Credit cards at the gate for entry....what is the problem ??

[NewHemi]

Could it be that they get a kickback from i-pass???

David
The New Hemi Guy

[Terry Cain]

Originally Posted by boster

Carl , nice post but in most business the customer is always right . In this day most people dont carry cash and most prefer plastic or debit . Its the same as cash and has been proven to help business not hurt it .

By the looks of the car count you could have used a few more cars . If you need a good card processor let me know . Current rates are about 1.86%

X2
When my daughter started doing hair she was completely dependant on "walk-in" customers. The first time I went and got my hair cut (what littles left) I noticed out of 10 booths no one was accepting credit cards. The following week whe got her setup to accept cards and WAM her business took off. Seems everyone wanted to go to her because she was the only one accepting cards. Now half the girls there are accepting cards but, she's got her client's built up because woman don't want to go to someone different.

[Dwight Southerland]

Terry - Your story is exactly why there is a double-edged sword. If some little guy was making money off the cc charges, it would be okay. What I have seen in my working in the industry is that the small innovators who got the whole electronic transaction processing business going have been forced out of business by federal regulations that make it so that only the huge financial insitutions can own the network. Now it's just a way for the big to get bigger and we pay for it. It's like the recent mortgage settlement for $25 billion; additional fees are being placed on mortgage processing and payment transactions by the very institutions who were "punished". We end up paying for their settlement. Or trying to tax corporations to somehow make it "fair". They just tack on the expense onto the market prices and we pay for it.

I am glad it helped your daughter. There just needs to be some honesty in the banking world. Just like there needs to be honesty in sportsman drag racing.

Still on my soap box, sorry!

[Woodro Josey]

Silver Dollar takes credit cards!

[Ed Wright]

The only track I had problems using a card at the gate was an IHRA race at State Capitol, at Baton Rouge. I use mine all the time with no problems. Used it there, just had to ride to the main spectator gate with an official to process it. Said they had no phone line to the entrant's booth. Told them they just need a wireless card for a laptop. Since I've seen a cel phone with a card swiping fixture on the end. Makes no sense to not take cards at the pit gate. Many of us prefer to not carry that much cash. I could not run my business if we did not take cards. Today that is just part of doing business.

[Rusty Davenport]

really amazing all the answers.....it is always ok for the racer to spend every dime and his last ounce of energy but it is an INCONVENIENCE to the track or it isn't smart or a matter of principle ??? Since when doesn't the added fees go to the racer ??? Add $ 5.00 at the gate.....I guarantee there are people out there that would race on credit if they had access to a track that would take a card...the car count WOULD go up..now nobody would race on credit would they ???? does president ODUMMA know about this ???? hahaahah

[Don Kennedy]

I am always upset at any business that inconvience their Customer base . for example I went to best Buy at 9:45 am and there were around 15 people waiting to get in The opening time was 10am .. the doors were closed and we all could see the employees in the store . Interesting as one person was there to buy a TV and he was upset so he left and then another person was interested in a Computer so she left No sales for the best Buy sales from them . I find it very bad business when a business spends 100s of thousand of advertising dollars to get customers to do business and then makes them wait to get in and spend their money with them > then all of a a sudden the Business come out with a report sales are down DUH This idea could be applied to any businees including a drag strip .Service the Customer is a good thing your bottom line but be better

[Reed Granrt]

Originally Posted by Don Kennedy

I am always upset at any business that inconvience their Customer base . for example I went to best Buy at 9:45 am and there were around 15 people waiting to get in The opening time was 10am .. the doors were closed and we all could see the employees in the store . Interesting as one person was there to buy a TV and he was upset so he left and then another person was interested in a Computer so she left No sales for the best Buy sales from them . I find it very bad business when a business spends 100s of thousand of advertising dollars to get customers to do business and then makes them wait to get in and spend their money with them > then all of a a sudden the Business come out with a report sales are down DUH This idea could be applied to any businees including a drag strip .Service the Customer is a good thing your bottom line but be better

Don
If you do not mind, I would like to play the devil's advocate here. I am a small business and sometimes I have customers waiting on me when I get here in the morning and I have customers to come in after I close. But lets explore the Best Buy store you spoke of. If you open your doors 30 minutes early, next week you will have some one there 15 to 30 minutes before that new opening time. But lets go one step further. Who is going to pay for those employees extra time on the clock. Are you if the store says I will open 15 minutes early but the price will be 10% higher. At some point in time, you must pick a time to open and pick a time to close unless you have enough business to absorb that extra time (Walmart). I now that in my business, I average over 12 hours per day and I luv to go watch my grandchildren play ball. I bet your boss has a time for you to start and a time for you to get off. What if he walks in tomorrow and tells you we are going to work 15 minutes longer time. What will be your reaction. Ok that doesnt mean that these store should not periodically look at their hours, but no matter the business, you have to have structure and structure will not please every one. Ok lets say those people went to another business to purchase. Where did they go since all of them open and close at or about the same time except (Walmart). In my business, it is so competitive that we all do good to stay open in this miserable Congress atmosphere. I just want to hold on and hope it will get better.
Credit cards, I have taken them when business was good, but now as business has dropped off and the fees went higher, I found very few (and I mean very few) that want to offset those additional prices. Credit cards in most situations are a convenience for the user and not for the taker. If they become an advantage, then by all means we or they should do it but until it is an advantage and will help me add to my bottom line, then I must say no.
reed

[Don Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Reed Granrt

Don
If you do not mind, I would like to play the devil's advocate here. I am a small business and sometimes I have customers waiting on me when I get here in the morning and I have customers to come in after I close. But lets explore the Best Buy store you spoke of. If you open your doors 30 minutes early, next week you will have some one there 15 to 30 minutes before that new opening time. But lets go one step further. Who is going to pay for those employees extra time on the clock. Are you if the store says I will open 15 minutes early but the price will be 10% higher. At some point in time, you must pick a time to open and pick a time to close unless you have enough business to absorb that extra time (Walmart). I now that in my business, I average over 12 hours per day and I luv to go watch my grandchildren play ball. I bet your boss has a time for you to start and a time for you to get off. What if he walks in tomorrow and tells you we are going to work 15 minutes longer time. What will be your reaction. Ok that doesnt mean that these store should not periodically look at their hours, but no matter the business, you have to have structure and structure will not please every one. Ok lets say those people went to another business to purchase. Where did they go since all of them open and close at or about the same time except (Walmart). In my business, it is so competitive that we all do good to stay open in this miserable Congress atmosphere. I just want to hold on and hope it will get better.
Credit cards, I have taken them when business was good, but now as business has dropped off and the fees went higher, I found very few (and I mean very few) that want to offset those additional prices. Credit cards in most situations are a convenience for the user and not for the taker. If they become an advantage, then by all means we or they should do it but until it is an advantage and will help me add to my bottom line, then I must say no.
reed

The Business owner must decide if he wants to improve his bottom line PERIOD , by serving his customers one way or another it all depends on YOU the owner on what you want to do to succeed in this Business environment, Your call on how you want to service your customer base. By the way In my lifetime I have always service my customers first cause the customers may not always be there ? just my opinion

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Don Kennedy

for example I went to best Buy at 9:45 am and there were around 15 people waiting to get in

So don't shop at the big box stores. If you vote with your feet /wallet, the free market will lead them to change their business practices, and/or the local small business will thrive by providing the service that others do not.