absolutely professional in their appearance, have good customer service skills and are 100% reliable. I am trying to fill that need.


btw....I've been checking with a few of those companies who arrange credit transaction accounts for small businesses. Most of them offer a wireless credit card swiping device that operates via satellite or via the cellular network. But the thing is that most of them charge between $40 and $60 a month to rent the equipment and a transaction fee for each charge. It sounds like a good solution, if it weren't for the costs. I would need a pretty high quantity of credit transactions to absorb those costs.

I think that utilizing one of the online credit resources is the way to go. I just need a reliable way to get there while on the road.

SC~
 
Secret Chimp said:
I just think that the acceptance of credit cards by a local business is one thing that a potential client will use to formulate their impression of your businesses professionalism.

I mean, who would you rather deal with?
1. The service who arrives looking like a dirtball, uses your electricity and water, then only accepts cash as payment.
or
2. The service who shows up in an amazingly clean vehicle, dressed professionally (khakis and a polo), is fully self sufficient, and accepts cash, checks and credit...

SC~
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Well put chimp.

The whole idea here is trying to give off an impession of legitimacy...which leads to trust and ultimately business.

I take CC's, have a clean modern kick-ass website with no midi files blasting visitors, a uniform and even have an 800#. Some may say overkill...I don't think so.

I almost get the feeling that some people are saying "If someone has to use a credit card, then they can't afford my services anyway, so why waste the time and money accepting CC's"....those people are making a serious misjudgement with their business...but that's okay...it's just more for me. :doubleduc

Many people that pay with a "credit card" are actually using thier atm/debit cards! It's just another level of convenience for our customers.

I haven't used cash or checks at the grocery store, walmart, the gas pump etc for years...
 
If your a member of PDTA they are working on a deal with Nextel & Creditel PowerSwipe for a group discount.
 
I actually use my phone to take CC I hae a website that i log into and let the customer fill out the info and let him see how secure it is. By the end of the job they are inquiering where can they go to buy a phone like that. But the accepteance of credit cards has opened up for me a huge new clientel list. That get amazed that i can tak CC or debit cards.

BITCHING TECHNOLOGY!!!!!!! :mohawk
 
jpzapata said:
I actually use my phone to take CC I hae a website that i log into and let the customer fill out the info and let him see how secure it is.
Sounds cool. I was just quoted 48 months at $60 for leasing the equipment (Verifone Omni 3600) and 1.9%/$0.20 per transaction.

Your set-up seems to be a viable option. Could you please give me some more details such as what carrier/phone (Treo?) you use and the website you are using for the processing of CC payments? Thanks!
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