Pianotech

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

You can have them write the check. If you don't want to initial the back and write the acct. number, use a stamp for sig. and acct no.

Use your bank's mobile app to deposit it. Take a photo of the front and back of the check. Banks don't want to be handling checks either.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

Venmo's business policy seems to exclude our kind of transactions:

The current release of Venmo's payment product for merchants is only available for certain business models. Use cases that are not supported include:

• Selling goods or services in person
• Receiving payment for goods or services through the Venmo app
• Facilitating peer-to-peer transactions between two Venmo users

------------------------------
Karl Roeder
Pompano Beach FL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:47
From: Jon Page
Subject: Contactless Payment

You can have them write the check. If you don't want to initial the back and write the acct. number, use a stamp for sig. and acct no.

Use your bank's mobile app to deposit it. Take a photo of the front and back of the check. Banks don't want to be handling checks either.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

Good advice from Jon and Carl. I do use Square, and there is a 2.6% +10 cents per swipe fee. I usually take personal checks, the old fashioned way. I probably should transition to using photos of the checks, as Jon suggested.

------------------------------
Patrick Draine
Billerica MA
978-663-9690
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

I started using the mobile app when you could only use the drive up window (lobby open by appt. only).
The line was always long and usual wait was 20-30 minutes. No bank fee, keep 100%.


------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 16:27
From: Patrick Draine
Subject: Contactless Payment

Good advice from Jon and Carl. I do use Square, and there is a 2.6% +10 cents per swipe fee. I usually take personal checks, the old fashioned way. I probably should transition to using photos of the checks, as Jon suggested.

------------------------------
Patrick Draine
Billerica MA
978-663-9690

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

Hi Jason 

if you really want to go hands free, Square has a chip reader attachment for your phone. Plug it in and have the customer insert the credit card in the reader.  You never have to touch the card. The customer can sign it, if you want, but square will accept the card without a signature.  You can then enter the email address for a receipt.  yes, square costs 2.75% on each transaction.  Just raise your fee 5% and your covered.

 I've been accepting credit cards for a long time.  I accept them as a matter of convenience.  Last year almost one third of my income was paid by credit card. It makes my customers happy.  Happy customers pass my name along.  It has also brought in extra work.  Just last month I got a $10,000 rebuilt primarily because I accepted credit cards.  

------------------------------
Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

Hello Jason,
I just started to use Zelle (no fee) and also PayPal and I don't see any fee for that: the customer sends 100 and I get 100.
Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

That's if your customer's PayPal uses a debit card or checking account for their PayPal account. I use a credit card so there is a fee if I want to pay someone that way.

------------------------------
Cindy Strehlow, RPT
Urbana, IL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 18:46
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: Contactless Payment

Hello Jason,
I just started to use Zelle (no fee) and also PayPal and I don't see any fee for that: the customer sends 100 and I get 100.
Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

I believe PayPal is free if the customer selects Friends and Family mode. This also sometimes shows up as Purchase Protection, which they should decline to avoid fees.

Rob
mitchellpianoservice.com
Registered Piano Technician
415 994-1030


Original Message:
Sent: 6/16/2020 6:47:00 PM
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: RE: Contactless Payment

Hello Jason,
I just started to use Zelle (no fee) and also PayPal and I don't see any fee for that: the customer sends 100 and I get 100.
Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

This is correct.

------------------------------
John Formsma, RPT
New Albany MS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 11:15
From: Rob Mitchell
Subject: Contactless Payment

I believe PayPal is free if the customer selects Friends and Family mode. This also sometimes shows up as Purchase Protection, which they should decline to avoid fees.

Rob
mitchellpianoservice.com
Registered Piano Technician
415 994-1030


Original Message:
Sent: 6/16/2020 6:47:00 PM
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: RE: Contactless Payment

Hello Jason,
I just started to use Zelle (no fee) and also PayPal and I don't see any fee for that: the customer sends 100 and I get 100.
Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

I used Venmo for about an hour. It took me that long to recognize that it is first of all a social networking app. It is also a third party to actual banks. Zelle, on the other hand, is not technically a third party app. It is a collection of banks that have opted in to no-charge funds transactions between each other. They don't care the reason. Venmo will allow no charge transactions, I think, but only if you set them up correctly. Zelle, on the other hand, is purely no charge sending funds from one bank account to another. I find PayPal very usable but you can't send the customer an invoice and you must have the customer send the payment to you via "friends & family" if you don't want to get nicked charges. I have a Square account but I almost never use it unless we're talking charges of several hundred $$ because of the credit card fees. Zelle is my preferred no-check/no-credit card transaction preference.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

Its good to remember that bank charges for CC transactions are an expense.  Keeping these records for your P&L is essential business practices.  

