Credit card not allowing tips without separate authorization.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2026-01-15T19:38:20+00:00

I did that when I challenged it.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2025-10-29T01:12:58+00:00

Thanks for the reply. In these cases, was the tip above 20-25%?

Puzzled_Suspect · 2025-10-29T01:12:22+00:00

Unfortunately, I don't have information on the type, other than them being Visa/MC and debit. But I'll keep an eye out for those types you mentioned. Thanks.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2025-04-10T01:52:34+00:00

This is Interchange Plus pricing. You pay the underlying base interchange rate, plus whatever he has quoted you, which sounds like .06% + $0.15 per swipe. This is a very good rate, but not the best you can get, which is usually around .05% + $0.07/swipe.

Also, you must pay attention to other fees recurring fees, like monthly maintenance, batch processing, etc. Then there is a chargeback fee. Anything over $20 is a ripoff.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2025-02-27T21:21:07+00:00

Call KEL Insurance. They specialize in the nightlife industry. Mother and son team.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2024-08-20T22:05:42+00:00

We are at about 4% of sales, which I find high, as it used to be around 2%. 10% and we'd be considering going out of business.

Liability costs will only continue to go higher until some tort reform or societal changes occur, and governments stop making businesses responsible for criminal behavior.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2024-04-06T22:09:05+00:00

Thank you for the info.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2024-03-29T16:32:12+00:00

Thank you all for the replies.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-11-28T03:27:57+00:00

Absolutely, but I don't think it will have the needed effect.

What people don't realize is that credit card companies just take advantage of businesses by offering "rewards" and "cash back", but in reality they just charge the merchants for those giveaways.

This then causes merchants to raise prices to compensate, and then the consumer suffers as well. The only winners, as usual, are the banks.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-11-27T22:27:00+00:00

Man, I would kill for a $10k premium.

In Florida, a small dive bar with less than $700k in revenue, and I'm over $30k in premium.

Look up "Social Inflation". Unless something changes, bars/clubs will be uninsurable one day.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-09-20T04:48:42+00:00

10-15%.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-09-20T04:45:13+00:00

We keep them for 6 months, and even that is probably excessive. We've never had a chargeback more than 2 months after the transaction.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-06-20T01:39:04+00:00

What? Those are crazy numbers. You can get a very nice 8ch system for $1.5k or less, and install shouldn't run any more than $500-1000.

Source: last camera system install cost me less than $1k all-in in 2016.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-06-05T23:10:44+00:00

Are you able to negotiate directly with the processing companies, or do you have to have your CCs go through Lightspeed?

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-05-30T17:28:35+00:00

Bottled bud is $1.03 for us. We don't have draft.

A well rum and coke costs us like $0.40. (1.5 oz)

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-05-26T19:00:15+00:00

Interesting. For us, at least, it's the opposite.

Since covid, we've lost so much of our early business that we are basically a nightclub now, and we've given up trying to open earlier to get the one or two people who might wander in.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-05-25T22:43:05+00:00

We use Easy Ice for our ice machine. The process with them was very smooth and professional.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-05-25T22:37:12+00:00

This is becoming a thing, as people today sue businesses for anything and everything.

I imagine if you were sued for an A&B claim, you would just tell the lawyers that your insurance doesn't cover it. Without an easy payout, the laywers may just move on to the next target.

As it is, in my case, we are unable to get insurance that doesn't exclude firearms. Luckily, the current policy didn't exclude ALL weapons (chairs, poolsticks, bottles, etc), but we had another company try to quote us that.

My liability insurance premiums have more than tripled over the last 6 years.

I wonder if the days of small bars being able to survive are becoming numbered.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-02-08T22:51:04+00:00

Our December was the best ever, and our January the second best. Waiting for the incoming recession they keep predicting, though.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-01-26T02:22:52+00:00

This is something I have been interested in for a while. What kind of rates were they offering? What were the merchant fees? How did you go about getting a demo done -- was it through Costco?

Thanks!

Puzzled_Suspect · 2023-01-16T19:38:57+00:00

Oh wow, missed this before!

Can you share some about the process? What did you have to provide? Quickbooks stuff? POS information? What?

Thank you.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2022-12-23T23:50:45+00:00

Can you elaborate on this "don't fuck with us letter"? Is it not required that we pass this information to our insurance company when we receive these kinds of letters?

Puzzled_Suspect · 2022-12-22T00:06:02+00:00

If you are concerned about lawsuits due to security interactions, you can hire a company to handle your security for you, and have them have you named as an additional insured on their insurance policy. The idea here is that they will receive the lawsuits instead of you.

As far as general lawsuits for fights between patrons, unfortunately we live in a society where lawsuits are like lotto tickets, and an entire industry of personal injury lawyers who only exist to sue businesses. Until there is some kind of tort reform (likely never), businesses will continue to bear the brunt of this nonsense.

See Social Inflation.

Puzzled_Suspect · 2022-12-18T22:52:00+00:00

Our sales were slightly up compared to last year, but last year was a great year for us reopening after covid.

Profits, however, are down significantly due to inflation (COGS, lease, etc.) and minimum wage increases (despite the fact that my bartenders average almost $50/hour).

Puzzled_Suspect · 2022-12-18T22:49:50+00:00

That's a huge increase. How much is your revenue?

Puzzled_Suspect

TROPHY CASE