| When making payments both online and offline, the | | | | store, you probably scan your credit or debit card |
| trend is to now pay with credit cards and debit cards. | | | | through a machine that is right there at the checkout. |
| Much of this is due to the fact that they are quick, | | | | The clerk has no need to see your card. Sometimes |
| convenient, and they allow you much more freedom | | | | they will request your ID so that they can match up |
| when it comes to purchasing. In the case of credit | | | | the signature on their screen with the signature on your |
| cards, individuals are able to get rewards and they can | | | | ID to ensure you are who you say you are. This is |
| buy now, pay later. When it comes to debit cars, the | | | | actually a good system because no one touches your |
| funds are directly deducted from a checking account | | | | card other than you. This reduces the chance of |
| instead of having to pay cash. | | | | clerks using skimmers to duplicate the information in |
| Online | | | | the magnetic strip of your card. |
| When paying online, the only way to do it is to use a | | | | The alternative is the built-in equipment. This is credit |
| credit or debit card. That's unless the merchant will | | | | card processing machinery that is built into the cash |
| accept payment from a service such as PayPal, or | | | | register. The clerk takes the card, looks at the |
| they have a system in place that enables you to send | | | | signature on the back of the card, scans it, and then |
| them a check for the purchase amount. But it is fair to | | | | looks at your ID or compares your signature on the |
| say that most businesses will utilize a credit card | | | | credit card slip to the one on the ID. |
| system. They usually have merchant accounts set up | | | | But there is another alternative and that is the |
| online so that they don't have to use any electronic | | | | standalone machine that virtually any merchant can |
| devices to process credit card payments. It is all done | | | | use. There are a lot of mom and pop stores and |
| automatically. | | | | restaurants using these machines. They connect them |
| The only time that an online merchant may use a | | | | to their phone lines and scan the card through. Each |
| device is if they have a generic system set up where | | | | transaction results in a charge for them so that the |
| you enter your credit card number and they have to | | | | company providing the machine makes a profit. When |
| enter it manually on their end when they get it. This is | | | | a business is not part of a larger chain that uses a |
| not something you will find often and is actually | | | | universal system, this is a great solution because it |
| something that you should look out for when doing | | | | grows business, is convenient for the customer, and is |
| online transactions. You want to do transactions with a | | | | also convenient for the business in that things such as |
| site that is secure. If you see " in the address bar, then | | | | tipping is made much easier. |
| you know you are doing business with a secure | | | | So if you are not using a point of sale credit card |
| website. | | | | machine, then it is time to start using one. Most |
| Offline | | | | individuals now become irritated when they come |
| In the offline world is where you will see electronic | | | | across a business not taking credit and debt cards, so |
| devices used to make credit card payments. When | | | | make sure you can cater to that. |
| you go to the grocery store or your local department | | | | |