<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">  <title>credit cards</title> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> You’re lucky.  I responded to an unsolicited purchase order from the U S Army at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Lewis</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, to install a dolly on a nice studio piano they had, plus a lot of other repairs and a few tunings.  It all came to about thirteen hundred dollars.  They gladly arranged my access to the base and to the instruments, all neatly locked up.  I did the required work, and billed them in the manner they required, on the forms they provided, and then waited.  A year later, I hired a lawyer to try to get paid.  He tried several ways and actually received replies from the Army, all very courteous and polite, always acknowledging the validity of the claim.  These efforts continued for several years.  I never got paid.  <o:p></o:p> I know other merchants, in various retail lines, who’ve had identical experiences.  <o:p></o:p> It may seem unpatriotic and ungrateful to say it, but the military cheats.  It’s a crooked operation.  I know many businessmen in my community who absolutely refuse to sell anything to the Army.  <o:p></o:p> There’s a reason toilet seats cost the Army eight hundred bucks each!<o:p></o:p> J R W<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Alan R. Barnard Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 12:58 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: RE: credit cards<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> I've tuned for the Army (Fort Leonard Wood) for years, now. I used to have a little machine and the whole bit. Cost me about $35 a month PLUS the percentages that they take on the transactions.<o:p></o:p> When my machine died for some reason, I balked at buying another and the Army found a way to pay me by check. Part of the deal is that I don't do it on a one-at-a-time basis. I go in twice a year, do all the tuning and repairs, and present them with one invoice that they can process.<o:p></o:p> It takes longer to get paid and all, but it's a whole heck of a lot cheaper than having a merchant account which, by the way, I never needed for any other client.<o:p></o:p> I investigated the PayPal route and was talking to the Army about it but rather than make a decision on using it, they came up with the invoice system mentioned above, so I've never used it. Alan Barnard <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Salem</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">MO</st1:State></st1:place> Joshua 24:15 <o:p></o:p> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 2.0pt'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> Original message From: "Dave Doremus" <ALGIERS_PIANO@BELLSOUTH.NET>To: "Pianotech List" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG>Received: 07/27/2006 1:48:59 PM Subject: credit cards<o:p></o:p> Do any of  you very small business guys take credit cards? I just got a request from a Navy base for a decent amount of work but they can only pay by govt credit card. The inflexibility of a bureaucracy.... Any advice on how you all do it would be appreciated.<o:p></o:p> <X-SIGSEP><pre>-- <o:p></o:p></pre></X-SIGSEP> <div> ----Dave ----------------------------- Dave Doremus, RPT <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Orleans</st1:place></st1:City> ------------------------------<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>