Posts Tagged ‘ATMs’

The Tranax 1705W: New product review

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Whenever we get a new ATM model in, we keep a close eye on it. We test it ourselves for reliability, ease of use, ease of service and feature set. We also pay close attention to what our customers say during and after installation.

We recently concluded our testing period for the Tranax 1705W and have found it to be nothing short of spectacular.

We have installed nearly 100 and they are operating without errors. Our customers have said they like the ease of operation, the easy-to-read 7″ color screen and the capacity to display 8 advertising screens. They also like the TCP/IP capabilities, because they can connect the ATM through an Internet connection and not pay for an extra phone line.

The one complaint is that the manufacturer ships the 1705W without an owner’s manual. So we’ve created a digital manual that will be included with every order (on a CD-ROM) and also available to download from the troubleshooting page on our website.

We will continue offering the Tranax 1705w at its introductory price through the end of June. So get a great ATM at its lowest price ever and see for yourself what it can do for your business.

To learn more, visit the ATM Network store, fill out a form or call us at 1-800-929-0228.

Tags: ATMs, Cash machine
Posted in Research, Technology | Comments Off

Credit-card processing vs. ATMs: Who wins?

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

If you are not accepting plastic in your business yet, you are missing a huge opportunity to increase your revenue. Many merchants ask us if they should get an ATM machine or just use credit-card processing. Here are the differences so you can decide what would be best for your business.

Credit cards

When accepting credit cards, you have two components: the card reader that you swipe the cards through and the cost of the transaction. Your upfront cost for the card reader is very low. But your long-term costs for processing the credit card can be the hidden killer!

If you do any kind of volume on your credit-card machine, you will pay in several ways:

A percentage of every dollar that is run through your terminal;
A fee per transaction;
A monthly statement fee;
Often there are other fees and charges as well.

The transaction fee is usually tiny unless you have a very low average ticket (like a package of gum); then it can be quite costly.

Automated teller machines

With ATMs you invest more upfront, but it’s usually much more affordable in the long term. You make money on every dollar instead of paying a fee on every dollar.

You can increase your revenue in 4 ways:

Increased spending and customer traffic
Reduced number of bad checks
Elimination of credit card fees
Surcharge revenue (the fee customers pay to withdraw money from your ATM)

Which is better for me?

Given the different cost structures, we recommend an ATM if you have more than 100 customers per day coming through your business. If you have less than that you may want to start with the credit-card machine and either add or switch to an ATM as traffic increases.

You’re an ATM company. Why should I believe you?

We offer both ATMs and credit-card processing, so we’re somewhat neutral on the subject.

Feel free to contact us for a free business evaluation to determine which would be the best option for you, or to find out about our full range of merchant services, including check collection. Call us toll-free at 1-800-929-0228 or fill out a contact form.

Tags: ATM surcharge, ATMs, Credit-card fees
Posted in ATM benefits, Products and services | Comments Off

Make your older ATM Internet-capable

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

ATM Network's Internet adapter

Along with faster processors and bigger screens, modern ATMs can access our processing network over your high-speed Internet line. Doing so has three advantages:

Faster processing. A high-speed connection can process a transaction is 3 seconds, compared with an average of 22 seconds using dial up.

No phone line needed. Getting rid of your ATM’s dedicated phone line can save you up to $40 a month.

Increased reliability. No more busy signals, dropped calls or worries about noise on the line.

That’s great if you’ve got a newer machine, but what about owners with older equipment?

ATM Network has you covered. We’ve come up with a box to add Internet capability to your ATM. It’s a “plug and play” solution that plugs into your Internet router and your ATM.

Because older ATMs have older circuitry, retrofitted machines won’t see processing time drop to 3 seconds. But it will shave a few seconds off the current time. And it delivers the other two advantages: increased reliability and ditching the dedicated phone line.

This isn’t some cobbled-together, untested pile of circuitry. We’ve had the box installed in multiple locations for more than a year and a half, with great success and reliability.

