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Network swipe fees?

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Network swipe fees?

Anyone know the exact % that Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and AmEX charge the merchant for using each respective network's cards? just curious

Message 1 of 7
6 REPLIES 6
pipeguy
Senior Contributor

Re: Network swipe fees?

Impossible question - the rate(s) vary depending on total volume, average sale and type of business including actual store or online only. Rates are set by your network provider - allowing a profit - not by the actual processor (MC/V/AE/Dis)

 

An example would be you get your card processing services through the bank you use for your business. MC/V actual network  charges 1.50%, you have a $20 average sale and very few charge backs, with say $1,000,000 in expected sales per year, so your bank adds 1.0 % plus a monthly service fee of $75 and a 20 cent per sale fee.

 

The above is just an example, every part of it is variable except the actual MC/V/AE/Dis network cost, but that is between the network and your processor - think wholesale cost, where YOU pay retail cost marked up by your local processor. Obviously Walmart or CVS gets a different rate than the local Sub-shop. Internet only retailers, unfavored businesses such as tobacco, tatoos, pawnshops, etc pay a higher rate due to higher fraud-charge offs and because the provider "can" charge more.

 

When I ran my businesses, I paid (after 18 years, slowly going up) 2.75% MC/V and 3.95% AE, NO per item charge, $30 a month service charge, $100+ average sale and "zero" charge backs (maybe 1 per year on a bad year) - NO free standing stores - direct sales of products. I have no experience with "services" such as a doctors office, but I suspect its similar. 

Message 2 of 7
mongstradamus
Super Contributor

Re: Network swipe fees?


@pipeguy wrote:

Impossible question - the rate(s) vary depending on total volume, average sale and type of business including actual store or online only. Rates are set by your network provider - allowing a profit - not by the actual processor (MC/V/AE/Dis)

 

An example would be you get your card processing services through the bank you use for your business. MC/V actual network  charges 1.50%, you have a $20 average sale and very few charge backs, with say $1,000,000 in expected sales per year, so your bank adds 1.0 % plus a monthly service fee of $75 and a 20 cent per sale fee.

 

The above is just an example, every part of it is variable except the actual MC/V/AE/Dis network cost, but that is between the network and your processor - think wholesale cost, where YOU pay retail cost marked up by your local processor. Obviously Walmart or CVS gets a different rate than the local Sub-shop. Internet only retailers, unfavored businesses such as tobacco, tatoos, pawnshops, etc pay a higher rate due to higher fraud-charge offs and because the provider "can" charge more.

 

When I ran my businesses, I paid (after 18 years, slowly going up) 2.75% MC/V and 3.95% AE, NO per item charge, $30 a month service charge, $100+ average sale and "zero" charge backs (maybe 1 per year on a bad year) - NO free standing stores - direct sales of products. I have no experience with "services" such as a doctors office, but I suspect its similar. 


I am just curious as an ownder of business do you price in cc swipe fees to how much you charge for items, regardless if people pay via cash or credit. I was just wondering . 



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Message 3 of 7
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Network swipe fees?

Amex must charge a lot these days. Im encountering more and more places that take everything but amex. Amex may turn from my main card into my backup card. A few shops in my local mall didnt take it today which was surprising. Seems like I used it at those stores before.
Message 4 of 7
mongstradamus
Super Contributor

Re: Network swipe fees?


@purebulldogs500 wrote:
Amex must charge a lot these days. Im encountering more and more places that take everything but amex. Amex may turn from my main card into my backup card. A few shops in my local mall didnt take it today which was surprising. Seems like I used it at those stores before.

there is town near where i live where i don't think anywhere takes amex, QS has turned into my everyday card because of that. 



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Message 5 of 7
pipeguy
Senior Contributor

Re: Network swipe fees?


@mongstradamus wrote:

@pipeguy wrote:

Impossible question - the rate(s) vary depending on total volume, average sale and type of business including actual store or online only. Rates are set by your network provider - allowing a profit - not by the actual processor (MC/V/AE/Dis)

 

.... snip


I am just curious as an ownder of business do you price in cc swipe fees to how much you charge for items, regardless if people pay via cash or credit. I was just wondering . 


No I didn't directly, but as a "cost of doing business" if was a real factor in the overall health of the business which went broke after 18 years, most of them profitable. However, my understanding is that "reward card costs" are being passed on to merchants today as an adjustible swipe fee schedule.

Message 6 of 7
juggalo9er
Valued Contributor

Re: Network swipe fees?

the device i have for my phone charges 1.25% swipe fee...needless to say my capone card has massive points on it

Message 7 of 7
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