A business can use credit card imprinters in a number of ways. A credit card imprinter turns a credit card transaction into something that can be done without all of the sophisticated wires and digital displays of the "automatic" transaction; this means that if anything happens to your system, you have a backup. Credit card imprinters are also useful where a credit card needs to be processed multiple times as collateral, such as in hotels.

If you're looking for supplies and gear for getting credit card imprinters into your shop, you can get accessories and supplies for credit card imprinters for sale over the web. Buyers may look for:

1. Specialized sales slips, whether carbon-based or otherwise designed, to imprint multiple receipts from suppliers of credit card imprinters.

2. Merchant plates for imprinting or other replacement parts for manual credit card imprinters.

3. Storage facilities for the imprinted receipts for an organized storage system.

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Find sales slips for credit card imprinters

If you're using your credit card imprinters in any capacity, you'll be needing a good stock of sales slips. Online vendors distributing products from makers of credit card imprinters sell paper slips specially made for credit card imprinters, with multiple 'ply' to record the transaction for the records of the merchant and the customer.

I recommend: POS Supply Solutions, a supplier of credit card imprinters, will sell you sales slips online in packs of 100 in various 3 ply or 2 ply options: take advantage of a 100% product guarantee and many options catalogued visually on the site including earth-friendly products. Get more online imprinter slip orders from Paper Supplies.

Get parts for credit card imprinters

You may occasionally need parts for your shop's fixture or portable credit card imprinters; that's where shops like these come in: online suppliers of manual credit card imprinters can get you parts and even replacement imprinted plates for your credit card imprinters.

I recommend: Find all sorts of parts for manual and electric credit card imprinters at Merchant Source. For rush jobs on replacement imprinter plates, or even free parts offers, check out Pay Rush 4 U, an online business supply vendor.

Look for storage systems for imprinted slips for manual credit card imprinters

Again, a storage system is important, especially for businesses like those described above that keep credit card records on file all the time. Choose from plastic, metal or other designs for handy 'file holders' in which slips and credit card imprints can be alphabetized for later access.

I recommend: A wide variety of boxes to hold sales receipts on file can be shipped from Archival Methods. For more filing solutions, try the Office Supply Group.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When ordering supplies for credit card imprinters, think about how you will use these machines long-term. Whether they are emergency backups or daily tools will influence what kind of supplies purchases will be necessary.

Credit card imprinters--not so affectionately known as "knuckle busters" to some--may seem like a dinosaur of the dark ages but they're still useful, even vital, to today's business owners.

It may not happen very often, but networks do go down and power goes out. Natural disasters happen, too. If you want your business to keep ticking when problems come up, you should have a manual credit card imprinter and some sales slips handy.

Manual credit card imprinters are also important for businesses that travel such as traveling notaries or performers selling CDs and other merchandise. They guarantee a sale even if there is no electricity or Internet access for other credit processing methods.

1. Do you process credit cards? Would you like to start processing them?

2. Do you already have a manual or portable credit card imprinter?

3. Do you need an extra record of each credit card transaction?

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Count on your credit card imprinter

If you process ten or fewer credit card transactions a day, a manual credit card imprinter may be the only means of gathering credit card information you need. Even if you already process credit card transactions electronically, you should still have a manual credit card printer on hand for backup.

I recommend: Maintain a record of how many credit card transactions you process--or could have processed--each day for one month. Then sort through credit card imprinters for sale and eyeball prices on desktop or portable credit card imprinters at Atlantic Bankcard Center and Vantage Card Services, Inc.

Keep your credit card imprinters working for you

Most manual credit card imprinters will last for decades. If yours has been damaged or is no longer imprinting clearly, it should be replaced. If your merchant plate has been lost, damaged or stolen you can also purchase a new merchant plate on its own.

I recommend: Large suppliers of credit card imprinters like Discount Credit Card Machine and USA Merchant Solutions would be glad to sell you merchant plates or replacement credit card imprinters.

Feed your credit card imprinter

Most makers of credit card imprinters sell sales receipts in packets of 100, and that's a good thing for you: Your credit card imprinter won't work without one. Most merchants can use 2-ply slips--one copy for your bank and one for your customer--but if you need to send a copy of the sales to your accounting department, for example, you'll want 3-ply. And don't forget credit slips, which are your means for issuing a refund. You won't need as many of those as of the sales slips, but it's smart to have them on hand just in case.

I recommend: Most suppliers of manual credit card imprinters like Cash Register Tape and PaymentStuff.com stock 2- and 3-ply sales slips and credit slips too.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're upgrading or replacing an old manual credit card imprinter, your merchant plate should fit into almost any of the credit card imprinters for sale. Be alert for the few that cannot accommodate an embossed merchant plate; if you end up with one of those, you'll have to purchase personalized sales slips that identify your business for the life of the machine.

Credit card imprinters are important point of sale equipment. Portable credit card imprinters give your business the ability to accept credit and debit card payments from customers. Though most businesses have switched to a computer system, imprinters are still sometimes necessary when computers and networks crash.

Learning to properly use credit card imprinters is important, so you can avoid chargebacks and other payment mistakes. Makers of credit card imprinters can often supply you with basic instructions. If you want additional credit card imprinters education and training you can find it through a variety of sources, including:

1. Tutorials that walk you through the process of using different models of credit card imprinters for sale.

2. Guides that provide written instructions on how to operate the machine.

3. Information that shows you how to operate additional accessories needed for imprinters.

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Use manual credit card imprinter user guides to learn how to use an imprinter

Manual credit card imprinters may seem like a simple tool but there is more to it than just imprinting the card. You should know what information you need to include on your receipts, how to collect payments, and how to keep customer information safe.

I recommend: ImprinterPlates.com offers a guide on how to set up your credit card imprinter and what information you'll need. Website 101 provides many educational resources for credit card imprinters and accounts, including a glossary of common terms.

Explore information provided by suppliers of credit card imprinters

Many suppliers of credit card imprinters offer businesses information on how to choose the right type of credit card equipment. Credit card imprinters are often recommended as a backup source. But for businesses with few credit card transactions, this may be the only equipment needed.

I recommend: Bank of America business services can walk you through the process of choosing the right equipment for your business's needs. Innovative Merchant explains the most common reasons you might use a credit card imprinter instead of an electronic credit card reader.

Learn about the accessories needed for a portable credit card imprinter

Unlike electronic credit card readers, credit card imprinters need additional supplies to work. Imprinter plates are used to imprint the name of the company onto the slip. This can also be done with pre-printed imprinter paper. You will also need to find the correct size imprinter paper for your machine. Most sizes are similar unless you are working with an old manual imprinter.

I recommend: PaymentStuff.com provides answers to some of the most common questions regarding manual credit card imprinters. Bazaar Bizarre has a blog entry that describes the process of using credit card imprinters and accessories during outdoor events.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most suppliers of manual credit card imprinters include manufacturer instructions with the credit card imprinter you purchase. This will contain the sizing information for plates and paper.