And you can’t beat the price: $300. Compare that to spending $2,000 or more for a new ATM. The savings from getting rid of the phone line means the box will pay for itself in less than 8 months.

Learn more

To find out more about adding Internet capability to your ATM, call 1-800-929-0228, e-mail info@atmnetwork.net, visit our Products page or fill out our online order form.

Tags: ATM Network, ATM operators, ATMs
Posted in ATM operators, ATM owners, Products and services, Technology | Comments Off

ATMs are a ‘must have’ for bars and nightclubs

Monday, April 6th, 2009

Nearly 40 years after the first ATM made its debut outside New York City’s Chemical Bank, it seems that cash machines are everywhere. In addition to being on nearly every street corner and convenience store, ATMs often find a home inside bars and nightclubs.

If you ask barowners and managers about ATMs, most will tell you that they couldn’t operate without them.

“I think it is essential for anybody who sells liquor and food to have ATMs,” said Roger Payne, General Manager at Shephard’s Beach Resort in Clearwater, Fla. “It helps people spend money. Some people don’t want to use their check card. They prefer to use debit and get cash out of the machine.”

Many bars and nightclubs don’t accept credit cards on busy nights. On those nights, ATMs typically get a ton of business. According to Cory Huetter, owner of The Safari Bar in Omaha, Neb., “Our bartenders just get way too busy to mess with credit cards. In the time it takes to ring up a credit card they could have poured 50 shots.”

Tim Borden is vice president of corporate development for Ala Carte Entertainment, a Chicago-based restaurant and nightclub company that operates 27 locations. He said having an ATM in your business often determines whether a customer stays or goes elsewhere. “Having an ATM is not a novelty anymore. People almost expect it there. For a decent-size establishment, it’s almost a prerequisite in people’s minds.”

A big advantage of having an ATM inside a bar or nightclub is that much of the money withdrawn ends up getting spent inside the business. “I think a good percentage of the money withdrawn is for the purpose of spending at bars,” Borden said. “You also get a lot of return on additional sales.”

Learn more

To find out more about ATM ownership, leasing or placement, e-mail info@atmnetwork.net, visit our Benefits page or download our Buyer’s Guide.

Tags: ATMs, Bar, Cash machine, Nightclub, Restaurant
Posted in ATM benefits | Comments Off

7-11 study measures advantages of ATM ownership

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

7-11 first installed ATM machines in all of their locations nationwide more than 30 years ago because they learned (maybe before anyone else) that customers that use their ATMs to withdraw cash end up spending money inside the store.

Not only did ATM customers spend money inside the store when they use a cash machine, but they actually spend 25 percent more on average than non-ATM customers. For many types of business owners, this adds up to additional revenue of several hundred dollars every month.

Cash machines have become a very popular tool for personal banking. Nearly 80 percent of all banking is done through privately-owned cash machines in places like gas stations, convenience stores, bars and nightclubs.

People are busy these days, and it makes them impatient. They don’t want to stand in line at a bank just to get cash. So most people get cash while doing other things like shopping or running errands.

As a result, many people make decisions on where to shop based on whether or not there’s an ATM machine inside. Indeed, most customers expect businesses like gas stations, convenience stores, and bars to have cash machines.

Further, a convenience like an ATM increases customer loyalty. Once customers know you have an ATM, it’s much easier to get repeat business from them and have them coming into your business weekly or even several times per week.

For the customers that come into your store just to use the ATM machine and do not end up spending money, you still earn the transaction fee on the machine, which is normally between $2.00 and $3.00.

Learn more

To find out more about ATM ownership, leasing or placement, e-mail info@atmnetwork.net, visit our Benefits page or download our Buyer’s Guide.

Tags: ATM Network, ATMs, Cash machine
Posted in ATM benefits, Research | Comments Off

80% of banking transactions occur at private ATMs

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

People do not go to the bank to get cash the way they used to. Instead, they look for retail locations to get money while running other errands like getting gas or shopping. In fact, over 80 percent of all banking transactions do not take place at banks — they take place through privately owned ATMs.

