Dear PPP Followers,
So what makes a successful enterpreneur? For that matters, what makes a great sales person.
Everyone claims to have the answer. Did you know that now more than ever. There is an epidemic of Consultants walking this earth that have never sold anything. Did you know that if you have a track record of success and you want to help someone succeed. You too can be a consultant.
So what is the answer to succeed? Very simply put. Push forward. Never look behind. Life is to short and the next deal is only one more contact, one more knock ahead.
Keep pushing forward and never give up.
Till the next time.
Jesse Roldan
President/Founder
Pennsylvania Payment Partners, Inc.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Pennsylvania Payment Partners® Announces their Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting Celebration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pennsylvania Payment Partners® Announces their Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting Celebration
LEBANON, PA (March 5, 2009) – Pennsylvania Payment Partners®, a Merchant Solutions Company™, will celebrate its Grand Opening on March 11, 2009.
A record-breaking turnout is expected at the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Pennsylvania Payment Partners, taking place on March 11, 2009 at HACC – Lebanon Campus. Special Guest of Honor is Pedro Cortés – Secretary of State for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Participating Chambers of Commerce and companies include: The Christian Chamber of Commerce, Lehigh Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburgh Trade Alliance, Green Apple Barter Exchange, Orion Payment Systems, Global Payments, POSX, Shaddai Marketing, Galaxy Prepaid, and Charge Anywhere.
Pennsylvania Payment Partners is committed to providing merchants with low-cost, high-quality processing systems, with no hidden fees, free live support and great customer service. “Our sales partners, customers, vendors and distributors are all part of Pennsylvania Payment Partner’s extended family,” says Jesse Roldan, President of Pennsylvania Payment Partners Inc. “We help our merchant customers solve problems with smart, secure technology that helps them do more with less.” CHARGE Anywhere, POSX, Teledraft, EZ Checks, Global Payments, Orion Payment Systems, Access One, Galaxy Prepaid and other solution providers are proud to announce their affiliation with Pennsylvania Payment Partners. These partnerships extend the reach of Pennsylvania Payment Partners’ co-branded products and services to a wider variety of customers.
DATE: MARCH 11, 2009
TIME: 03:00PM EST
PLACE: HACC – LEBANON CAMPUS, 735 Cumberland Street, Lebanon, PA 17042
Free Parking Available in back of building
About Pennsylvania Payment Partners: Pennsylvania Payment Partners, Inc., based in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, is a true partner and resource for businesses in need of secure, reliable, and integrated point-of-sale solutions that add value to every transaction. Choose from an array of services including: credit card and EBT processing, check conversion and ACH services, bill payment and prepaid products, gift and loyalty programs, ATM services, ecommerce and mobile merchant solutions, long distance and on-hold music services, and individualized business consulting. Whether you have a sole proprietorship or diversified conglomerate, Pennsylvania Payment Partners will help you create a one-of-a-kind system that reflects your core values, brand and business model. Pennsylvania Payment Partners is an ISO/MSP of Orion Payment Systems, a registered ISO/MSP of First National Bank of Omaha, Omaha, NE and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Buffalo, New York.
About the Visionary: Jesse Roldan is considered a trail-blazer, being the founder of the first Hispanic-owned Merchant Service Provider and the first Christian-Owned and operated Merchant Service Provider. This enterprise was built with a GED education. Jesse Roldan attributes his success to his personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and is happy to share his faith at any given point of the day regardless of his hectic schedule. Jesse Roldan acknowledges that it is not by his own merit or smarts that he has been able to succeed in this major undertaking.
For more information, contact them at www.papaymentpartners.com, or (877-61-Merchant).
Media Contacts:
Jesse A Roldan, Pennsylvania Payment Partners, Inc.
(717) 273-8555 Ext. 205
jesse@papaymentpartners.com
If you prefer not to receive these emails in the future, please click here info@papaymentpartners.com and put the words “Please Remove” in the subject line.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Low Down on Downloads- By Dale S. Laszig from DSL Direct LLC
The term "download" originated in the computing world; in the payments industry it refers to a file sent from a host processor to a credit card processing device.
For those of us who know only too well what a download is, here's good news: Downloads have become faster and easier than ever.
Still waiting for onscreen bars to turn to stars or hoping your download will be finished by the time you get back from lunch? New technology reduces wait times and offers time-saving strategies to get POS terminals programmed and out the door.
Twenty years ago, when dial modems were the primary method of data transfer, downloads could take up to an hour. Today, software applications can be loaded in a few minutes, or even seconds, with the use of smart technology.
