RMS 2.0 and Credit/Debit and Gift Card Processing Companies

== "mararms novice" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@microsoft.com... Hello - I am having a heck of a time deciding on the right processing company for all my needs and compatibility with the rms software and my dell ultra small form factor system... I was originally told to go to Citi (first data) and then Chase (of which I have rates from both now) - Chase today told me that the gift card program is on a network that rms does not support -- First Data is trying to find out.. Does anyone know if First Data is completely compatible in ALL processing (including gift cards) for the RMS 2.0 software (before I sign a 3 year agreement)? Help (from a novice)

We have been using Mercury Payment Systems for about 4 months now. Haven't had any problems yet. There is no contract and their processing rates were competitive. They have a free gift card program also which is nice. Hope this helps.

Kevin

"mararms novice" wrote:

1. Never use the same company for card processing and gift card processing. You can never switch one with out the other. Its like a loaded gun to your head on the card processing fees. They get jacked up once you give out one card

1. Mercury is a middlemand for Global. They give kickbacks to dealers. Kickbacks that should be in the merchant's operating account!

2. The wholesale interchange rates are on average 1.88% according to Nilson Report . Your rate is total fees / total visa mc volume. Middleman take a chunk of your sales yet do little for it

1. Go direct to a processor like Global, Heartland Payments Systems, or First Data. Make sure they guarantee their fees for the life of the contract. This should be EXPLICIT in the contract!

2. Read #1 again!

Your welcome

"mararms novice" wrote:

Of course I am sure that Expert is totally impartial on the subject.

In response:

1) Even though it's a hassle, people can and do move from one gift company to another. We import balances all the time. Mercury offers free gift processing - no monthly, per transaction or any other kind of fee. If you want to leave, we'll give the new company all the balances they need to switch. It's not good policy to hold valued merchants hostage.

2) Nobody will refute that a salesperson is going to be paid in almost all cases. It makes sense that it's the dealer - the party you depend on to keep your system running. Why is it fine if some other guy gets paid, but bad if the dealer gets paid? The dealer is the one you call when you have a problem. If he's making money he will be more motivated to fix it !

3) All acquirers make a small amount of money on each merchant. it is a very competitive landscape. Mercury happens to specialize in the needs of merchants on POS systems. We provide superior support and we have our own gift card processing platform. We add Value !

4) The big guys treat small merchants like throwaways. You should not purchase anything based on getting rock bottom prices. That just assures you will be switching a few months later after complaining that you lost money due to bad service, incorrect setup or cost savings that never materialized.

There is a reason that you will find many merchants and dealers on this group who praise Mercury. And our competitors unfortunately are a little bitter about that.

Marc Katz CEO Mercury Payment Systems

If you can make RMS work directly with Global or Heartland, you really are an Expert! Most retailers can't and would be wasting their time trying.

We get a small check from Mercury every month. That has nothing to do with why I recommend them to our clients. I recommend them because when I call for tech support, the person that picks up the phone knows what MS RMS is and usually how to fix the problem. Mercury is the only card processing provider that I know of that has actually gone out of their way to support RMS; most have never even heard of it.

For a novice, Mercury is a single source solution that will provide a trouble-free setup of credit and (optionally) gift card processing with RMS. Their rates are not likely to be the lowest you find, but they will be competitive. If you want to have your card processing just work, this is the provider for you. If you are willing to burn time on research, setup and support for a lower rate, go for it.

Glenn Adams Tiber Creek C> 1. Never use the same company for card processing and gift card processing.

There is a cost to everything. And in business there are costs, we all have them. Is it better to actually pay for something and have it work or to find the cheapest rates and worry about them all the time. My experience with Mercury over the past year or so has been great.

Todd Ludington Phintec

Hello,

Thanks for sharing. Merchant have a right to know who get a piece of their sales. Its important to know how many people are between a customer and the merchants bank account. The truth is still the easiest to remember.

Thanks again for the full disclosure.

Expert

"mararms novice" wrote:

First Data is not completely compatible with RMS. They have been trying to figure it out now for a couple of years. This problem is supposed to be fixed when RMS 3 hits next year. We do use First Data but do not use the debit card processing feature. We run them all a credit cards. The problem we ran into was the compatibility of the First Data pin pad and RMS.