For merchants that have ATMs in their business, that means increased customer traffic. Because getting cash is one of the things on their “to-do” list, most customers get cash, gas, cigarettes, coffee, etc. all at the same location.

Here’s what some ATM owners had to say about having atms in their businesses:

“Operating a convenience store, we certainly could not live without an atm. People come to use the atm and end up spending more money in our store. Before we had one, we lost many customers to a competitor up the street.”

Ron Coolidge, owner, Super Stop

“We don’t accept credit cards, and since the local bank ATM does not advance funds on credit cards, this has impacted my business and given my customers an additional payment option. I recommend this system to bars or taverns of any size in any town.”

Daniel Bowden, Owner, Doolittles Pub & Eatery

“I think it is essential for anybody who sells liquor and food to have ATMs. It helps people spend money. Some people don’t want to use their check card – they prefer to use debit and get cash out of the machine. Plus, you see a lot of return on additonal sales.”

Cory Hunter, General Manager, Boondocks Bar & Grill

What would it mean to your business if customers came in just to get cash then decided to spend money?

In addition to seeing increased sales, the owner of an ATM also get to keep the transaction fee charged by the machine. If you accept credit cards, you’ll also see a reduction in your credit card fees because more people will withdraw and spend cash instead of making you pay a processing fee by using your credit card terminal.

Learn more

To find out more about ATM ownership, leasing or placement, e-mail info@atmnetwork.net, visit our Benefits page or download our Buyer’s Guide.

Tags: ATM Network, ATM surcharge, ATMs, Cash machine, Credit-card fees
Posted in Research | Comments Off

Cardless ATM transactions?

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

Last week Privier Inc., a Charlotte, NC-based startup, announced the launch of an innovative no-card ATM service.

Until now, no-card ATM transactions were only available in parts of Europe and Asia.

Privier says its iTransfer and mPayment will allow bank customers to electronically transfer funds — using mobile banking or online banking — to a recipient who is then able to withdraw the funds without needing a card or bank account.

“We equip ATM screens with an icon, which reads ‘Pickup Cash’. All the recipient needs to do is press this icon, which will automatically activate the ATM for a Privier iTransfer or mPayment transaction,” said Charles Polanco, CEO of Privier Inc.

The system isn’t seamless: the sender needs to tell the recipient the amount of the transfer and a 10-digit withdrawal number, and the recipient’s only option is to withdraw the entire amount: no partial withdrawals allowed. But it’s a start.

Tags: ATM card, ATM Network, ATMs, Debit card, Mobile banking
Posted in Industry news, Technology | Comments Off

BPAA signs new deal with ATM Network

Wednesday, December 18th, 2002

The Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) announced to their members earlier this month a new exclusive discount program agreement with ATM Network. This new program will provide bowling center owners with a profitable plan designed exclusively for members.

ATM Network will provide an exclusive program to the BPAA to increase customer spending, as well as reduce bad checks and credit card fees. The independent sales organization (ISO) guarantees the best program at the best price in the industry because all of their ATMs come with a 90-Day Best Price Guarantee.

“With more than 3,500 members located across the US, the BPAA chose ATM Network because they were able to take care of all of our members nationwide with a comprehensive program that we could count on, from equipment to service to processing,” says Bowling Proprietors Association of America Executive Director John Berglund. “It is important to us that our members are provided with an attractive program from a national ISO who will guarantee aggressive pricing that does not present any hidden charges, and is able to reach all of our members.”

Beginning next month in January 2003, ATM Network will work with the BPAA to sell this exclusive program to its members.

Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, the 70-year old Bowling Proprietors Association of America represents the business interests of bowling center owners nationwide.

ATM Network was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1996, and since has become one of the most innovative and fastest growing independent ATM companies in North America. We have partnered with over 2,000 merchants who have benefited greatly from an ATM Network program.

Tags: ATM Network, ATMs, Bowling, BPAA, Endorsements
Posted in Endorsements | Comments Off