This technological advancement is important because ISOs and merchant level salespeople don't make money until downloads are finished.
Checklists
Whether it comes to downloading single terminals or a large population of devices, even the most experienced help-desk professionals rely on checklists to stay on track. And you should too.
Following is a sample hardware checklist:
Power up the terminal. Make sure the terminal lights up and displays the right message on the screen.
Check the battery. Many devices require additional time to fully charge batteries, even when they are plugged in to electrical sockets. Therefore, give batteries a full charge to ensure enough power to complete downloads.
Clear the memory. A receiving terminal should be like a blank canvas, containing only the most generic factory operating system. Make sure to clear any transactions, batches and older programs before you start the download.
Run a test transaction. After the download is completed, perform a test transaction. This will reveal any possible communication issues, and you can check the receipt header for accuracy. Following is a sample software checklist:
Use the help desk. Make sure you are downloading the latest and best Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard-compliant version of software into your terminal. Do this by checking with your help desk, ISO or processor.
Request a list. For multi-application and multimerchant downloads, request a list of all ancillary applications and merchant names or numbers that will be part of this download.
Review card types. Make sure you know all the card types a given merchant will accept and any specific requests by the merchant to disable or password-protect certain functions. For example, many retailers put additional passwords on void and refund transactions so that only store managers can perform these functions.
Run a test transaction. At the end of the download, run a test transaction to ensure the user interface is consistent with the merchant's requests.
The download two-step
Most downloads are two-step processes: a program load and a parameter load. The program load gives a terminal its primary software application. The parameter load gives the terminal its unique identity, including merchant identification number, receipt header and a list of credit cards it accepts. Some manufacturers have combined these two steps into one simple download. Each terminal type will vary.
When you have confirmed that your terminal is ready to be downloaded, what method will you use? Here are a few examples:
The TCP/IP download
Many credit card terminals use transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) to process electronic transactions. Early model TCP/IP terminals relied on dial modems for downloads and required manual configuration to register a terminal to static IP addresses. Many newer generation Ethernet-enabled terminals connect automatically to secure IP gateways, reducing download time to a few minutes.
The terminal-to-terminal download
It's possible to transfer an entire application from one terminal to another with the help of a simple cable (the process is sometimes called cloning). While this procedure is popular with many deployment centers, be aware of the risks if you try this yourself. First, make sure the cable you use comes from a trusted source.
Also, make absolutely sure you have up-to-date, modern software in the terminal that will send the download. If any updates were made to the software application or host protocol since the terminal was last downloaded, you may get communication errors or the dreaded "No response from host" message. Next, make sure the receiving terminal has been cleared of all programs before it gets the new download. The two terminals should have an equal amount of memory and compatible operating sytems for this technique to be effective.
The computer-to-terminal download
The computer-to-terminal download, available on select terminal models, is faster and more direct than a terminal-to-terminal download. Special cables that connect from a computer's RS232 port to a receiving terminal can effectively load an entire application in five to seven minutes. This procedure is usually performed at a help desk or certified deployment center, but it can be done remotely to save time during larger deployments.
The memory stick download
If you ever have the opportunity to try a memory stick download, you'll be amazed at the speed: If you blink, you might miss it. This method is available on select terminal models that have universal serial bus ports.
The on-air download
Many wireless devices can now receive downloads without phone cables, a process that greatly speeds download times. Additionally, it minimizes interruptions in service for mobile merchants who require an application download in the field or in other remote locations lacking access to traditional phone lines. This process also works when loading payment modules into smart phones.
Virtual terminals
Give a merchant a virtual terminal and your download time virtually disappears. A secure login is all that is required, and the merchant will have access to an always-on, fully loaded terminal.
If any of your terminal downloads are taking more than 15 minutes, it may be time to review your product mix. Downloads equal downtime; let's keep them short and sweet.
Dale S. Laszig has a varied background in sales for First Data Corp., Hypercom Corp. and VeriFone. Her dedication to technology, writing and graphic design led to the formation of DSL Direct LLC, a marketing services company geared toward payment professionals. She can be reached at 973-930-0331 or dale@dsldirectllc.com.
The Merchant is Calling- By Dale Laszig - DSL Direct LLC
There's a disturbing scenario: As a potential customer, you're treated like royalty. You're wined and dined and told there is no such thing as a stupid question. You shake hands and sign some paperwork. Then a few days later you call to clarify something. Your agent, who no longer remembers you, refers you to a toll free help-desk number.
