HOW TO BUY MERCHANT SERVICES

F.A.Q.

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THIS QUICK GUIDE WILL HELP YOU TO SORT THROUGH ALL OF THE OFFERS FOR MERCHANT SERVICES THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE, AND ENABLE YOU TO CHOOSE THE BEST MERCHANT SERVICE PROVIDER FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

FIRST, AS WITH EVERYTHING ELSE IN LIFE, IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS!  THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH.  OFFERS OF FREE CREDIT CARD EQUIPMENT, 0% PROCESSING RATES, AND OTHER UNREALISTIC PROMISES, SHOULD BE DISCARDED.  THERE IS ALWAYS A CATCH. ALSO, LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE SOLICITATIONS SHOULD BE AVOIDED AS THE CALLER IS ONLY INTERESTED IN GETTING YOU TO COMMIT TO HIS SERVICE WITHOUT ACTUALLY KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.  BESIDES THAT, HOW WILL YOU GET HOLD OF HIM IF THERE IS A PROBLEM?  STICK WITH SOMEONE WHO IS LOCALLY AVAILABLE.  STICKMAN BUSINESS SERVICES IS ONE SUCH COMPANY.  ONCE YOU HAVE NARROWED YOUR CHOICES TO TWO OR THREE REPUTABLE COMPANIES, ASK EACH OF THEM THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

1.     DOES YOUR COMPANY HAVE A LOCAL BUSINESS LICENSE? (EG. CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE)

2.    HOW LONG HAVE YOU PERSONALLY BEEN IN THE MERCHANT SERVICES BUSINESS?   

3.    DO YOU BELONG TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WHAT IS YOUR RATING?

4.    DO YOU PERSONALLY INSTALL AND TEST MY CREDIT CARD EQUIPMENT AND TRAIN MY STAFF, OR IS IT DONE OVER THE PHONE?

5.    DO YOU HAVE A LOCAL NUMBER THAT I CAN CALL FOR SUPPORT?

6.    CAN YOU PROVIDE ALL ELECTRONIC MERCHANT SERVICES, INCLUDING CHECK VERIFICATION, CHECK CONVERSION, EBT, ELECTRONIC GIFT CARDS, CREDIT CARDS, DEBIT CARDS, ATM MACHINES, AND SCRIP MACHINES?

7.    DO YOU PROVIDE EXTRA TERMINALS AT NO CHARGE FOR ME TO USE DURING MY BUSIEST TIMES?

8.    DO YOUR RATES INCLUDE ALL DISCOUNT RATES, INTERCHANGE FEES, AND ASSESSMENTS, OR ARE THESE FEES CHARGED TO ME OVER AND ABOVE THE RATES YOU ARE QUOTING?  AND ARE REWARDS CARDS PROCESSED AT YOUR LOWEST RATE?

9.    CAN YOU PROVIDE NAMES AND CONTACTS OF AT LEAST THREE BUSINESSES IN MY INDUSTRY OR MY GEOGRAPHIC AREA THAT I CAN CALL FOR A REFERENCE?

10.    IF MY TERMINAL BREAKS DOWN, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A REPLACEMENT?

11.    ARE THE TERMINALS THAT YOU SELL COMPATIBLE WITH OTHER PROCESSING COMPANIES BESIDES YOURS?  IN OTHER WORDS DO YOU SELL PROPRIETARY TERMINALS?

ANY REPUTABLE MERCHANT SERVICE PROVIDER CAN ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS TO YOUR SATISFACTION.  REMEMBER, A MAJORITY OF THE INCOME TO YOUR BUSINESS IS GOING TO FLOW THROUGH YOUR CREDIT CARD TERMINAL.  BE SURE THAT THE MERCHANT SERVICE PROVIDER THAT YOU DEAL WITH IS SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST AND RELY ON.