Credit Card Swiper

As more and more people use their credit and debit cards when shopping, businesses that have a credit card swiper offer a convenient shopping experience.

Credit card swipers and magnetic stripe card readers let you run credit cards through your POS (point-of-sale) software or POS system. In addition to standard cards (or charge cards) they can also read ATM cards, employee cards, customer cards, and gift certificates. Most retailers require a reliable and affordable way to accept credit card payments, or risk losing sales.

Credit Card Processing

With all of the different models and feature sets from manufacturers like Verifone, Lipman-Nurit and Hypercom, selecting the right one can be a daunting task. One thing is for sure though, and that is that enabling customers the freedom to choose their desired method of payment is crucial for businesses to survive in a competitive environment. A credit card reader uses the magnetic stripe on the back of the card to read the identifying details of the card owner. The information is sent via a secure connection to the financial institution to verify the account and process the payment.

Different Types of Machines

There is a wide array of different types of methods and credit card processing equipment that can enable merchants to accept card payments. Credit card swipers utilized the information on the magnetic stripe to verify payment. These units can be stand alone machines or can be small units, connected via USB port to a computer. The USB type units require associated software to be installed on the computer.

A portable credit card swiper or a wireless credit card machine can offer mobility to the merchant. In some instances the sale or transaction does not occur at a traditional 'check out' location. Instead many businesses find the need to verify payment at different locations, be it the customer premise or even the merchant's own location if that location is spread out over a wide area such as a warehouse. The wireless type units have many different features and can be wirelessly connected via a wireless LAN or through a cell phone provider.

If you are buying a credit card swipe machine online, check out product reviews for any models you consider before you make your purchase. Or if your current credit card swiper or manual credit card machine is out of date or you think your business would be better served by a new system, take a look at the different models and suppliers featured on creditcardswiper.org.

Remember that you will need a Merchant Account to operate a credit card processing system. This is an account with a financial institution or bank that is used by a merchant specifically for the purpose of collecting proceeds due from credit card payment transactions. A Card Present merchant account is used when a card is presented to the merchant by the customer at the time of the transaction. A Card Not Present (CNP) account is used by merchants that receive payments electronically or by phone.