Convenience,Customers everywhere are looking for it. As our schedules have grown more and more hectic over the years, and personal and business demands and obligations have mounted, consumers have turned in droves to businesses that offer them the greatest degree of convenience and ease, and smart businesses know that, to stay afloat in today’s economy, they have to offer what the customers want. One of the easiest ways to offer your own customers a greater degree of convenience is to begin offering credit cards as a payment option for the products you sell.
Recent statistics show that greater number of consumers than ever before are turning to credit cards to make their purchases – and not just for large purchases or holiday shopping, but for very day expenses like groceries and other common items and services.
Why the increase in credit card usage? There are many, many reasons, but here are a few of the leading factors contributing to the increased use of credit cards among consumers – and they’re all tied to increased convenience:
Credit cards are safer than cash. You lose cash or have it stolen and it’s gone for good. If your credit card is lost or stolen, it can be replaced and cardholders are not held liable for purchases made after the card was reported stolen.
Some credit cards offer extended warranties on certain goods, such as electronics, when those goods are purchased using the card.
Consumers view businesses that offer credit cards more favorably since they are perceived as being safer and less risky than cash-only merchants. As a result, rather than having to shop around, consumers prefer to save time by patronizing companies that accept credit cards.
Credit cards allow consumers to make larger and more expensive purchases now, rather than waiting to accrue the needed cash.
Credit cards allow consumers to pay off their balances over an extended period of time, making it easier and less burdensome to afford major purchases and work their costs into the regular monthly budget.
Credit cards are easier to carry than bulky cash, especially when doing extended shopping, like during holiday season, and when large purchases are being made.
Credit cards allow for faster delivery of goods purchased over the phone, by mail order, and through the Internet. While many businesses that operate in these venues may accept checks as payments of their goods and services, most businesses will wait until a check clears – a process which can take a week or more – before sending out an order. Because credit cards allow for transactions to be processed the same day an order is made, the customer receives their purchases much faster form these businesses.
Credit cards help keep finances and budgeting more streamlined by keeping a list of all transaction in one simple place, and issuing a monthly statement that can be easily stored online or in a filing cabinet. In addition, many credit card companies offer simple accounting tools that allow consumers to see what types of expenditures they’re making, and how much they’re spending in specific cost categories, all useful tools in helping consumers maintain their budgets and determine their overall spending patterns. Credit cards benefit the business in the same way by keeping a detailed, centralized list of all credit transactions processed each day.
As a consumer, credit cards are an ideal and simple way to reward yourself. What greater convenience than knowing that when you sue your credit card, the card issuer automatically rewards you with bonuses and incentives that can be redeemed for airline miles, hotel stays, merchandise or services, or money? There’s no record keeping needed on the part of the consumer: just use the card to pay and the reward account is credited. Many regular card users take advantage of this benefit to pay for annual vacations or to fund holiday spending. This is the number one reason why even infrequent card users are turning more and more often to plastic when it’s time to make a purchase or nearly any type.
And here’s an added benefit you may not have thought of: regular and responsible use of credit cards is an easy, convenient way to build up personal credit. While a strong credit history is an important factor in a consumer’s ability to take out loans, today credit scores and histories are being sued to determine rates for home and car insurance, and can even be used by potential employers to determine whether or not an applicant is a good choice for employment. Using credit cards is a powerful – and convenient – means of establishing and maintaining good credit health.
With so many factors in their favor, it’s easy to see how consumers will view your business as being a convenient option when it’s time to make a purchase. Today’s merchant accounts make it easier than ever before to accept credit cards at your business. Take some time today to explore the options available to you.
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Credit Card Processing: Make Your Business More Convenient
