A review of vendor security and credit card use

[Uncle Sam]

?Don?t hold a Penny so Close to your Eye that you can?t see the Dime in the future.?

Keep that in mind as you read the rest of these thoughts.

Vendor Security systems:

We are continually redesigning all of our security features to be as theft/vandal proof as possible. Attacks on vending machines seem to be more frequent these days and are a reflection of the difficult economy we are all experiencing. In most cases with our secured vending systems, vandals destroy some of the equipment without getting any product or money. That is bad enough for the operator to deal with, but there is only so much we can do to ?lock the vendor down? and still be user friendly. We have to leave a place in the security system to put in coins and bills, use a cashless device, retrieve the product, and get refunds, but even these openings are at least ?screwdriver size?. And a screwdriver can cause some damage to steel and a great deal of damage to plastic parts. We encourage customers to buy our vending systems with a very robust security system included in the initial purchase. You can choose to buy unsecured vending systems for your wash, but, unless they are attended when open, you are taking a very big risk of vandalism.

Cont'd

 

[Uncle Sam]

Vendor Credit Card ?fees and costs?:

We have offered cashless systems (e-Ports, WashCard, ExpressKey, and Wickets) for many years in our vendors and continue to do so with the newer systems that come out every year or so. This would seem to be the answer to the vandalism attacks that continue to plague us. However, many operators focus on the ?fees and costs? that processors charge to approve and deposit money into a operator?s account ( I understand that concern), but I think that these ?fees and costs? need to be put into perspective when it comes time to sell a service or not sell it. Customers will buy a service or product on a credit card when they will not reach into their pocket and pay ?cash? for it. It is a culture thing with people who don?t look at a credit card purchases as real money. I have a hard time understanding it, but that is just the way it is! So go with the flow and set the selling price to pay the ?fees and costs? of cashless selling. After all most of our car wash suppliers and all the internet businesses could not function or exist without credit cards.

The e-Port credit card systems come in two configurations: Wireless ala cell phone communications and through an Ethernet connection to an existing router and a computer that has internet capabilities. We have sold vendors that use both systems. One of the benefits that I like with the e-Port systems is the ability of the vendor owner to get an email report every day that shows the sales for the previous day by selection number whether cash or credit card. The fees are due only on the credit card portion of the sales. Present fees are $9.95 per month plus 5% of the credit card sales with no swipe fees and/or other fees. The daily report would seem to be worth the monthly fee all by itself.

Uncle Sam

 

[Uncle Sam]

This post should have been entitled "Vending Blog #12".

Uncle Sam