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.
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.