Merchant account was shut down

[dcali]

I don't want to go into details until I know exactly what happened. For those who want a little context, most credit card processors explicitly forbid "weapons and munitions". That includes all of the ones people have heard of Square (Box), Stripe, Amazon, Paypal. Basically anything modern and up to date. There are business reasons for their reluctance (some of which stem from political reasons), but it's still frustrating. They lump us in with porn and get rich quick schemes. But I knew that and avoided them. A quick review of their terms clearly says you can't do guns. So be it.

What you're left with is traditional merchant accounts. If you've never dealt with one of those, they're stupidly complex. For me, that means an e-commerce platform that interfaces with a gateway that interfaces with a payment processor that interfaces with a bank, and all bought through an intermediary. You have privacy compliance issues, stupidly opaque pricing (Screw you, Amex. Serioulsy), and it winds up costing a fair bit more than the good ones, especially for a tiny one man shop like me. But I knew that going into this.

I'm 90% sure it's the bank in this case, but I'm waiting for a few more phone calls. The company I arranged things through specifically markets to firearms businesses, so I don't think it was intentional on their part. The gateway, Authorize.net, didn't even know what was wrong, so it's not them. The processor told me that the problem was the only one who could tell me my account was shut down, and wanted to help, so it's not them either. So I'm guessing the bank changed a policy. But we'll see.

I have a feeling that it's just a moving target. It's exceptionally frustrating. I did a lot of research and went way out of my way to chose vendors where this would not happen, and yet... here we are.

I'm sure the industry veterans are chuckling right now, but man is this frustrating for a first timer. I made it a good three years...

 

[Charliemac]

Maybe we step back in time and use checks and money orders? And the processors will out on our business?

 

[m500]

Jack Dorsey owns a large portion of square. I refuse to do business with them.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Maybe we step back in time and use checks and money orders? And the processors will out on our business?

CASH also works!! Personal check held till it clears is also a pretty easy way to do business.
When your Credit Card Company screws you over, it's up to YOU to get it squared away.
Had issues with a bank playing games with MY $$$$. Took about 5 minutes to pull ALL my $$$$ out and move it to MY local bank.
Another bank played the same game. Pulled ALL my $$$$ and also moved it to MY local bank.
Sooner or later, someone at the bank will say WTF??? Where are the customers going.
I'll say it AGAIN, it's YOUR $$$$ so do with it as YOU please.
Same with the Credit Card Companies. Screw them before they can screw you. (and it probably IS political)
And I'll say it again CASH talks and B**l S**T walks. It's YOUR money so You do with it as YOU please.
I've been known to send CASH in the mail with no issues. No ID needed either.
And when a Company won't take my CASH? They don't need MY BUSINESS.
And when the ATM won't work or your Cell Phone takes a DUMP, (AND IT DOES HAPPEN) be damn glad you've got some CASH set aside.

 

[FNSafari]

“Firearms Friendly “
I wonder what it really means today.

Above in quotes is like "sensible gun laws" right??

 

[DShortt]

CASH also works!! Personal check held till it clears is also a pretty easy way to do business.
When your Credit Card Company screws you over, it's up to YOU to get it squared away.
Had issues with a bank playing games with MY $$$$. Took about 5 minutes to pull ALL my $$$$ out and move it to MY local bank.
Another bank played the same game. Pulled ALL my $$$$ and also moved it to MY local bank.
Sooner or later, someone at the bank will say WTF??? Where are the customers going.
I'll say it AGAIN, it's YOUR $$$$ so do with it as YOU please.
Same with the Credit Card Companies. Screw them before they can screw you. (and it probably IS political)
And I'll say it again CASH talks and B**l S**T walks. It's YOUR money so You do with it as YOU please.
I've been known to send CASH in the mail with no issues. No ID needed either.
And when a Company won't take my CASH? They don't need MY BUSINESS.
And when the ATM won't work or your Cell Phone takes a DUMP, (AND IT DOES HAPPEN) be damn glad you've got some CASH set aside.

I'll be very surprised if businesses don't begin to refuse cash in the future. Not long ago I'd have never believed it but now? Not so far fetched.

