When a business offers a website, it's a costly venture. A business, such as an indie store, brand, or sales rep group, will build the site and then have to maintain it. On a day-to-day basis, it has to ensure the pages load quickly. This often requires the business use image-optimization software to reduce the page size and a CDN (content delivery network) to get the content closer to the visitor's geographic location. These costs add up.
Bridge and Shopify both bundle many services under a ...
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Visa and Mastercard are most likely raising their fees on your business, shares the Wall St. Journal. The amount of fees collected from credit cards has doubled since 2012. In the article, one retailer shares that it paid almost $400,000 in credit card fees.
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September 8, 2019
September 8, 2019
In a region known for its grapes, Susan and Brian Friguliette, bravely decided to give us beans, coffee beans that is. Their love story blossomed into living their dream and their passion for coffee. We have been selling Keuka Lake Coffee for 13 years. Over this time it’s become our top coffee brand. Customers love that they are they a local roaster but, the diverse selection of roasts and flavors has kept Keuka Lake Coffee fans coming back for refills. We asked Susan and Brian to share how ...
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March 28, 2019
March 28, 2019
I was going to recommened reading this Shopify article about converting website visitors to shoppers but then I realized what a rip off Shopify is.
In the screen shot shown, we see Shopify promote nine apps. The apps use the 'freemium' model where you try it for free, then often quickly get stuck paying. In sum, Shopify is nickel and dime-ing users.
When you use Shopify, it's like going to Disneyland and paying for each ride separately. You think that the theme park will be fun but by the time ...
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March 16, 2019
March 16, 2019
Amazon continues to wage war—on its own customers. Amazon charges steep fees and now seeks to grab third-party seller’s customers.
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February 3, 2019
February 3, 2019
Are you paying credit card fees each month? If so, you may be interested in what store owner Laura May did.
Laura May, who owns the Ivy House in Texas, was paying thousands of dollars in fees to accept credit cards in her store each month. She thought she may be paying too much in fees. She asked Bridge to review her credit card statements. Bridge reviewed the statements and found problems preventing her from getting the fair, lower rates. In the end, Bridge saved her more than $7,000 per year ...
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October 24, 2018
October 24, 2018
Are you ready to lose $500? You could if you don't update your authorize.net account settings.
Recently, an identity thief entered 2,000 different credit cards on a retailer's Bridge website. They did so using a bot that entered in card information automatically into the website. Please note: an identify thief can do this process on just about any e-commerce platform—it’s not unique to Bridge. Credit card fraud is widespread online. Many thieves buy files of 1,000s of stolen credit cards and ’...
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Do you offer 'special order' items? These may be custom built items or items imported from overseas upon request. If so, it's important to let customers know this because these items often take longer to arrive to customers. There may also be special terms and restocking fees that apply to them.
You can now designate items as Special Import. This information will appear on the item's Details page.
Designate items as Special Import:
1. Login to Bridge.
2. Visit item.
3. Below product ...
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July 31, 2018
July 31, 2018
Really hate a credit card brand? Do what Kroger did: just stop accepting it. Visa, along with AmEx, keeps raising its fees on merchants almost every month and claims to promote “customer choice.” That’s like promoting rioting in the name of looter choice. It’s not fair to keep giving out mileage and points cards and keep raising the fees on retailers.
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July 31, 2018
July 31, 2018
AmEx ripped off customers reports today’s WSJ. Does that sound familiar? Again and again I butt heads with AmEx over their high fees. I really need to stop using their credit card. They promote a “small business” day, yet again and again charge high processing fees for services to small businesses. They’re a Janus and I don’t need bi-polar service providers.
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June 26, 2018
June 26, 2018
We can’t win them all. Last week the Supreme Court helped indie retailers by allowing states to charge tax on more web orders. This week, it didn’t help us by siding with American Express.
The end result of these two decisions is that indie stores will likely receive more orders but but still have to pay AmEx its higher interchange fees.
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February 9, 2018
February 9, 2018
What if there was a way for stores to save $8,900? If they could, stores could spend that on inventory instead.
We'll share how stores can save:
If one uses Shopify (a popular e-commerce platform) to make an e-commerce site, the store often signs up for a lot of recurring costs. In comparison, when a store signs up for Bridge, there are no fees.
Shopify In the first year, the store may pay $6,000+ for using Shopify: + $79/month for Shopify general service (plan that offers a gift card). + $75/month ...
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November 28, 2017
November 28, 2017
Imagine your Michael Aram delivery shows up late (not that it would :) ) and you charge Michael Aram a $500 fee. Today’s WSJ shares that grocery stores are charging late fees to suppliers.
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November 8, 2017
November 8, 2017
Bridge is updating its pricing for brands in 2018. Are your stores worth 20¢? We think so ;)
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This year, sales on Bridge have grown 89% to $12M.
But the fight has just begun. In order to help independent retailers keep up the fight against Amazon, Bridge is updating its pricing for brands in 2018. We'll be reinvesting these fees into new features for you and your retailers.
1. In 2018, you’ll see:
A. More orders for your products. We’re launching new features on ...
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October 1, 2017
October 1, 2017
Do you accept credit cards? If so, you are likely losing almost $200 a year. The reason is that your store likely has not completed its PCI compliance or it has expired.
Are you being charged a fee? Here's how to find out... 1. Please look on your credit card processing statement and see if you are being charged.
The charge will be in the “FEES” section and resemble something like this:
PCI NON-VALIDATION -$15.95
2. If you are not being charged this fee—and therefore are PCI compliant, then visit ...
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August 13, 2017
August 13, 2017
Laura, who owns Ivy House in Texas, will save $7,000 in credit card fees this year. That's enough to take her family to Italy on vacation or buy five Apple computers for her staff.
How did she save this money? Laura asked me to review her credit card statements. I found that the credit card processor was charging her too much.
I then showed Laura that she could save $7,000 per year if she moved to Bridge’s processing. She gets the same or better in-store processing services and saves $7,000.
What if you could get a $20 credit on your next Bridge bill? You can. And, you can reduce your in-store credit card processing fees. You can likely save between $1,000 to $10,000 per year in fees.
Bridge supports indie stores and we know that stores are paying too much in fees. This hurts you--and it hurts Bridge's ability to connect you with other businesses. Let's help each other grow and save money.
Bridge has helped stores such as Ivy House in Texas and Glass Bazaar in Tennessee save $4,000 ...
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August 3, 2017
August 3, 2017
Laura, who owns Ivy House in Texas, will save $7,000 in credit card fees this year. John, who owns the store Glass Bazaar in Tennessee, will save $4,000. That's enough to take a family to Italy on vacation.
How did they save this money? I helped Laura and John cut their credit card processing fees. I like helping stores lower their fees because it helps strengthen their ability to compete with big box stores and Amazon.com.
John had this to say:
"We are happy with the credit card processing ...
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June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
"How can my store complete against Amazon.com?" You likely hear this question from your stores.
Give them an easy answer: learn how to help your stores by watching this webinar today.
About the webinar:
You'll learn:
+ How to to help your stores fight back against Amazon.
+ How your stores can offer more product than Amazon--greater selection is king online.
+ How to earn a finder's fees for helping your stores.
+ For sales reps: how to increase your commissions.
+ Make ...
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