Transparent pricing for cigar businesses
Two ways to price your card processing: interchange plus one flat markup, or a surcharge program that passes card fees to the customer.
Interchange plus: how it works
Your cost for each sale has two parts, and you can see both on your statement.
Interchange
The base fee set by the card networks (Visa, Mastercard, and others) and paid to the bank that issued the card. It changes with the card type and how the card is taken.
Our markup
Interchange plus one flat, published markup, quoted for your business before you board. It stays the same whether the customer hands you a debit card or a premium rewards card.
You can see it
Interchange and markup appear separately, so nothing is folded into a blended rate.
It tracks real cost
Low-cost cards cost you less. You are not paying premium-card pricing on a debit sale.
It is easy to budget
One flat markup is simple to plan around as your volume grows.
Why flat rates cost cigar businesses more
A flat rate charges every sale as if it were the most expensive card in your drawer. That is convenient for the processor and expensive for a shop or lounge where most sales are on everyday debit and credit cards, with only a share on Amex.
It matters more in this business because tickets are often large, a box, a humidor restock, a wholesale order, so a fraction of a percent on every sale adds up quickly. Interchange plus prices each card at what it actually costs, plus one markup you can see.
Surcharging with MX Advantage
With MX Advantage you can add a surcharge (a checkout fee) to credit card transactions, so the customer covers the cost of paying by credit card and you keep more of each sale.
It works through the MX Merchant virtual terminal, Quick Pay, and card readers, or with Dejavoo Z-series terminals for in-person card-present rates. Integrated features include QuickBooks Sync, Payment Links, and Invoice, which is handy for wholesale orders.
Surcharging applies to credit cards only. Debit and other charges still apply. Card-brand rules and state laws on surcharging vary, so we confirm what is allowed where you operate before setup.
Compatible terminals
MX Advantage surcharging pairs with these Dejavoo devices:
- Dejavoo Z3PIN pad / terminal
- Dejavoo Z6PIN pad / terminal
- Dejavoo Z8Countertop, Ethernet & WiFi
- Dejavoo Z93G/4G & WiFi
- Dejavoo Z9WiFi only
- Dejavoo Z11Countertop
Pricing questions
Can I add a surcharge to debit card sales?
No. Surcharges apply to credit card transactions only. Debit cards, including debit run as credit, cannot be surcharged, and debit and other charges still apply on a surcharge program.
Is surcharging allowed in my state?
Card-brand rules and state laws on surcharging differ, and some states restrict it. We check the rules for where you operate before we set up MX Advantage, and configure the disclosure your customers see at checkout.
What do I need to get a rate quote?
A recent processing statement is the fastest route. If you do not have one handy, a rough monthly card volume, your average ticket, and how you take payments (counter, lounge, online, wholesale) is enough to start.
Want to see the numbers for your own business? Send us a statement and we will put your current pricing next to interchange plus and surcharging.
Send us a statement. We’ll show you what changes.
Tell us how you sell, at the counter, in the lounge, or by the case, and we will put together a program and a rate quote for your business.