from everything I've read over the years, Propay is the best way to go. I actually plan to sign up with them in April before my next gig. 

they did offer a special rate at one time for etsyiers so make sure you call and let them know you are on etsy.  it may make your yearly rate less, it did mine.

heather

If you are selling your jewelry on a website, one of the easiest ways to accept payment is through paypal.  The only downside is that the customer also must use paypal and therefor is a bit limiting. 

There are several companies out there that will set you up with a mechant account.  I used to be in the industry and worked for Cardservice, Bank Card USA and International Card Establishment. 

When processing over the internet, the rate you should be around 2.19% - 2.25% for Visa and Mastercard.  AMEX and Discover are different.  It should cost you approx. $195 activation fee and then around $30 monthly there after ($20 gateway and $10 customer support).  All of these companies would set you up with a secured online merchant account.  It takes a few signatures, some paperwork and you are up and running in a few days !  You can find any of them in Google.

Good luck.

Kameron

I use a Nurit 8000 wireless credit card processing unit that gives me on the spot authorizations.  When my prices got higher and I didn't want to see a $100+ pendant go without authorization, I needed something reliable.  Swipe and done.  Batching...push two buttons.  Rates are good.  The unit is free and this is more for someone who is making a living at this because there are minimum requirements....the unit was free. 

www.acceptingcreditcards.biz

Donna

I did go with propay and so far so good. I won't use it for any on-line business as I hav paypal, and it seems like just about everyone who shops online has paypal as well. Unfortunately I didn't read the post about etsyians getting a discount through propay until after I joined but it was still really reasonable. I wasn't comfortable with getting approval after a show when the merchandise was allready with the customer so I got the premium pkg. which was $60.00 a year which allows phone approvals as well as internet, but it also includes Discover and Amex and has a lower rate. So I only pay the $60 annual fee and any other fees are all per transaction so if I don't use it in any given month I pay nothing. I've done one show and had only one CC purchase and it was easy, quick and reliable. So far I'm happy with it.

 I went with propay a couple of years ago when I was about to do my first show.  It was a good thing too - 3/4 of my sales were credit and it's been that or more for most shows I've done.  I also got the premium account with phone capability - but have never used it - and never had a problem with processing after the show.  (one exception was when my booth-mate didn't get all the necessary info to process - that can't be blamed on propay tho - but phone processing would have caught that one.)  Usually the shows are so crazy that I don't really want to stop and spend the time calling it in.  Maybe if I had power and an electronic swiper like some I see - I would do it - but it's just takes too long calling on a cell phone.  I do like being able to take AmExp with the premium account .  So for me $60/yr and comparable processing fees - I'm really happy with it.  Also, I've done live chats with their support team when I didn't understand something and that is very nice.  One thing I would have done differently is to have given myself a business name to show up on statements to help customers identify what they bought from me.  I'm still not sure what shows up but it seems to be working.   I also bought a knucklebuster so I have a impression of the cards - just fyi .   Hope this helps.

I love Propay.com. I have the knucle buster and swipe each card, get their CVS code and zip code. I usually don't run it through until I get home. This is my third year with it and have no bad things to say. I do not use the pre-paid card to get my money, I have them drop it right into my checking account. I had heard a coupld of bad things had happened to people with those cards, so I just have never tried it. I sold for three years without credit card processing and it did turn away alot of sales, so it is just something you have to do now a days. My first coupld of yers with it, most of my sales were in credit cards, but it is kind of changing for me. People are usign more cash to purchase my items or checks. I got my first bad check this year. Sales are down too. I wish you luck. Jenny

I am thinking about getting into credit cards as well.  What is your recourse if someone uses a bad credit card?  Are you just out that money or does the card carrier help you get your money?  Up until now I've just done home shows, and cash/checks have worked fine.  But I will be doing a large show in September where approx. 22,000 people attend, and I think maybe I need to be accepting credit cards.  Alice

 I really suggest signing up with Propay before your show. I did just that before a high-end show and it definitely helped my sales. impossible to say how much, but  half my sales were cc. buy a card swiper and make sure to get their zip code, something I did realize you should do. I don't know how they handle a bad card...? if you are really nervous about that you can authorize on the spot - if you have a friend to help.

"Are you just out that money or does the card carrier help you get your money?"

Hi, Alice -I have a merchant account through Costco. My gateway (FastTransact - EZIC) is the best in the industry, with VERY strong fraud controls. In the last six years I have had lots of attempts by fraudulent shoppers, but not one chargeback or bad charge.

However ... before this account I had one with CardService. I got an order from a guy in Alaska (i'm in NY) for around $70.00. Shipped it, DC showed it was delivered - but the guy charged it back the following month. Said he never authorized the charge. I guess his kid or wife used his card without permission. He denied having the cuff bracelet - of course no mention of his wife or kid having it - so I never got it back, and they refunded his cash. So I lost the bracelet (they took his payment back), the cost of shipping it by Priority mail, a nice box AND they charged me a $25.00 fee. SO ... the answer is ... the customer or the credit card company will not lose a dime.

You will make MUCH more than you lose when you accept credit cards. 

 I do lots of outside markets and went through Costco to buy my wireless/battery powered credit card machine.  It was spendy to purchase but has quickly paid for itself.  The machine through costco is about $850 (very nice-looks like the one in stores).  Then you pay a wireless fee (sprint) of $19.99.  Everything is run through the costco merchant services.  You get a statement every month and can view your deposits online through Merchant Connect.  It works great- you can take credit/debit, do e-checks, phone orders, etc..  It is all direct deposited right into your bank account.  Very easy!