In the world of retail, old fashioned cash and checks are being swiftly overrun by credit and debit cards. Combined, the two types of cards account for nearly 60 percent of all retail sales throughout the U.S. Cash comprises merely 27 percent of the overall pie – a meager figure that is likely to drop further over the next half decade.
Merchants who have thus far resisted the trend should take note of some rather unlikely converts to credit card processing. When everyone from child volunteers to pastors are now accepting card payments, it is only a matter of time before the anti-plastic holdouts go the way of the Dodo.
To get a better idea of the increased importance of credit card processing, one should consider how commonplace it has become amongst the following:
Churches: Across the country, payments are being accepted via credit and debit card at numerous houses of worship. At some churches, payments can be made either online or inside the church lobby.
The Girl Scouts: Paying for cookies has become a whole lot easier for Californians who live in the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside, where the Girl Scouts are now offering credit card processing. Residents that don’t keep cash in their houses will now have no reason to further resist those chocolate covered, mint flavored delights.
Craft fairs: It has commonly been observed that artists are not the most monetarily driven of people. That could all be changing now that artists have found a swift new way to monetize their passion via credit card processing at shows and fairs around the country.
Garage sales: Selling old bean bags, lava lamps and shag carpets has never been more profitable thanks to credit card processing. It no longer takes a seasoned merchant to understand the process of credit card payments, which can now be mastered by everyone from Hoover Vacuum collectors to waterbed connoisseurs.
Farm stands: In an effort to facilitate veggie sales, grant monies have been offered by the USDA to enact credit card processing terminals at farm stands throughout the rural U.S. Even the most remote locations are now wired to the global economy.
Toll roads: While they are only featured in certain parts of the country, toll roads have long been the burden of locals and the bane of visiting motorists. Now, apartment dwellers in the former category can save their quarters for laundry, because credit card processing has become available at many highway tolls.
Vending machines: From skating rinks to amusement parks, signs that read “Use at your own risk” were once posted over vending machines – those unpredictable product dispensers which sometimes stole quarters. These days, there is far less risk to accessing such machines now that many are offering credit card processing.
Credit cards are now being accepted by virtually all money dispensers and commercial entities under the sun. Considering all the benefits of credit card processing, it is hard to fathom why any merchant would pass on such abilities in this day and age.
