Merchant Service Terminals
Credit Card Machines and Printers
Need to accept credit cards? Given the recent increase in credit card use, it is sometimes necessary to accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express beyond the normal in-store application. Cards are now accepted at flea markets, farmer's markets, antique and collectible shows, and other places where a phone line or internet connection may not be available. Several credit card machines now have mobile broadband and wireless phone capabilities. A credit card machine at a remote location can be a tremendous advantage for impulse buys where people do not have ready access to cash. Many merchant account providers can help you accept cards using remote machines, and may even offer a discount depending on your service plan and sales volume.
If your credit card machine ready for the future? Older credit card machines may have a range of issues, including security holes and prohibited features that may make you liable for credit card fraud. For example, if your machine holds credit card numbers it is in violation of PCI-DSS standards, and may need to be upgraded or replaced with a newer and more secure model. Your credit card machine may be tying up a phone line when you could use LAN based credit card terminals that plug into your internet or wireless router. Older credit card machines may not be able to integrate with peripherals like contactless readers and smart card requirements for 2013 and beyond. More modern credit card terminals also may be available in wireless and mobile models that can be taken on-site so customers can pay directly for services and goods. Handheld and cell-phone capable credit card machines save money on every transaction since you can swipe the credit card to pay, instead of calling in credit card numbers to an accountant or receptionist.
A credit card machine, also known as a credit card terminal, is actually a complex piece of hardware. Older credit card machines were a bit more cumbersome and boxy, with basic LCD displays and limited capabilities. Still, these machines were designed to be durable and to work in a variety of environments, from steamy restaurants to dusty warehouses, and in punishing conditions that include high-volume processing in offices and retail stores. On a daily basis, the terminal had to make dozens (or hundreds) of phone calls with an old-fashioned modem in order to authorize credit card transactions, then at the end of the day it had to batch out information to the bank. Today’s credit card machine is a more powerful and versatile descendant of yesterday’s terminal, and it is usually about half the size! Modernized terminals still have phone-based capabilities but may also have the ability to connect to the internet through a LAN line or wireless connection. Many portable terminals can contact banks by way of cell-phone connections. Newer terminals use touch-screen displays that can accept a signature for added security, and modern machines also have USB inputs for all kinds of peripherals such as PIN pads as well as interfaces with POS systems or cash registers. Furthermore, credit card machine technology is also much more secure compared to that of just a few years ago, so if you are using an old credit card terminal you may want to upgrade for security’s sake, assuming that you don’t just want a modern machine with more features.
Notes and Special Information
Special note: Be sure to shop around for the best machines. Identical machines can cost more or less depending on the service plan with your merchant account and gateway provider. Additionally, you want to make sure you are getting PIN pad and debit card functionality as well as wireless smart card reader access. Contactless readers are becoming more and more commonplace in retail establishments, and at some point they may be standard equipment for everyone who wants to process credit cards. Furthermore, cell phone credit card acceptance through NFC and RFID chips may mean that a physical credit card will be a thing of the past.