Hi, this year I started making sewn items for sale at crafts shows. So far I've gone to 1 event, and considering the mistakes I made with set-up, presentation etc. I did fairly well. My items range from $3 to $55. Most of the vendors around me seemed to accept credit cards. I am not set up for anything like that (only cash and checks) and am wondering whether it would really create that many more sales. What are you accepting as payment? And if you accept credit cards, what service do you use? Thank you!

I used to do craft shows for years and never took credit cards. Took checks and never had a problem, even with out of state buyers.
I don't believe I ever lost a sale because of not taking CC.

i did a few, cc cost YOU to take them, never lost a sale, cash machines all over even in churches now

I actually had one lady who assumed I took credit cards and put the item back when I told her I didn't. She came back a while later to buy the item, she had gotten cash from an ATM. I thought that was kind of nice.

If they're accepting CCs, then they have a well established business. The fees that the card and processing companies charge can be quite outrageous, even if you have no transactions in a given month. If its something that would be worth it to you, definitely look into it! If you're a member of a wholesale club (like Costco or Sam's Club), sometimes they have deals for their members. Intuit also has a credit card service for small businesses. I only take cards via PayPal.

I take cash and check only. If all you had were big ticket items, say over $50. and up, I might consider a cc, otherwise no need for one.

Nope --- I wouldn't take checks. Been burned. I scope out before the shows where the nearest ATM machine is located and direct them to the ATM. I'm in heaven if there is one in the same building.

When I went to gem shows, some of the vendors would accept cc's only if the sale was over $20 (or more).

CC companies charge you a percentage every month even if you don't have transactions...if you are getting checks get drivers license number also...can help if the check ever does bounce.

[quote=bjnicholson]When I went to gem shows, some of the vendors would accept cc's only if the sale was over $20 (or more).

You are not supposed to set a limit when accepting a cc. I seem to remember this from the paperwork from setting up the processing.

I accept cc's at craft shows, but I'm also a legitimate business, collecting sales tax, etc...and I have had lots of bounced checks over the years...
It is a costly price of business...you can check out some of the info regarding fees thru Sam's Club or Costco.
If you are just starting out, why not stay with Check and cash for awhile...When I get to a location, I always will look for the cash station, so I can direct the customer.

I take cc's at shows and use ProPay. You must join and pay the fee. I believe for me it has been worth it for my higher ticket items and on custom orders. With checks get the info off the drivers license. I use a carbonless receipt pad from staples. They sign the receipt...this is a must. You check the signatures. You wait about 1 week for the $ to be transferred.to yur accounts. No knuckle buster and no phone hook up needed. Try to restrict their use of cc on items $20 and over. It works for me.

Thanks so far. I think for the time being I'll avoid the credit card thing. Some of these other vendors said their sales increased 30 % after they started accepting credit cards. With my price range I'll stick to cash and checks.

When I sell things at fairs and shows etc I never take checks cash only. I have been burned several times and lost a lot of profits. It is really hard to collect the money from an NSF check and you have to pay money to get it collected.

Check with your state's Attorney's General. In Illinois, if I turn a bad check over to them after making an attempt to collect, the police will show up at the persons home and take them in. It is illegal to pass a bad check. You can recover the amount of the check, plus up to 10 times the amount of the check and expenses (certified letter cost, etc.)

I only do cash and checks when I do a show. No one so far has ask if I took credit cards yet, and I have only taken a couple checks. I do this show about twice a year and I have a friend that has been doing things like this for years and if someone wants to give me a check I check with him, cause he really has a good sense of people.

I personally would never take CCs BUT have lost a sale because of this------think the woman was hard up and wanted to stretch her payment on plastic!