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Posted: 3/29/2010 6:24:47 AM EDT
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I am thinking about doing a gun show next month, it will be my first as a dealer. My question is, how do you all go about running credit cards at the shows? The merchant processor that I am using has an "online terminal". I am thinking about a laptop with a Mobile Broadband card. Any of you all running this set up? Pros/cons of it?
Any other tips/advice would be appreciated. |
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You'll have to weigh the costs. With the setup you mentioned, you'll need power, which the promoter usually charges a fortune to plug into. You'll also (typically) get hit with a higher percentage for not swiping the card.
I bit the bullet and bought a cellular credit card terminal. The battery in that thing lasts all day just fine, I get charged the cheaper swipe rate and I know damn sure that the card is legit before I let the product go. If you are going to do business and not just do this as a hobby, get a real terminal. Yes, they are as expensive as buying a handgun, but you'll get that money back over time. JWC |
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Thanks for the input. Power seems to be an issue at most venues. Do you all photocopy drivers licenses when selling a firearm? I am also weighing a Blackberry with a bluetooth card reader and printer. The only thing I don't like about the dedicated wireless terminal is another monthly charge and per minute usage.
I guess you end up paying one way or another. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the input. Power seems to be an issue at most venues. Do you all photocopy drivers licenses when selling a firearm? I am also weighing a Blackberry with a bluetooth card reader and printer. The only thing I don't like about the dedicated wireless terminal is another monthly charge and per minute usage. I guess you end up paying one way or another. I don't make copies. I figure with all the information on the 4473, I should be good. And yes, you end up paying no matter what! 
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Quoted:
Sign up with GunPal (business account), 2.7 % + $.30 for each CC transaction. They have a "virtual terminal". Get a laptop with cell card or Blackberry and get 1 or 2 extra batteries fully charged. I am leaning toward a laptop. The merchant processor that I currently use has a "virtual terminal" also, so the only extra expense would be a cell card for the laptop. When processing the card, I can email the customer a copy of the transaction. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks for the input. Power seems to be an issue at most venues. Do you all photocopy drivers licenses when selling a firearm? I am also weighing a Blackberry with a bluetooth card reader and printer. The only thing I don't like about the dedicated wireless terminal is another monthly charge and per minute usage. I guess you end up paying one way or another. I don't make copies. I figure with all the information on the 4473, I should be good. And yes, you end up paying no matter what! That's good to know, as I had planed on lugging along my all-in-one to be able to copy ID's and print receipts. |
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On the note of gunshows what do you all find that sales? Getting readyfor a show next month. I've done two and LCPs, P238s, and P250 (250s sell well at showsdue to price point) did very well. I would be interested to know as well. I plan on taking LPKs, buttstocks, Lowers and mags, and concealed carry type handguns. |
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A lap top and a wireless card is a good investment for gun shows.
You can run credit cards If a customer asks about a gun you don't have, you can go online to your vendor's web sites and give tham an instant price quote and availability Every year we buy the Blue Book on CD. At the store we run the CD on the server so all work stations can acess it. At gun shows we put the CD in the lap top, so we can appraise trade in guns. |
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Quoted:
On the note of gunshows what do you all find that sales? Getting readyfor a show next month. I've done two and LCPs, P238s, and P250 (250s sell well at showsdue to price point) did very well. Honestly, I think there is a big difference depending on the location of the country. For example, we can't sell Sigs to save our life. But all our local PDs carry Glocks, so those sell great. The little mouse guns are very hot nearly everywhere, I think. Around here, I've noticed people selling guns on a "show special" for more than I sell them in the store everyday! Unfortunately, you'll have to do a couple of shows, get to know what the people are looking for in your area and figure out where you can fit in at the show. Try to find things that other people don't have. Is anyone selling DeSantis or Blackhawk holsters, cleaning supplies, Pmags, etc? (just examples) If not, get some of those and fill in that gap. It's much easier to rustle up business when nobody else there is selling that product. If you can't fill in those gaps, be sure you're price is as good or better than other places. I've also found that people are more apt to part with $5-20 than a few hundred. If you deal in things other than guns (parts, mags, etc) take those too. |
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I'd agree. I have DeSantis and magpul gear ready for the show. Also the zombie targets at the last show was a big hit. Sold out by lunch. Seems most PD's carry glocks here maybe give it a try. Quoted: Quoted: On the note of gunshows what do you all find that sales? Getting readyfor a show next month. I've done two and LCPs, P238s, and P250 (250s sell well at showsdue to price point) did very well. Honestly, I think there is a big difference depending on the location of the country. For example, we can't sell Sigs to save our life. But all our local PDs carry Glocks, so those sell great. The little mouse guns are very hot nearly everywhere, I think. Around here, I've noticed people selling guns on a "show special" for more than I sell them in the store everyday! Unfortunately, you'll have to do a couple of shows, get to know what the people are looking for in your area and figure out where you can fit in at the show. Try to find things that other people don't have. Is anyone selling DeSantis or Blackhawk holsters, cleaning supplies, Pmags, etc? (just examples) If not, get some of those and fill in that gap. It's much easier to rustle up business when nobody else there is selling that product. If you can't fill in those gaps, be sure you're price is as good or better than other places. I've also found that people are more apt to part with $5-20 than a few hundred. If you deal in things other than guns (parts, mags, etc) take those too. |
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