Thursday, January 31, 2013

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING CHANGE APPROACHING!

WHAT'S CHANGING? 



Soon you will see an influx of cards with a smart chip instead of, or along with, a traditional magnetic strip. The smart chip cards are more secure than traditional magnetic strips and they will protect customer card information with improved data encryption. In order to accept cards with smart chips, you will need to upgrade your credit card terminal to one that has smart chip reading capabilities. 


Here's what you NEED to know: 

  1. Changes are only relevant to retailers (businesses that accept cards face-to-face). 
  2. Retailers will soon be able to accept Smart Cards with EMV chips (like the card pictured above).
  3. Technology will be finalized in April, 2013. 
  4. You have until October, 2015 to make the change.
  5. You can upgrade now if you are ready to embrace this change immediately.
  6. Upgrading gives you a special defense against fraudulent charge-backs that was never before available.

Here are some other ways to stay current about Credit Card Processing and Electronic Data Payment Systems News:

      Follow Us 
    For bite-sized info bits.

      Like US
    For need-to-know info bits, and a little info about EDPS.


    Thursday, December 20, 2012

    Compilation of Customer Service Quotes



    Compilation of Customer Service Quotes

    Whether your business experiences feast or famine during the holiday season, customer service is something that should be at the front of our minds. It's easy to become overwhelmed when you're bursting at the seams with inventory and every customer is in a bigger hurry than the last. This is a special time for most customers and their stress levels are through the roof! They will remember this experience. They will remember the retailer who nearly ruined their loved one's gift. They will remember the cold meal they ate after hours of grueling holiday preparation. Then next year, they won't return.

    Conversely, if the holiday season is your down-time, it's just as easy to become complacent, or to be busy with your own holiday plans. When those few customers visit, and they sense your complacency and your resentment towards making adjustments for them, they will do business elsewhere. 

    You may not be able to please all of the people, all of the time, but imagine the impact on your business when all of your front line employees make THIS their primary objective. Imagine the customer satisfaction and retention increases that would result from striving toward this goal, and moving infinitely closer to finally pleasing all of the people.

    Quotes are great. They inspire us, and they give us a snapshot into the minds of successful people, but the following compilation is not intended for enjoyment. Share these quotes within your business. Talk about customer service. Ask your employees to set goals, not only for sales and revenue, but for satisfaction as well. Comment or email us any positive or negative results that occur!



    "To my customer. I may not have the answer, but I’ll find it. I may not have the time, but I’ll make it."
    ~Unkown


    "The customer’s perception is your reality."
    ~Kate Zabriskie, Author of: Customer Service Excellence: How to Deliver Value to Today’s Busy Customer


    "The single most important thing to remember about any enterprise is that there are no results inside its walls. The result of a business is a satisfied customer."
    ~Peter Drucker


    "It helps a ton when you learn people’s names and don’t butcher them when trying to pronounce them."
    ~Jerry Yang


    "Every company’s greatest assets are its customers, because without customers there is no company."
    ~Michael LeBoeuf, Author of: How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life


    "You’ve got to look for a gap, where competitors in a market have grown lazy and lost contact with the readers or the viewers."
    ~Rupert Murdoch


    "A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so."
    ~Mahatma Gandhi


    "In the world of Internet Customer Service, it’s important to remember your competitor is only one mouse click away."
    ~Doug Warner


    "There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else."
    ~Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart


    "It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages."
    ~Henry Ford


    "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning."
    ~Bill Gates


    "The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear."
    ~Socrates


    Wednesday, November 21, 2012

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    We'll keep today's post simple.


    From all of us to you and yours!

    Wednesday, November 7, 2012

    PRODUCTIVITY TIPS

    Let's move beyond credit card processing, to a goal that all businesses strive for: increased productivity. We've brainstormed some tips for you. If you have found any useful tips or tricks we haven't mentioned. We encourage you to comment and let us know!


    • Block out distractions: You may not have thought of email, instant messengers, or your phone as a distraction, because you use these items to for important communication. You certainly don't want to miss a call from your boss, right? Wrong. If you're expecting a call or email, by all means, keep an eye on your inbox! But in the long run, your boss will probably be more impressed by the projects you've completed than the fact that you answered your phone on the first ring.
    • Stay positive: When you keep a positive outlook, your body naturally has more energy, and your mind is clearer without all that nasty stress in the way. 
    Terri Mayle, Business Development manager shared this with me: "Whatever your most challanging or stressful task is, do it right away. Just tackle it and get it out of the way, so you can move onto your other work instead of sweating the tough task all day."
    • Pay attention to your most productive times of day: If you're a morning person, you may want to tackle that big project straight away. Afternoon people may feel more refreshed after lunch. Some of us here at EDPS likes to burn the mid-night oil from time to time. Perhaps as essential as taking advantage of productive times is accomplishing small or tedious tasks during your low-productivity times.
    • Plan your day: We all know things don't usually go as planned, but planning your day the evening before gives you a starting point. 
    • Prioritize: Some of us here at EDPS number our "To Do" list. #1=top priority, #2=second most important item. If your color-oriented, you can use highlighters to color-code your list instead. The key is finding what works for you, and sticking with it. It can also be helpful to write the estimated time for a task next to it. If you think a task will take 15 minutes, write 20 minutes. Then when you've finished a project just 20 minutes before lunch, you'll be able to check another item off your list instead of starting another big project.
    • Take a break: Don't be afraid to take a 10 or 15 minute break to relax and recharge. It will make you more productive when you start working again


    We hope these items can help our clients and partners increase their productivity! With a list like this, there is always room for improvement, so share your tips, and we'll be sure to post them.


    Tuesday, September 4, 2012

    AND FINALLY...


    Top Ten Indicators that It’s Time to Shop for a New Credit Card Processing Company

    Number 1: Your processor has poor customer or association reviews.
                    The best way to tell if your processor is fair is to ask their customers. Read online; talk to friends; refer to authorities on the subject. If you are part of an association, check with administration or prominent members. Reach out to your community members. Check their social media pages. Lack of traffic is not necessarily an indicator, but consistent poor reviews are a red flag. 

    The bottom line is that business owners must always ensure that processors words and promises match their actions. Oversights happen, and processors are not perfect entities, but oversights are different than warning signs. A savvy business owner knows the difference, and evaluates processors on the appropriate criteria.

    Thursday, August 30, 2012

    NUMBER 2


    Top Ten Indicators that it's Time to Shop for a New Credit Card Processing Company


    Number 2: Your equipment or solution only works with once provider.
                    It’s a trap! This one is worse than Number 3 because you cannot escape without buying new equipment, or paying a contract termination fee. Read your agreements before you sign up. Your customer service representative should be able to clearly explain every item of your contract. Furthermore, the more complicated your contract seems, the more you need to have it reviewed. Credit card processing is only a little confusing by nature. Extreme confusion is a sign of hidden unethical tactics or a disorganized business, both of which are indicative of a bad processor.


    Monday, August 27, 2012

    NUMBER 3


    TopTen Indicators that it's Time to Shop for a New Credit Card Processing Company

    Number 3: Your processor offers “free” equipment.
                    It’s a trap! They lure you in with free equipment only to charge high rates and hidden fees. It always sounds like you will spend less because you will have low start up costs, but in the end you will pay for that terminal one way or another. Whip out your calculator and do the math, then start shopping.