ATMs

[Joe]

I have always considered the use of ATM's to be a foregone conclusion for the nightclub and bar industry. That is, I can't imagine operating one without an ATM in place.

Recently I have come across some resistance to this theory with this thinking. "ATM's are tacky looking, don't they only belong in strip clubs?"

So, what's your take and situation as owners and operators? If you use an ATM how does it effect your busines? If you don't, why, do you feel as if an ATM would assist in increasing revenue?

[Xarn]

An ATM cane be placed if it matches the decor or style of the club, preferably to the side away from the action yet visible so people can feel safe using it. Any video cameras should not be trained onto the keyface and no video record should be kept, still images can be kept, this is to avoid someone bringing suit against you or anyone in your establishment from using pilfered PIN numbers. The fee for use is generally twice the street fee.

Chris

[MiB ATL]

The last TWO clubs I worked in had ATM's... I have seen it fix situations when someones VISA card didnt work, but thier ATM card did to get the cash to close a tab... I also know some clubs get private ones and get a kick back off ever transaction, so they make even more money.

I never seen one that looked "tacky" they are usally very small and can be placed near a bathroom or in a corner where they can be seen and used, but not in the way...

I think they are a great idea until I have to hit that "YES" button for a $2.50 fee... LOL

~MiB

[David]

The ATM has and will always be a great customer drawing tool. Your customers know that they can go straight to the club without stopping at the bank first. This is a great convience for everyone. We only charge $1.50 per transaction.

I have seen ATM's in some clubs that release over $3000 a night. Are they spending it in the club? Who knows. They do make the cash from each transaction and every little bit helps.

[Bart-Man]

Dang! Just as I'm getting ready to reply, Dave and Matrix effectively pop my bubble.

Anyway, I'd like to hear one negative (warranted, please) thing about ATMs in bars. These are not the gargantuan monsters you see on the street, now. And some are incredibly cosmetic these days.

I have easily shunned the fee at any place that I was having fun. $2.50 is a very small price to pay when your having a blast. However, I have refused a transaction when at the airport or even a sporting event. I think it says a great something about your club when you see a lot of transactions going on in a night.

I am sure that by now you should have some ammo for the non-believers you speak of.

[David]

OK Bart. The only negative thing that I can say about our machine is this. When it breaks down, which is very very rare or it runs out of paper, it needs immediate attention. And, since we own it, we have to take care of the service also. If you lease, the leasing company will have someone on call to handle the problems.

[Bart-Man]

All too ready for that one. I knew someone would bite. And I am certain you will agree with my point (if not just trying to see if I would make it).

Practically every element of this business is an attempt to balance liability and loss vs. the profit margin of its conception. All those damn hassles with the depletion of both paper and inseparable cabbage still do not outshine the various moneymaking and convenient benefits of the machine itself. Therefore, I don't think it is fair to consider these an actual "negative". That would almost be like saying my electric pencil sharpener has a "negative quality" because I need to clean out the shreds once in a while. The good of its device far outweighs the bad of its maintenance.

And, um, for the record, I am actually quite sober at the moment!

[David]

Sober? What's that?

[Bart-Man]

I saw it in a movie once.

[Joe]

My personal ATM story is this. After watching a bank do about 700 transactions a month with a machine in one of my bars I decided it deserved a closer look. I ended up buying a Cash Machine 1000 or some variation for just above 5K. The fees alone have generated as much as 1750.00 in one month, paying for the machine very quickly.

The only real pain in the ass is the taking of cash out of deposits for use in the ATM, but really it's a six/one half dozen deal. The cash still ends up in the same account in the end. Also, you should be pretty comfortable with cash flow to do this, back up cash is a big must, we pump nearly 10K through this puppy on our busy weeks.

Glad this was a good topic.

[MiB ATL]

Well i didnt know Bart drank till he came in sober one night... LOL :D

[Russell]

Okay guys this is an awsome thing, we dont have one and i consistently forget the directions to the atm when asked. Also we're located in a not so good part of town [shock!]

So info on how to get one inside the club would be awsome, or just some company names would be helpful.

Thanks . -Russ

[happybaboon]

Hey dudes,

I'm just wondering... Do any of your local areas have a system of electronic funds transfer at point of sale? (transfering money from a patrons bank account to the venues account in the same manner that an ATM does its business)

It's the norm in NZ - you wouldn't find an ATM in a bar, but you would almost certainly find that the bar has EFTPOS.

[Bart-Man]

Mr happybabboon: Is there a web site we could see?

Boston dude: You should just ask in your area. If you see one at a nearby location, ask the manager there.

[Russell]

Right Bart, good plan.

[happybaboon]

EFTPOS NZ (http://www.eftpos.co.nz)

The site doesn't seem to go about explaining it very well, probably because it's based in NZ where the technology has been around for many years now... But you've probably got a fair idea about what I'm talking about by now anyway.

[steffen]

An "EFT POS" means "Electronic Funds Trnasfer - Point of Sale".

It's a big fancy name for the machine that you slide your credit/debit card through at places like Wal-Mart, Target, or Blockbuster that have a key pad, for you to enter your PIN for your bank account. When you use a PIN, the transaction fees are generally absorbed by the cardholder, not the merchant, making less money you pay to your card service company.

[happybaboon]

...And bars in the US don't use such systems? :eek:

[David]

Russell:

Check out www.nightclub.com. They have an esupply area that should have info on where to get the ATM machines. I know that I have seen the companies at the NC&B Shows in the past.