Moving into the 21st century

Now accepting credit cards!

I believe there are two groups of people when it comes to technology: those that jump at the latest and greatest gadgets that are released, and those that defy these technological advances until they can no longer resist.  I tend to fall into the latter group.  I do not have an iPad but rather a laptop that I bought in 2006 without any upgrades.  It wasn't until last year that I got an Mp3 player. Heck, even my 1997 Honda Accord has the stock radio and....a cassette player!  I guess I was always spending my extra pennies on sporting equipment or pretty shiny crystals and minerals to make beautiful jewelry.  In the end, its all about perceived value.

After several recent shows, it dawned on me that an increasing amount of customers were whipping out plastic before cash.  I embarrassingly had to say "Oh, I only take cash or check."  Now I don't know too many people that carry their checkbooks around, myself included.  Cash is often a limiting factor for purchases.   So, my defiance to move into the 21st century when it comes to technology was starting to wane.  I looked at leasing a credit card terminal, and with all the fees, it would be over $100 a month just to have the darn thing.  Scratch that idea.

I thought, "I do not want to get a Smartphone! I do not want to be one of those annoying people at lunch or waiting in line with my nose to the screen trying to touch-message or find the latest "app." Or worse yet, driving like crap.  I have, on more than one occasion, wanted to throw my friends' phones out the window because they were obviously not interested in what we (or should I say I) were discussing.  And I liked my simple phone that was the hottest thing in 2001.  But, sometimes circumstances can drive one to change.

After several long hours of research, outsourced on the phone to India, and several visits to retail stores, I am reluctantly proud to say that I now own a Smartphone (gulp) and have the Square to accept all credit card payments.  I had a recent experience with the Square as a customer at an apparel outlet sale, with Annie O. Boutique.  The process was fast and easy, and the charge appeared in my checking account within two days.  Square is secure as all customer's data is processed via their software, not saved on my phone.  The reader was free and the fees are nominal.  Win-win.

I better sign off so I can learn how to set up my voice mail, and get the latest "flashlight" app.
Cheers, Jen