Posted by BarbaraL_CA on 7/27/11 7:46pm
Msg #391686

Accepting Credit Cards with Square...

For years I've accepted Credit Cards using PayPal (2.9% transaction fee) for the occasional times when that was the only way a client could pay... works well.

Now I am using Square (2.75% transaction fee) a little less expensive and MUCH EASIER than PayPal. It is a little device that plugs into your Smart Phone head jack. You download their APP (either from Apple for iPhone, or the Android Market for Android phones). I have the Motorola Droid X2 and love it and this works really well!

You just plug in the "Square" to your phone, start the APP, and swipe their card. Enter amount and description and they sign with their finger on your phone screen and receive a receipt either on their phone or email.

Cool! (I'm a "techie junkie" so I love it!)

Reply by John Schenk on 7/27/11 8:11pm
Msg #391690

Amazing! n/m

Reply by Yoli/CA on 7/27/11 8:19pm
Msg #391692

One of my daughters told me about it after she'd been using it for a few months for work. So, of course, I got it. Isn't it wonderful??!?!?!??!!

Reply by LKT/CA on 7/27/11 11:21pm
Msg #391717

I use Google Checkout instead of paypal but will look into Square.

www.SquareUp.com

Reply by sealed/CA on 7/28/11 1:04am
Msg #391724

I can't wait to use my new square. It's the cutest little thing and so easy to carry with all my supplies. : )

Reply by HouTexJoe on 7/28/11 7:49am
Msg #391731

Aside from the per transaction fee and the cost of the Square device are there any other costs such as a fee to sign up for the program, monthly fees, etc.?

Reply by Pa_note_r_e on 7/28/11 8:58am
Msg #391741

I just signed up for this last week. There is no fees except for the 2.75%. It is the cutest little thing to carry around. They give you the square for free. I have not used it as of yet but can't wait too. I have heard a lot of rave reviews. The only thing that spooked me out was filling out the form. I put in my last 4 digits of my SS# and my birthday. Well, they came back with questions that I had to answer. One question was about an address I never lived at but my X-husband did. The other question was if which person did I know from a list. Well, they had listed my x-husbands mother she was the only one I knew. I have been divorced from him for nearly 10 years. How the heck do they get this information????

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 7/28/11 10:47am
Msg #391773

They run a credit report on you. All that sort of information is available in your credit history. I have GoPayment which is from Intuit and works on smartphones (I use a DroidX). I opened my mobile merchant account in April. I had to have an established bonafide business to open the merchant account. They do check credit, and business license verification. They sent the card reader at no cost, once I was approved. No fees except the per transaction fee.
In July I requested a rate reduction (the cost of the per transaction fee was lowered to 2.55% from 2.70%) and it was approved. So far I have been very pleased with GoPayment.

It should be noted however, (at least with GoPayment) accepting American Express, and any other credit cards that have a built-in rewards feature to them, cost more to accept, rate was 3.70% now 3.55%. I do accept them all regardless.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/28/11 9:27am
Msg #391749

This is very cool!

Reply by BossLadyMD on 7/28/11 10:27am
Msg #391766

There's no Blackberry App yet :( n/m

Reply by RedBaron/IN on 7/28/11 2:53pm
Msg #391823

Re: There's no Blackberry App yet :(

The fee is the same for all 4 major credit cards: Visa, M/C, Amx & Discover. The % is the same plus a per charge transaction fee of .15 I think. The money is in your account the next day. I have only used it one time but it worked like they said it would. Apple is the greatest.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 7/28/11 3:56pm
Msg #391839

Their FEEs explanation...

SQUARE's Fees (from their FAQ page)

"Our fees are simply: 2.75% if you use the reader and 3.5% + 15¢ if you type in the card information manually.

We believe in making it easy for you to accept payments, so you can focus on the things that matter.

Every credit or debit card we accept (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover) has the same flat rate. These fees are static and do not change depending on how much the payment was for. As our fees are taken out of each payment as they occur, there is no fee schedule. Square also does not require a contract upon signup or have any monthly minimums. It doesn't cost you anything if you don't use it!"

Bottom Line: always use the reader - it's cheaper and easier. (and it's FREE - you don't have to buy it)

Reply by LKT/CA on 7/28/11 7:28pm
Msg #391868

Unfortunately, I have a Blackberry smartphone and there's not an app for it (as BossLady said). However, Intuit does have an app for certain Blackberrys...I went to the live chat and asked if my specific one would work. Customer service rep at Intuit said they cannot guarantee it will work and are testing different models and if I have internet I can at least use the key-in feature (costs a wee bit more than swiping) so at least there's hope for Intuit. At SquareUp.com they said they have no intention of having an app for Blackberrys.