Went to a museum yesterday, for my kids to take a ride, and to make some gift shop purchases. To my dismay, they didn't take credit/debit cards. First I've ever ran into this. Just curious, do most museums take them? My experiences say yes, but I may be wrong.

OERM has been accepting credit cards in its store for more than 35 years.

More recently (10 or so years ago) a separate reader was set-up for rides, dues, etc. placed into a different bank account.

Although I voted YES on the poll, I could not have said that until very recently. Our new Museum Treasurer took the bull by the horns and convinced the Board that we should finally get on board and start accepting credit cards. There is no doubt that, in the past, we lost tickets sales and gift shop sales because we did not take credit cards. So...thanks Bob!

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

Accepting credit cards, particularly in the gift shop, will increase the total sales ("per cap"). Of course this is at a price called credit card discount, processing and service fees.

Many people carry minimal cash, and accepting checks can be problematical.

Nearly every successful business realizes that you must accept credit cards, even though thousands of dollars per year are given up in fees and service charges. Of course, you can increase your ticket prices slightly to recoup this cost - that's what most businesses have done.

--Richard

Our museum just started taking credit cards less than five years ago. We have been operating for over twenty years. Two problems.
1) obviously the cost of fees to the banks/equipment owners for the cards equals lost revenue. We have since learned that you can look around for better deals for the equipment necessary to accept the cards.
2) getting people who are techno savy enough to operate the credit card equipment properly. One day a family purchased $27 worth of tickets. The ticket agent charged them $0.27. They didn't dispute the charge and we lost the money.

WRM has accepted credit cards for many years. Currently they are not accepted in the cafe, but both ticketing and the bookstore accept them.

We began accepting credit and debit cards at RMEO a number of years ago, but it took a tremendous effort to get approval. Several influential members who distrusted technology mounted a huge fight against the idea but quietly dropped their opposition when sales suddenly increased.

Steve Hunter
RMEO
Smiths Falls, Ontario

IRM has also accepted credit cards for quite a few years, at all sales points with the exception of our Diner. Taking credit cards in the Diner would slow the line down unacceptably, but we do have an ATM machine in the building, so that our customers can get cash to make their purchases.

Jeff

Accepting credit cards is a must! Personally, I never carry cash and there are many other people like me. The fees associated with accepting credit cards are actually very minimal if you shop around and get the best deal.

When I first became involved at a particular RR museum, the management at the time refused to take credit cards because of the processing fees associated with them. After I and others prevailed, the policy was put into place, and gift shop sales increased exponentially.

Not only is it more convenient for visitors to use credit/debit cards, the museum doesn't have the problem of what to do with large amounts of cash lying around until someone can get to the bank. Another benefit is that the money is quickly transferred to your bank account and readily available.

In this day and age when even fast-food restaurants have a card swiper at the ordering station, I don't see how any organization can be without the service. It makes the organization look backwards and out of touch and unwilling to provide an expected convenience for its patrons.

Branford Electric Rwy. - Shore Line Trolley Museum does, and has for a few years. Gift Shop and tickets, also donations and dues.

Here at the Monticello Railway Museum, we have been accepting credit cards for 15+ years. I agree that there are good deals to find as far as processors go, so shop around.

Accepting credit cards also open the doors for another huge time saver, online ticket sales.

Thanks for everyone's input. I wonder, those few museums that don't take credit cards, just how much revenue they are missing out on. These days, a lot of people just don't carry much, if any cash.

Since I haven't seen their reps speak up on this topic, I thought I'd throw an answer up.

Of course the higher sales and better customer service of accepting credit cards will more than make up for the percentage points lost for transaction costs. If someone wants to do a quickie job accepting CCs, and you have a computer online at the museum, setup a Paypal account and let people pay that way. Just an idea.

Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, CA takes credit cards, as does the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.

In fact, the Nevada state museum will process donations and memberships to the friends organization in the gift shop, effectively using state money to pay the transaction costs for the Friend's membership fees. In Portola, it makes more sense to do it this way, as it's an all-private operation.

The last holdout in the area is the private Virginia and Truckee Railroad. I have tried to convince them to take credit cards and do online ticket reservations, to no avail. They are certainly missing on on money and a chance to make things easier for customers.

Jim Lohse
Train Arts
Reno, NV

I speak as a customer.....

My wife, and I, carry a limited amount of cash, we use credit cards, all month long, and "settle up" with the bank, at the end of the month..

We carry, only about $20 bucks between both of us we refer to this small amount of money as the “tip fund” for restaurants. When we decide to eat at a small local restaurant, or go to small local businesses, that do not accept credit cards, we time that visit, to a trip to the grocery store, or Walmart, where, with a purchase, using a debit card, we can get money out of the account, with no fees.. THEN, we will go and spend the cash we just got...

We have been doing this for years, and yes, their have been MANY times, where we have passed up businesses completely, because they would not accept the card, or take a check.

We view this as THEIR loss, not ours.... When we are traveling, we do carry a bit more cash, for just such an occasion, but it is viewed more as an emergency and “very small purchase” fund, we have walked out of many businesses because of them NOT having the ability to take a credit card.

It is completely acceptable, to charge a small amount more, to cover the fees, or have a min, purchase requirement. I will also like to point out, that since we have went to a "plastic" money, we do spend more... When you are far from home, in a car, with a family, I have a tendancy, to hold on tight to quite a bit of cash, just in case, when at gift shops, one glance at my wallet, and the amount of "green" present, DIRECTLY EFFECTS how much I will spend.. It is a rare day, indeed, when I will be found far from home with an wallet below my comfort level...

On the card, I don't have that worry.