In our industry, this happens every day. If we were selling appliances, we might be able to get away with this kind of attitude and behavior. But we are selling merchant services.
When your business is service, every communication is part of your customer's experience. Every time our customers reach out to us, for any reason, it's one more chance to show them how much we care.
The more we improve the quality of their experience, the less receptive they will be to the next competitor who offers them a better deal or vows to treat them with more respect.
The challenge of balancing sales and service is a dilemma faced by many of today's businesses. Its the classic problem of getting results versus building infrastructure. Most organizations need to build infrastructure to get results, and they need to get results to continue building sustainable infrastructure.
The same rules apply to ISOs and merchant level salespeople (MLSs). How do we continue to build our portfolios while keeping existing customers happy? Here are some strategies used by some of our industry's most successful ISOs and MLSs.
Follow up
In the world of sales, there is nothing more critical than detailed and punctual follow-up. Every time you meet with existing or prospective clients, there are usually a few items that need to be addressed after the meeting.
Why bother to take notes at a meeting if you never look at them again? Too many of us nod in agreement with customers and never follow up on their requests. The best way to demonstrate the reliability of your service, and your personal interest in a client, is to be actively engaged in researching and following up on all of your "take-aways."
Manage expectations
Effective MLSs will routinely under-promise and over-deliver to their customers. They clearly communicate their company's process flow to new merchants to give them a realistic idea of when to expect equipment delivery, a Merchant Identification Number, online reporting access and automated clearing house deposits.
The best agents leave nothing to chance. They affix help-desk and supply order numbers to terminals. They advise customers to notify risk management before processing ticket transactions that are unusually high. They provide contact numbers for banking and technical issues.
Demonstrate technical knowledge
The best way to bond with your merchants is to have first-hand knowledge of their processing systems. Whether your merchants use traditional countertop terminals, wireless devices that depend on Wi-Fi or cellular networks, or virtual terminals that process sales on the Internet, superior sales agents run test transactions on every solution they sell.
They study each new enhancement and system that is introduced into their sales and partner channels.
We are in the business of selling electronic transaction technology; a basic understanding of how these systems operate is essential. Product knowledge proficiency will help establish credibility and trust with merchants.
Be proactive
Good MLSs react quickly to their customers' needs. Great MLSs anticipate their customers' needs. Routinely update your customers on changes taking place within your company and in the payments industry.
With all the mergers and acquisitions going on, it's not unusual for a company to sell or acquire a merchant portfolio. When this happens to your company, reach out to your customers right away to prepare them for any changes in branding or procedure.
Let them know you want their transition to be smooth. Encourage them to call you if they are unable to connect with anyone in technical support or customer service.
Keep abreast of changes
Technology is always changing; keep merchants in the loop on new developments that will increase processing speed and efficiency. If you don't make them aware of new options, your competitors will. A simple e-mail, Web site banner or flyer inserted into a merchant statement can increase awareness of new products or services.
Interchange is always of concern to merchants. Not all interchange updates from the card brands trickle down to their level. Take a proactive approach to educating merchants on rate increases and new interchange categories. Preparing merchants for these changes will help decrease customer service calls and increase your value as a trusted partner.
Security is another crucial, constantly changing aspect of our business. Updates to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard need to be communicated throughout your channel to ensure all merchants are using compliant hardware and software to process transactions.
Failure to comply with these guidelines could result in costly fines, increased vulnerability to fraudulent transactions and loss of the ability to accept credit cards. Your knowledge and expertise on this subject can increase your value as a specialist and trusted partner and lead to more referrals.
React quickly to leads
React immediately when you receive a lead. A lead is a vote of confidence in your ability to deliver a timely solution to a customer.
There's no greater expression of customer satisfaction than when one of your merchants refers you to another business. As you grow your merchant portfolio, your merchants will refer you to their friends, relatives and even competitors. They want you to do well so that you can continue to provide great service.
Reciprocate
One of the best ways to thank your merchants for their referrals and continuing business is to purchase their goods or services. They will be delighted when you shop at their stores, eat at their restaurants and stay at their hotels. It will be their turn to roll out the red carpet and welcome you to their extended family of customers.
Dale S. Laszig has a varied background in sales for First Data Corp., Hypercom Corp. and VeriFone. Her dedication to technology, writing and graphic design led to the formation of DSL Direct LLC, a marketing services company geared toward payment professionals. She can be reached at 973-930-0331 or dale@dsldirectllc.com.
