Fair/Market Traders - Virtual Terminal?

[Salpots]

I have a few questions and ideas and was hoping for a bit of feedback.

Basically I'm trying to avoid having to pay the cost for a mobile terminal and was wondering what sort of experiences people have with using a virtual terminal via phone app.

Are customers happy with you using their details this way? I see a loop straightaway with these because I would probably object to someone inputting my card details into their mobile phone. Does everyone else feel the same? Is it OK if you show them what you're doing etc?

I'll be mainly running antique/vintage fairs and my website, so no bricks and mortar to pay for yet, and its classed as a part-time business to start with so I'm not seeing the sense in keeping a terminal in my home (which is where my stock is stored).

Have you had any bad experiences because of it?

I'm very much the traditionalist so am taking a bit of a big step really (for me) by negating the use of a physical terminal - are there any major plusses to using the virtual over the mobile physical terminals?

I happen to have a spare samsung galaxy and the telephone number for the business will be tied to it, so it won't be a personal phone. Just calls and the virtual terminal.

Thanks in advance

 

[largada]

In a similar discussion here

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=260360

The fors and againsts vary on different peoples perception, though in this age more people are getting used to mobile payments, ie contactless payments, barclays ping-it etc

Its already very advanced in the americas but in the uk i think were still playing catchup slightly

 

[tony84]

What about getting a processor for websites and taking a laptop with a dongle?

totalwebsolutions on here may be able to help?

Basically just the same thing that normal websites have put instead of having to register and go through a shopping cart etc, you just have the payment screen.

 

[kulture]

I think that currently Visa Europe does not let you do this. They do not let you have a mobile phone App for taking credit card details, and they do not let you use a virtual terminal for customer present transactions. Check with your card acquirer before doing anything like this.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Streamline have trialling a pay as you go mobile terminal aimed just at your requirement.

There are no major charges for the terminal, but the transaction charges are a lot higher that a standard merchant account, about 3x. Whilst this sounds a lot, for relatively low volumes, it will probably be a great system.

If you are a member of the FSB, you could be invited onto the trial.