<div style="CLEAR: both">I started accepting credit cards when I moved to Hawaii this summer. I am not sure yet if it is "making" me any money yet, but it is convenient. The reason I got it is in case the repairs or regulation are more than the customer can write a check for. <br> <br> There are two instances where accepting a CC came in handy. One was a customer on a neighboring island who wanted a string cover. She gave me her credit card number over the phone, and I send her the string cover. The other was when I had done about $800 worth of repairs, but the customer was on the mainland, (the caretaker let me in). I could have waited for a check to arrive on both cases, but it was nice to have the money right away. <br> <br> But it does cost a little. There is a regular monthly fee of about $25, plus a small percentage of the total sale. So the question is, can you justify the cost of the convenience.  I can accept all four major cards. <br> <br> Accepting a cc is actually very easy. On your receipt, or tuning ticket, as I call it, I write down the cc number and exp. date, and then have the customer sign it. When I get home, I call a 800 number, and enter all the numbers. The cc company send my money directly to my bank in about 3 days.<br> <br> I signed up with this company at the convention in KC this summer. It's First National of Omaha. For more information give them a call at 800-228-2443, or visit their web site at fnms.com <br> <br> BTW, after I signed up, through the Discover card, I was also able to set up a web site. It cost $79 per month, but I can quit any time. Take a look at my site at <A href="http://www.willemblees.com">www.willemblees.com</A><br> <br> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> www.pianotuning.com</div> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: MICHAEL MEZHINSKY <pghpianotuning@yahoo.com><br> To: 'Pianotech List' <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 6:08 pm<br> Subject: gift certificate / credit card<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_5569d0eb-39cc-4469-aac7-a4c5a368aa17> <div>Thank you for your response to my gift certificate question.<br> <br> Can you help me with another issue?  Is there a benefit to accepting credit card payments for piano service?  Every once in a while, customers ask me if I accept credit cards.  However, I do not carry a <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1196395559_0 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">laptop computer</SPAN> with me.  Is there a less expensive way to accept credit card payments?  Is there any way to do it through email or using a cell phone?  Any ideas on this would be very helpful and greatly appreciated</div> <div> </div> <div>Michael Mezhinsky RPT</div> <div> <HR SIZE=1> Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51732/*http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/" target=_blank>See how.</A> </div> <div class="AOLPromoFooter"> <hr style="margin-top:10px;" /> More new features than ever. Check out the new <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>!<br/> </div>