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Post by fernwood on Dec 30, 2022 8:57:23 GMT -5
I am doing another show on February 1 at O'so Brewing, 1800 Plover Riad, Plover WI.
Need some help to fully prepare.
Does anyone here accept online payments, like PayPal during shows?
At my last show, I missed out on several sales, as I was only accepting cash.
Customers had selected some items and handed me a credit card for payment.
I let everyone who did not have cash know there was an ATM within eyesight of my space.
None came back to purchase anything.
Some other sellers had the cell phone attachment to swipe credit cads. Others were accepting online payment aps.
If I do this, I would have my laptop and internet connection. Would add a surcharge equal to the PayPal fees.
Would confirm payment before completing sale. Any other tips on how to do this and not get scammed?
It is amazing how many people who come to shows expect that the sellers accept charge cards or online payment.
Guess that is a sign of the times and I need to change my policy of cash only.
Thanks
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 30, 2022 9:38:36 GMT -5
We use a Square for shows. Almost everyone who does shows uses a Square around here. squareup.com/us/en/hardware/contactless-chip-readerThe reader is $49. You don't need anything else. Square charges a fee (2.6% + 10 cents) per swiper or tap. Your funds are generally transferred to your bank account the next day. It works great, is inexpensive and convenient.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 30, 2022 9:55:10 GMT -5
I wouldn't charge a surcharge for using a card. That would be a big turn off for me. Better to raise your prices to compensate.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 30, 2022 10:30:04 GMT -5
I took PayPal at the last two shows I did...the only two shows I did! LOL
IF you decide to take PayPal, insist they send it as a gift (friends/family). Reason being, if it's sent as payment for merchandise, they can collect what they bought, walk off and dispute they ever received the item and PayPal will side with them...as there's no way for you to "prove" they received the items.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 30, 2022 10:37:33 GMT -5
I wouldn't charge a separate surcharge either. Price your items to include it. If you're selling inexpensive items, add $1 or so to cover it. My jewelry items are usually between $50 and $400 or so. I do not adjust for using the Square. Even if I sell a $400 item, the $10 charge is more than worth not selling the piece at all because I only took cash.
Some of the folks in our club have a sign up that say they won't accept cards for items $10 or less and that seems to work for them ok.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 30, 2022 10:41:42 GMT -5
I started using Square early last year. The version I purchased had the both the swipe attachment for a phone and a wireless "insert card" device. Since I am not in the 21st century yet with my phone I bought the cheapest tablet I could find and use it for my transaction terminal. It has worked great there have only been 2 cards it could not read out of 3 or 4 hundred. My square is set up to add my local Sales Tax to the total cost.
I would suggest a minimum amount to qualify for any Credit Card Purchases, $5 or $10 maybe. The Square charges to you start to eat into small purchases.
My Tablet works great and it gives me a much larger screen to work with.
Also got my Sales Tax permit from the state of Texas to get ahead of any future issues. I report any sales for the quarter and send my payment to the State. There are a couple of local Shows I have been tempted to do who require a Sales Tax permit.
One other thing to consider, Square puts you on the earnings radar hence my decision to have a Sales Tax permit, I am already on the radar. Not sure how all this will play out in the future but I have started keeping records.
I am certain that I would have missed sales without the Square, more folks seem to be going in that direction and have stopped carrying cash. So the basic question is for anyone selling, "do I go ahead and miss those sales or do I get on the radar"?
Good luck
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 30, 2022 11:44:56 GMT -5
I started using Square early last year. The version I purchased had the both the swipe attachment for a phone and a wireless "insert card" device. Since I am not in the 21st century yet with my phone I bought the cheapest tablet I could find and use it for my transaction terminal. It has worked great there have only been 2 cards it could not read out of 3 or 4 hundred. My square is set up to add my local Sales Tax to the total cost. I would suggest a minimum amount to qualify for any Credit Card Purchases, $5 or $10 maybe. The Square charges to you start to eat into small purchases. My Tablet works great and it gives me a much larger screen to work with. Also got my Sales Tax permit from the state of Texas to get ahead of any future issues. I report any sales for the quarter and send my payment to the State. There are a couple of local Shows I have been tempted to do who require a Sales Tax permit. One other thing to consider, Square puts you on the earnings radar hence my decision to have a Sales Tax permit, I am already on the radar. Not sure how all this will play out in the future but I have started keeping records. I am certain that I would have missed sales without the Square, more folks seem to be going in that direction and have stopped carrying cash. So the basic question is for anyone selling, "do I go ahead and miss those sales or do I get on the radar"? Good luck Henry, you can add a credit card number manually if it won't swipe. See here: www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Questions-How-To/How-do-you-manually-enter-a-card/td-p/46347Also, the wireless Square is very easy to set up on either your phone or your tablet and it is easier to use than the plug-in swiper. All you have to do is pair it via Bluetooth on either device. You do have to charge the wireless chip reader, but the charge lasts all day. Just plug it in to your USB port on your computer to charge (or other outlet device that has USB ports). squareup.com/us/en/hardware/contactless-chip-reader
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<'))))>< Fish
Cave Dweller
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,841
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Post by <'))))>< Fish on Dec 31, 2022 11:05:26 GMT -5
When I do shows. I always use the Square (# 1), I also take paypal, and Venmo. No surcharge, but use online payments I do charge sales tax.
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