 

[shortgrass]

A bank I USED to do businees with would charge me a 'penalty' if I deposited $3000 or more in cash in a months time. The branch manager said it was because they had to physically handle the bills, electronic transfers of 'money' didn't incuur the same 'physical handling'. Notice said a bank I USED TO DO BUSINESS WITH

 

[joshb]

I'll be very surprised if businesses don't begin to refuse cash in the future. Not long ago I'd have never believed it but now? Not so far fetched.

I have been to a few “no cash” businesses. It’s sad to see kids that can’t add or subtract to make change. Then I guess there’s a theft problem. I’ll halt my “ What is this world coming to?” rant.

 

[BlueWater]

I have been to a few “no cash” businesses. It’s sad to see kids that can’t add or subtract to make change. Then I guess there’s a theft problem. I’ll halt my “ What is this world coming to?” rant.

Have had my nearby grocery store do that, fairly regularly. I come walking up with a cart-full of items, some frozen items included, and point out that refusal to take cash equates to my not making the purchase. Have left a cart of stuff on a handful of occasions. They don't bat an eye.

Legal Tender ... In Tech We Trust.

Yeah.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Here is my processor. I really do like them very much. You can call and talk to an actual AMERICAN and my gateway works flawlessly. I highly endorse them.

If you decide to use them please tell them that Bradley from the URBANRIFLEMAN sent you.

High-Risk Credit Card Processing | Electronic Transfer Inc.

We offer a range of ffl friendly credit card processing solutions that will make your life easier. Contact us today to learn more!

electronictransfer.com

 

[DShortt]

I have been to a few “no cash” businesses. It’s sad to see kids that can’t add or subtract to make change. Then I guess there’s a theft problem. I’ll halt my “ What is this world coming to?” rant.

Have had my nearby grocery store do that, fairly regularly. I come walking up with a cart-full of items, some frozen items included, and point out that refusal to take cash equates to my not making the purchase. Have left a cart of stuff on a handful of occasions. They don't bat an eye.

Legal Tender ... In Tech We Trust.

Yeah.

So it's already started in some places. Sadly, I'm not surprised.

 

[redrockranger]

Have had my nearby grocery store do that, fairly regularly. I come walking up with a cart-full of items, some frozen items included, and point out that refusal to take cash equates to my not making the purchase. Have left a cart of stuff on a handful of occasions. They don't bat an eye.

Legal Tender ... In Tech We Trust.

Yeah.

The day is coming . Digital handcuffs , controlled by the state.

 

[SixFive]

I recently was lifetime banned from my PayPal account for buying a SCOPE on eBay. eBay allows the selling of scopes, PayPal is the eBay preferred payment vendor, but they lifetime ban me with NO RECOURSE. It is OK though, I HATE PAYPAL and everything they stand for and against. My wish is that they all die slowly of ASS CANCER.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

 

[dcali]

Update for those who care.

The problem isn't an unwillingness to work with guns exactly. It's incompetence and an inability to communicate regarding the additional complexities of gun businesses. I'll be back up and running soon. For anyone wanting bullets, give me a couple weeks. I'm sure Christmas will slow this down.

Man do I wish someone as good as stripe would work with us. Say what you will about their policies, they know how to run credit cards.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Sorry to hear about your card issues, Damon. In addition to the problems you mentioned above, there is an additional factor that can complicate matters; i.e. ignorance/stupidity. When I moved to my current location, the movers refused to move boxes containing unloaded bullets...just loose bullets in plastic boxes. I spoke with their manager via phone, whom didn't really understand the difference between unloaded bullets in a box, and loaded rounds of ammunition. Anti-gun types rarely know much, if anything about firearms, reloading, or many of the other things we do, so they often have the mind set that if something can be connected to guns in any way, shape, or form, it's off limits.

I hope you get everything worked out!

GT

 

[232]

Waiting on John Rich's Old Glory Bank to come to fruition.
Looks to be a good alternative.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

It's not "woke" culture it's esG, notice the emphasis is on governance. Not government by the people for the people.