Plastic at Valley Forge?????

8-ball Rat

8-ball Rat

I'll eat you alive.....
Silver Member
Hiya Guys,

This upcoming Valley Forge is the first one for me...and I just had a thought.

I usually do all my transactions through Paypal....or use my AMEX card (since I have to pay it off in full every month, it keeps me "level headed.") when I buy cues or cases.

Are the vendors and dealers set up at the show to accept plastic, or is CASH the only method of payment accepted there? I don't imagine ALL of 'em will take a card...but wasn't sure about the setup....like phone lines available to hook the machines up to...or if they have the old-style card swipe boxes.

For those of you in the know...please share your info. This could have devastating impact on my plans to purchase a couple cues while I'm there!! :eek: :(

Thanks,

Rat
 
Some of them should take cards. If I remember right, Mueller's did last year.
 
i know the cue addict/murphy guys did last year.
not sure about grassley......i would say yes if i had to guess.
not everywhere, but lots of guys will take cards....


chris G
 
You don't have to have the phone hookup to take cards. They may just have credit card slips and the little machine to plop your card on, stick the slip on top, and run the handle-part back and forth over it to get an impression of your card onto the slip. You know, old-school style.
 
Cool,

I didn't really give it much thought, as I've never gone to a "show" before. All my cue purchases were either at a store (I know...I know...I have paid full retail before!!! :) :) ), or online.

Since this will be my first VF show and tourney, I would hazard a very safe guess that I'll be buying at LEAST one cue while I'm there....and prefer to use cards (for ease of carry, protection of purchase, etc., etc.)

Thanks for the info, guys....and for any of you dealer types going, if you DO take AMEX, feel free to chime in. I'd like to know ahead of time, if possible, where my business will be welcome!!!

Thanks again,

Rat (will be wearing a Black Boar T-shirt and my lucky Houston Astros hat every day of the show.....and yes, they'll be CLEAN!!)
 
Dammit.... I think I'm gonna have to leave my cc's at home or I will be in a lot of trouble...
 
1pRoscoe said:
Dammit.... I think I'm gonna have to leave my cc's at home or I will be in a lot of trouble...
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:) :)

If you like, sir....I'll hold 'em for ya!!! :) :) :)
 
1pRoscoe said:
Hey..... wait a minute.... don't you still owe me a nice large bottle of Jack?!?!

:D
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Sure do....and I'll buy it with one of the cards I'm holding for ya!! :) :)

Your bottle will be hand delivered at the show, sir. I didn't forget........and I am having it gift wrapped.
 
8-ball Rat said:
Sure do....and I'll buy it with one of the cards I'm holding for ya!! :) :)

Your bottle will be hand delivered at the show, sir. I didn't forget........and I am having it gift wrapped.
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Then I'll let you hold my Chevron cc... :p
 
8-ball Rat said:
Hiya Guys,

This upcoming Valley Forge is the first one for me...and I just had a thought.

I usually do all my transactions through Paypal....or use my AMEX card (since I have to pay it off in full every month, it keeps me "level headed.") when I buy cues or cases.

Are the vendors and dealers set up at the show to accept plastic, or is CASH the only method of payment accepted there? I don't imagine ALL of 'em will take a card...but wasn't sure about the setup....like phone lines available to hook the machines up to...or if they have the old-style card swipe boxes.

For those of you in the know...please share your info. This could have devastating impact on my plans to purchase a couple cues while I'm there!! :eek: :(

Thanks,

Rat
Click to expand...
I would take Cash to get the great deals...JMO
 
ScottW said:
You don't have to have the phone hookup to take cards. They may just have credit card slips and the little machine to plop your card on, stick the slip on top, and run the handle-part back and forth over it to get an impression of your card onto the slip. You know, old-school style.
Click to expand...
Some places might do that for a tank of gas but we are talking about large purchases. I wouldn't think that many vendors are going to do the old imprint thing and just hand you a 2500.00 cue. Electronic verification is very important to secure payment. They could always imprint the card and call the verification service they use and get an auth # on a cell phone if that were the only option if they were so inclined. They would just need a card slide and their merchant ID #. I know that most choose not to take them because of tax implication and because of the transaction fees. As they say, cash is king.
 
1pRoscoe said:
Then I'll let you hold my Chevron cc... :p
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Ooohhh....all the Slim Jims and Jolt I can get!!!

That's pretty much what I planned on eating while I was there, anyway!!

You, sir, have a deal!
 
Ktown D said:
Some places might do that for a tank of gas but we are talking about large purchases. I wouldn't think that many vendors are going to do the old imprint thing and just hand you a 2500.00 cue. Electronic verification is very important to secure payment. They could always imprint the card and call the verification service they use and get an auth # on a cell phone if that were the only option if they were so inclined. They would just need a card slide and their merchant ID #. I know that most choose not to take them because of tax implication and because of the transaction fees. As they say, cash is king.
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On a $2500 purchase, AmEx is going to want about $125. Someone will have to eat that fee. I'll give everyone the benefit of the doubt and assume that Uncle Sam's share doesn't increase if plastic is used.

Good Rolls,
Rasta
 
Booth #30

I know that worminator and I will be helping out in the On the Hill booth #30 and we are going to have a wireless CC machine. Everybody is correct in the cash is king and gets the best deal. Some of the fees are huge especially if you talking about a big $ cue.
 
I will be accepting CC's at the show but not AMEX. They want too much for the transaction. Visa, Mastercard, Disc, I can work with.

We do not use the swipe machine because places want too much to run a line and then its so much per day to use it. We call them in with our cell phones. Once I get a few under my belt, it takes about a minute. Come buy stuff from me so I can practice. :p
 
How do you guys get your cues home. Do you chance taking them on the plane or mail them home? Whats the smoking policy at VF ?
 
ratcues said:
I will be accepting CC's at the show but not AMEX. They want too much for the transaction. Visa, Mastercard, Disc, I can work with.

We do not use the swipe machine because places want too much to run a line and then its so much per day to use it. We call them in with our cell phones. Once I get a few under my belt, it takes about a minute. Come buy stuff from me so I can practice. :p
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I've heard that about AMEX.....but it's my card of choice. (has been for years)

I would imagine that, if it came right down to it, I'd be willing to eat the 100-200 bucks in fees for the right "higher end" cue, if it came along....but the folks that take AMEX will be getting most of my business.

That's not to say I won't have some cash on me...but I prefer to keep as little as possible in my wallet.
 
Unfortunately, having a merchant account is the cost of doing business.

Ironically, my merchant account for my business charges less for Amex than Visa and MasterCard, but I am in the minority.

One year, we paid an entry fee for a pool tournament using the credit card, and we were charged a f$35 fee for handling, which according to my merchant account is most definitely illegal.

Cash is always best, but getting a credit card payment is the next best thing. To ensure payment, one only needs to get an authorization is the way I understand it.

JAM
 
railbirdtoo said:
Valley Forge is great for finding just about anything billiard related. However, the last time I visited, most of the vendors were asking top dollar for their items. I can remember a couple of vendors that actually increased their prices for the show.
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Yea, you know what, it sure did seem that way, didn't it? I don't remember seeing one item from anybody and saying "Damn, now that's a good deal!"

Every vendor is different. Some will take plastic, some wont.

Just remember for your check cards that a lot or most have a maximum limit that you can charge or withdraw daily. Sometimes you can call to have your limit raised as well.
 
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