“I don’t need a manual imprinter,” our new client emphatically declared.  She continued, “I’m going to be using your dial pay system and collect funds that way.”  I explained that the credit card imprinter is not a device for accepting credit cards to transfer funds; it is merely a way to prove that a customer authorized a given transaction, and can be invaluable proof in helping to win a chargeback should a customer dispute the authenticity of a charge. 

Years ago, the manual imprinter was the ”It” machine – indispensable in the credit card processing process.  Merchants would ensure that a customer’s credit card number was valid, and then take an imprint of the card.  The slips would then be sent to a bank for eventual payment.

While the merchant account field continues to advance and evolve, the role of the manual imprinter has changed, but the good, old-fashioned knuckle buster retains importance. 

Consider a new merchant who needs a wireless merchant account.  The costs for such an account may be prohibitive because of the expense of the wireless terminal and/or high monthly fees.  A knuckle buster enables the merchant to get an imprint of the card, and then go back to the home office, and key the payment information into a cheaper stationary credit card terminal or virtual terminal.  It also serves the dual purpose of providing a receipt to the customer as he/she receives the imprinted sales slip.  

Of course, there is a risk that the credit card presented was stolen or the card was already “maxed out.”  Still, many merchants feel comfortable with their client base – especially those who sell relatively inexpensive items – and rely on manual imprinters to serve as a conduit towards payment.

All mobile merchants who have face-to-face contact with customers should consider using credit card imprinters – even those who already possess a physical credit card machine.  Although this may seem counterintuitive, think about Murphy’s Law.  Merchants may experience a problem with their terminals (which typically happens when the merchant is most busy), and knuckle busters may be used as a substitute device in an emergency situation.

In addition, consider this “What if”: You’re not able to swipe a customer’s card because the magnetic strip in the back is worn or demagnetized.  While you can key in the customer’s information into the physical credit card terminal, you’re still going to need to protect yourself if the customer later disputes the transaction.  What better way to prove that the credit card was present at the time of sale and that the customer authorized the transaction than by providing the imprinted credit card slip.  Conversely, if you’re unable to share such a slip, you may lose the chargeback even if you’re “in the right.”

Recently, a retail client called and shared her chargeback victory over a customer whose card she had to key into the terminal.  She was very thankful that she purchased and used her knuckle buster – a decision that saved her over $200.  The handy-dandy, affordable knuckle buster (most cost between $20 and $40) can easily save merchants hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Obviously, if you’re an e-commerce or Internet merchant, imprinters are a needless expense.  After all, you don’t have the customer’s card in hand.  But for practically all other merchants, I cannot impress enough the benefits that may be derived from a manual imprinter.