Credit Cards at Tournaments?

[stpitner]

Hey Guys and Gals,

I'm fishing for some opinions.  I'm considering implementing something next year where I would be able to accept credit cards at a tournament.  It would be in conjunction with my overall system to help me track my inventory better and see what is coming in and going out.  There wouldn't be a minimum purchase amount (ok, well, maybe $5... I don't want people charging for a $1 mini lol), and I would accept the usual MC/Visa/Am Ex/Discover.  The only thing that I *might* have to do is charge sales tax on the sale.  Right now it's all tax included on all of my cash sales.

Does this sound like a cool thing?  A bad thing?  About freaking time thing?  It would cost me close to $3k just to invest in the proper system setup for this (although it IS an excuse to *finally* get a laptop! ), and I would use it at both disc golf tournaments and baseball card shows.  I've done some research on fees, and overall it would probably be a little cheaper than what I do now with PayPal.  It can also be semi-integrated with my website endeavors later on down the line.

If this is something that was offered, would you use it?  I don't think I could use it for tournament registration because of the cash payout to the pro division and then stuff like the Ace fund and things like that are all cash payout.

I'm just contemplating if there is enough need to offer something like that for disc golf.  It's easier to argue for it with baseball cards since I frequently have stuff on my table that is $30, $50, $100+.  Not everyone is walking around with that much cash in their pocket!

Overall it would certainly be in my best interest if some people decided to buy something when they weren't going to before without accepting credit cards, but it also carries a major convenience factor as well for the consumers who normally just pay cash.

Thanks for your responses,
Scott

[Mukey]

I'd say it might not be needed for disc golf, but if it will also serve a purpose for your card business then go for it. I'm sure some people who don't have cash will bite when you tell then you'll accept plastic. Heh, gives another meaning to "Paper or Plastic Sports."   

[stpitner]

another thing that I would probably do with accepting credit cards is that i would stop accepting checks.  I was burned (ok, it was only for $21) at the River Cities Rumble this year because someone wrote a bad check.  The setup I'd pick up would do instant approvals on credit cards.  That reason right there might be enough for me to go for it.  It also might be helpful if someone is looking into investing in a basket or a bag without using their brass/funny money.

[mirth]

Could also be useful for day of registration, but I could see that also slowing down the reg line a little.