Retail Merchant Account

Retail Merchant Account Rates & Fees

At AMS we deliver the guaranteed best merchant accounts quickly and easily. Simply choose the package below that best fits your business needs and apply online or call our helpful sales staff toll-free at 800-613-1413.

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Retail Merchant Account FAQ

A more general Merchant Account FAQ can be found here.

What is a retail merchant account?
Credit card processors classify merchant accounts by the way in which a merchant transacts a credit card sale. A retail merchant account is an account that is set-up under the assumption that the merchant is going to swipe at least 80% of their total credit card transactions through a credit card terminal. In order to qualify as a retail merchant you will need to have the customer present with you at least 80% of the time so that you can physically swipe their credit card. If you do not think you will be able to classify as a retail merchant you should consider a mail order merchant account, or an Internet merchant account. If you're not sure which account best fits your business please contact our sales department for assistance. Our sales staff is very knowledgeable and happy to help.

Why are the rates and fees lower for a retail merchant account than for an Internet or Mail order merchant account?
A retail merchant account is considered by credit card processors to be the lowest risk way of transacting credit card sales. Processors assume this because the customer and the credit card are going to be present when a sale is made, greatly reducing the risk of credit card fraud and chargebacks. With the lower risk also comes lower rates and fees.

Which credit card machines are best to use with a retail merchant account?
At AMS we offer a large variety of credit card terminals from all major manufacturers including Verifone®, Hypercom®, and Thales® at wholesale prices along with an optional AMS Merchant Club that offers tons of great additional benefits. An ideal credit card terminal for a retail merchant would be a credit card terminal with a printer. The most popular specific terminals are the Hypercom T7P, Hypercom T7Plus, Lipman Nurit 2085, and the Verifone Tranz 330 and Verifone printer P250 combination. The difference between each of these terminals is explained below. Depending on your preferences and the nature of your business you should be able to ascertain which is your ideal choice. Of course, if you would like an expert opinion on which retail swipe terminal is your best choice simply call one of our sales representatives toll-free at 1-888-498-6641.

Hypercom T7P Retail Terminal - The Hypercom T7P is a great terminal that is well situated for a retail processing environment. Although a great terminal, all of the features offered in the T7P can be found in the T7Plus as well as a few more. Since AMS offers the newer and better T7Plus brand new for only $216 we would strongly suggest that anyone who is interested in the T7P take advantage of the newer T7Plus that is explained below and in more detail on the Hypercom T7 Plus retail processing terminal page.

Hypercom T7 Plus Retail Terminal - The Hypercom T7Plus is by far the most popular and widely recommended credit card terminal for use with a retail merchant account. In-depth descriptions and details about this terminal can be found on the T7Plus page linked in the title above, but the main reasons retail merchants love this terminal is that it is easy to use, it has a built-in thermal printer, it is durable, and we offer it for an unbeatable price!

Lipman Nurit 2085 Retail Terminal - The Lipman Nurit 2085 retail processing terminal is just under the hypercom T7Plus in terms of popularity. Detailed descriptions of features and functionally can be found on the 2085's specific page that is linked in the title above, but the main reasons why retail merchants will opt for this particular terminal are its ability to hold multiple merchant accounts making it an ideal choice for a retail/mail-order business, its menu navigation system, its additional reporting features, and its built-in thermal printer.

Verifone Tranz 330/P250 Combination - Long since regarded as the workhorses of the credit card processing industry the Verifone Tranz 330 and P250 printer combination are classics. Most retail business like the 330/P250 combination because they are easy to operate and inexpensive to purchase. In fact, AMS offers the Verifone Tranz 330 free with any merchant account and the P250 can be purchase for an additional $125. The only down-side to the combination of the 330 and P250 is that they take up a little more counter space than a terminal that has a built-in printer like those listed above.

Is there a contract and/or a cancellation fee with your retail merchant accounts?
No. We do not have a contract or cancellation fee on any of the competitive merchant accounts that we offer. A common misconception in the payment card industry is that a merchant account contract will lock-in rates and fees for the term of the contract. This is simply not true. A merchant account contact does not guarantee rates and fees for any length of time. Merchant services providers that claim to guarantee rates and fees have multiple "out-clauses" and provisions in their processing agreements that allow them raise rates and fees if certain conditions arise. For example, if you do not process up to or beyond your monthly declared volume a merchant service provider can raise your rates and fees.

What is a card present merchant account?
There are two basic types of merchant accounts available. The first is called a card present merchant account which means that when a credit card transaction is processed the customer and the card in present. Hence the name, "card present merchant account". Wireless merchant accounts, retail merchant accounts, and store and forward merchant accounts are all considered to be card present accounts. The second type of merchant account is called a card not present merchant account, meaning that when a credit card is processed the customer and the credit card are not present. Hence the name, "card not present merchant account". Examples of a card not present account would be an Internet merchant account, mail-order merchant account, or a business that processes credit cards by phone.