iPhone users--credit card app?

kd2

Do any of you use the credit card app that's available for the iPhone? I'm looking for a portable way to accept credit cards and was almost ready to sign up for a merchant system from another company when I read that there are apps available for the iPhone. Anyone used this?

http://www.techflash.com/Turn_your_iPhone_into_a_credit_card_terminal_with_a_$49.99_application35979579.html

Or this one?

http://appninjas.com/iswipe/

fredjclaus

I don't have an Iphone but I've toyed with the idea of accepting credit cards on the fly. Here is something you have to look at though. Who are you accepting credit cards from? How much of a purchase would you be accepting via credit cards? Are you giving the client the product right then and there, or are you delivering it at a later date?


The answer to these questions would help you answer the question of accepting credit cards. There is a fee each month for the service, plus a per transaction fee. In addition, these apps that work on Iphone, Nextel phones, or Palm smartphones have added fees. Because most of them go through the internet, there is the fee from the wireless company for internet access. In addition the merchant company also charges a fee for having access to the system via the internet. Some of them call it a virtual terminal fee.

I've toyed with this idea and came to the conclusion that I don't do enough business where I hand out products right then and there to have such a service. What I do instead is send them a Paypal invoice. Paypal now has a service where they don't need an account they can either sign in, or just enter their credit card information. If I don't get this invoice paid, the client doesn't get their products delivered. Now my situation may not be the same as yours, but the paypal invoice option might be another idea for you to look into. Maybe there is even an app for Paypal on the Iphone that will work for you.

kd2

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. I do currently have an online invoicing system so clients can pay using their credit cards. It works fine, but I need/want a portable system to take with me. For example, I've recently done a couple of events where the clients purchased print packages. I've found it would've been much easier if I could've taken their pre-payment on the spot with a credit card rather than sending them an online invoice and waiting for them to pay it.

I'm also going to be doing a lot more networking at various events and I want to be able to have clients book and pay the session fee on the spot.

I've researched a few merchant service options and you're right, the monthly fees and access charges do add up, that's why I'm still looking for a good service that'll meet my needs. I just read that the PPA offers a discounted merchant service for members, so I'm going to look into that.

But I am still curious about the iPhone app and how well that works for anyone who may be using it.

MaryBoo

You could always try the iPhone PayPal application. It's free.

xxclixxx

Paypal has Virtual Terminal in the US:
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?cmd=_vt_hub-outside

If you've already got a Paypal account it might make it easier to add in that way then have multiple payment processors ;-)

kctinman

xxclixxx wrote:

Paypal has Virtual Terminal in the US:
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?cmd=_vt_hub-outside

If you've already got a Paypal account it might make it easier to add in that way then have multiple payment processors ;-)

iswipe app from appninjas