Credit card processing for hard goods (mainstream)
 

I have a small mainstream business that is ready to start processing credit cards. I need to be able to run a basic shopping cart interface so that people can buy the product online without interacting with me. I also need to be able to manually run credit card numbers for phone orders.

What is the best way to get all of this done?

Go to Costco and pick up an application for their merchant processing. Good prices and respectable players, with no usual agent/middleman BS. You can get a small terminal for running phone orders. It's more expensive than you think, but it's a one-time buy.

For automatic authorizations, that depends on the cart you're using. You could set up something like Authorize.net, and then connect your merchant info to that. Take note: fewer carts these days allow for offline orders where the cardholder's credit card number is exposed. It's part of PCI compliance. You can usually get a waiver if you can show how you'll keep those records secure.

Hello Sly,

NETbilling would be able to assist you with all your processing needs. I would love to discuss our services with you over the phone. Is there a number you can be reached at?

I also requested you on ICQ. I look forward to hearing from you.

I added you. Feel free to send a message.

Sly I have a merchant account with these guys for a mainstream online/offline biz. They are actually an iso for Total Merchant Services with HSBC.

The Costco idea is also a good route. I have been thinking about giving them a go for a new project as well.

http://www.merchantservicestotal.com/

You could also always setup a merchant account for online sales and then run your phone charges through Square or IntuitPay with a smart phone. A little higher rate but no monthly fees. All depends on volume to decide what the best route is.

Good luck. A lot of good options these days.

There are three major merchant gateways and countless middle men. If you use the search function there's a post I made a month ago with a link that explains who the actual processors are and how skip all of the markups from the middle men.

I should also mention that my transactions are going to be $3,000-6,000 per "ticket."

oh my god someone that knows something :error

I use intuit
http://intuit-gopayment.com/gp?cid=p...111130041322:s

If you whine and complain they will give you lower fees. Worked for me.

Nice strategy *******

Just caught up with the thread again. Unless you have excellent personal or business credit, the business is well established, your sales are not otherwise high risk (no travel related business, etc.), and so on, it's likely you don't be able to process such high amounts, especially without physical card swiping. If your per ticket average really is in the thousands, going through your current bank, where you'd had a long relationship, may be your best bet.

2CO.com ?

Hey Sly, please see this thread, and familiarize yourself with the stories of many of the victims of modern day merchant account fraud!

https://gfy.com/showthread.php?t=1046862&highlight=merchant+accoun t+fraud

also spend some time here reading these true accounts from people who have been burned by merchant account companies....

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/m...t-account.aspx

I can assure you first hand that many people prey on this forum for people just like you so they can set you up with temporary processing, only to shut you down, and walk into the sunset with your hard earned and much needed funds for family and business survival!

I have personally had it happen multiple times and I can assure you the scam is real and at epidemic proportions...

good luck and choose wisely...there is no one I can personally reccommend to you at this time, as I have been burned by some of the most reputable...

It is truly reflective of the desperate and collapsing state of the banking system as we know it, and there is a plethora of excuses, tricks, schemes, reasons, that they give you the merchant before they run away with your cash, or send their wives to black friday with your cash, or cover their coke habits, or gambling debts with your cash...you get the point now

but at the end of the day if you have no fraudulent charges, and no chargebacks then it is pure theft to take your settlement funds for the most mundane reasons!

remember they are bankers and psuedo bankers, and one as yourself should never make the mistake of thinking they are your friends or they can be trusted with your money!

You have been warned