In our industry, this happens every day. If we were selling appliances, we might be able to get away with this kind of attitude and behavior. But we are selling merchant services.
When your business is service, every communication is part of your customer's experience. Every time our customers reach out to us, for any reason, it's one more chance to show them how much we care.
The more we improve the quality of their experience, the less receptive they will be to the next competitor who offers them a better deal or vows to treat them with more respect.
The challenge of balancing sales and service is a dilemma faced by many of today's businesses. Its the classic problem of getting results versus building infrastructure. Most organizations need to build infrastructure to get results, and they need to get results to continue building sustainable infrastructure.
The same rules apply to ISOs and merchant level salespeople (MLSs). How do we continue to build our portfolios while keeping existing customers happy? Here are some strategies used by some of our industry's most successful ISOs and MLSs.
Follow up
In the world of sales, there is nothing more critical than detailed and punctual follow-up. Every time you meet with existing or prospective clients, there are usually a few items that need to be addressed after the meeting.
Why bother to take notes at a meeting if you never look at them again? Too many of us nod in agreement with customers and never follow up on their requests. The best way to demonstrate the reliability of your service, and your personal interest in a client, is to be actively engaged in researching and following up on all of your "take-aways."
Manage expectations
Effective MLSs will routinely under-promise and over-deliver to their customers. They clearly communicate their company's process flow to new merchants to give them a realistic idea of when to expect equipment delivery, a Merchant Identification Number, online reporting access and automated clearing house deposits.
The best agents leave nothing to chance. They affix help-desk and supply order numbers to terminals. They advise customers to notify risk management before processing ticket transactions that are unusually high. They provide contact numbers for banking and technical issues.
Demonstrate technical knowledge
The best way to bond with your merchants is to have first-hand knowledge of their processing systems. Whether your merchants use traditional countertop terminals, wireless devices that depend on Wi-Fi or cellular networks, or virtual terminals that process sales on the Internet, superior sales agents run test transactions on every solution they sell.
They study each new enhancement and system that is introduced into their sales and partner channels.
We are in the business of selling electronic transaction technology; a basic understanding of how these systems operate is essential. Product knowledge proficiency will help establish credibility and trust with merchants.
Be proactive
Good MLSs react quickly to their customers' needs. Great MLSs anticipate their customers' needs. Routinely update your customers on changes taking place within your company and in the payments industry.
With all the mergers and acquisitions going on, it's not unusual for a company to sell or acquire a merchant portfolio. When this happens to your company, reach out to your customers right away to prepare them for any changes in branding or procedure.
Let them know you want their transition to be smooth. Encourage them to call you if they are unable to connect with anyone in technical support or customer service.
Keep abreast of changes
Technology is always changing; keep merchants in the loop on new developments that will increase processing speed and efficiency. If you don't make them aware of new options, your competitors will. A simple e-mail, Web site banner or flyer inserted into a merchant statement can increase awareness of new products or services.
Interchange is always of concern to merchants. Not all interchange updates from the card brands trickle down to their level. Take a proactive approach to educating merchants on rate increases and new interchange categories. Preparing merchants for these changes will help decrease customer service calls and increase your value as a trusted partner.
Security is another crucial, constantly changing aspect of our business. Updates to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard need to be communicated throughout your channel to ensure all merchants are using compliant hardware and software to process transactions.
Failure to comply with these guidelines could result in costly fines, increased vulnerability to fraudulent transactions and loss of the ability to accept credit cards. Your knowledge and expertise on this subject can increase your value as a specialist and trusted partner and lead to more referrals.
React quickly to leads
React immediately when you receive a lead. A lead is a vote of confidence in your ability to deliver a timely solution to a customer.
There's no greater expression of customer satisfaction than when one of your merchants refers you to another business. As you grow your merchant portfolio, your merchants will refer you to their friends, relatives and even competitors. They want you to do well so that you can continue to provide great service.
Reciprocate
One of the best ways to thank your merchants for their referrals and continuing business is to purchase their goods or services. They will be delighted when you shop at their stores, eat at their restaurants and stay at their hotels. It will be their turn to roll out the red carpet and welcome you to their extended family of customers.
Dale S. Laszig has a varied background in sales for First Data Corp., Hypercom Corp. and VeriFone. Her dedication to technology, writing and graphic design led to the formation of DSL Direct LLC, a marketing services company geared toward payment professionals. She can be reached at 973-930-0331 or dale@dsldirectllc.com.
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