In my experience with these P2P payment options is that there is no such thing as free. 

Venmo fees: https://www.creditdonkey.com/venmo-review.html#:~:text=As%20a%20peer%2Dto%2Dpeer%20service%2C%20Venmo%20is%20free,of%20the%20transaction%20plus%20%240.30.

Paypal Fees: https://www.paypal.com/us/brc/article/understanding-merchant-credit-card-processing-fees#:~:text=It%20involves%20paying%20the%20processor%20a%20flat%20fee%20for%20all,2.9%25%20plus%20%240.30%20per%20transaction.&text=This%20is%20an%20example%20for,and%20is%20subject%20to%20change.

Zelle fees are tricky because it may be a bank fee on the back end: https://www.zellepay.com/support/are-there-any-fees-to-send-money-using-zelle

I can guarantee that if you are using a Zelle for business and not for the P2P intended purpose, your bank will start charging you.  You may not even realize it.  Think about it a free payment option / money sharing for the public,  that is not money making business model, they have to be getting their money from somewhere. 

Check around for the right option for you based on percentages, monthly fees, and per transactions fees.  And remember to record those fees as an expense so you don't end up ripping yourself off.  There are many more options than these big public facing companies.  

Just my 2 cents.


------------------------------
Gregory Cheng
Warminster PA
267-994-5742
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 02:09
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Contactless Payment

I used Venmo for about an hour. It took me that long to recognize that it is first of all a social networking app. It is also a third party to actual banks. Zelle, on the other hand, is not technically a third party app. It is a collection of banks that have opted in to no-charge funds transactions between each other. They don't care the reason. Venmo will allow no charge transactions, I think, but only if you set them up correctly. Zelle, on the other hand, is purely no charge sending funds from one bank account to another. I find PayPal very usable but you can't send the customer an invoice and you must have the customer send the payment to you via "friends & family" if you don't want to get nicked charges. I have a Square account but I almost never use it unless we're talking charges of several hundred $$ because of the credit card fees. Zelle is my preferred no-check/no-credit card transaction preference.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

At least 90% of my clients use Electronic Funds Transfer (E-Transfer). I may get a half dozen cheques (checks for my American friends) a month and the rest use a credit card and Square. E-Transfers seem to work best and with the least hassle.

John

------------------------------
John Musselwhite, RPT
Calgary, AB Canada
www.musselwhite.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------

There is no extra accounting for fees when depositing via the bank's mobile app. Not everyone will be savvy to EFT's

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-17-2020 10:33
From: John Musselwhite
Subject: Contactless Payment

At least 90% of my clients use Electronic Funds Transfer (E-Transfer). I may get a half dozen cheques (checks for my American friends) a month and the rest use a credit card and Square. E-Transfers seem to work best and with the least hassle.

John

------------------------------
John Musselwhite, RPT
Calgary, AB Canada
www.musselwhite.com

Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 15:04
From: Jason Kanter
Subject: Contactless Payment

I'm planning how to go about the coming return to tuning. Generally (in the past) at the end of a tuning, I write a description of the work done and the amount to pay, with a note saying please make check out to...
But I don't want to physically receive a check into my hand from the customer's hand, if possible. I could have them drop it into my toolkit...
Someone suggested that I use Venmo, which is apparently a common contactless payment method in my neck of the forest. But is that a good idea? I'm curious for your thoughts and experiences.
I read the fine print in the Venmo settings pages, and it appears to be disallowed to receive Venmo payment for professional services unless I open a merchant account. ["personal accounts may not be used to conduct business, commercial or merchant transactions with other personal accounts, which includes paying or accepting payment from other personal accounts held by users you do not personally know for goods or services (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise)"]
There's also the possibility of "paypal.me" which charges 2.5%, whereas Venmo is free if you "personally know" the user. Of course I do "personally know" my tuning clients.
Thoughts?

------------------------------
Jason Kanter
Lynnwood WA
425-830-1561
------------------------------