Make sure to conduct your research before purchasing an ATM. Once you buy one, an ATM provider is still required to handle the transactions (similar to credit card processing). This post will cover choosing an ATM provider that will best meet your demands for ATM processing and selecting the appropriate ATM.
Since being introduced initially to the retail sector in the early 1990s, the cost of ATMs has significantly decreased. We see a lot of used machines for sale on the internet, including auction sites, thanks to technological advancements and the amount of charming equipment that is still in use. I strongly advise you to avoid buying any old equipment unless you know its provenance, the date it was last used, and the maintenance personnel. Many of the pre-owned devices we see for sale do not comply with 3DES (Triple DES) or contain management passwords or keys.
When the ATM dials the Processor and requests a transaction, the 3DES encryption procedure in the keypad and firmware prevents the consumer’s PIN from being stolen. We now see older, really affordable PCs for sale because 3DES became mandatory a few years ago. These ATMs either need pricey modifications or are little more than boat anchors.
Be extremely cautious if you notice any used ATMs for sale that are listed at less than $1,000. I recommend AVOID buying a secondhand ATM unless it is from a trustworthy seller and has a guarantee. I strongly advise against purchasing any ATMs offered for sale by people or private parties unless you are entirely familiar with that particular model’s brand, model, state, and compliance status.
When this article was written, new ATMs cost around $2,000, and some 3DES-compliant used ATMs may be found for $1,000 and above. These machines should come with a parts and labor warranty.
After buying an ATM, ATM processing is still required. Find an ATM business that focuses on ATM processing (I suggest you Google the words “ATM Processing” or check out the author’s comment links below).
ATMs with or without processing should be available from a trustworthy ATM provider. Additionally, they would only provide ATM processing if you already owned an ATM. A reputable company ought to be able to easily re-program your ATM Machine onto their ATM processing platform if you already have a functional ATM Machine, know all the passwords, and have all the keys. We advised contacting a few ATM processing companies to inquire about the compliance of an ATM you are considering buying.
A reputable company will typically want a processing agreement to protect you and them legally and as needed by sponsoring banks and networks. These contracts usually last three to five years, but some businesses will negotiate shorter terms, and some will only provide two-year contracts with no sign-up fees. A few ATM firms we know of have contracts with times of 84 months or seven years. If somebody tries to force you to sign a deal longer than 36 months, I would advise you to keep looking around because a lot can change in 7 years.
As these businesses move your money when one of your clients withdraws cash from your ATM, ATM agreements safeguard you. They transfer the money from the ATM user’s bank account to yours. Except for weekends, that should be completed every evening. Contracts protect the ATM provider because many of them don’t charge setup fees but have to pay for the installation of your system, which means it may take them many months or a year to recoup those expenses.
Depending on your level of ATM usage, ATM processing refunds can range from 85% of the surcharge + $0.20 to 0.25 cents (bank-end income) to 100% of the surcharge plus 0.20 cents. Several ATM providers offer a tiered reward dependent on the ATM’s effectiveness.
Certain ATM companies may also offer ATM equipment at steep discounts to get you to sign a long-term processing deal. This is often a loss leader, so you ignore the ATM processing side of the bargain and instead focus on how cheap the ATM equipment is. An offer on ATM equipment that sounds “too good to be true” should be avoided. You can say with certainty that in this scenario.
Ensure you read the processing agreement terms if the ATM you found is less expensive than the competition. Most ATM companies that offer outrageous discounts on the ATM will require you to sign a contract for ATM processing that is very extensive in duration.
Something must be sacrificed if an ATM company sells machines for too little money or provides a too generous refund. Companies cannot continue to operate if they give accessible ATMs, offer you a significant discount, and provide you with quality service. This raises the alarm. Do not forget that they are handling your money. You want them to be profitable so they can continue operating and deal with any problems that may emerge.
When businesses give too much out, service typically suffers the most in the latter’s case. It amounts to $630 monthly. What if your ATM breaks down and you can’t get assistance, replacement parts, or service for a week or longer? In that case, the cost would be $21 daily or more than $150 weekly.
Choose an ATM provider that offers toll-free service every day of the week, 24 hours a day. Then, if your company relies on assistance on the weekends or in the late hours, you should test it by calling the number at 11 p.m. or on a Sunday to check if someone picks up.
Live phone answering is a pretty excellent sign of reliable customer service. Leave a message if it goes to voicemail and explain that you are not yet a customer but are testing the quality and responsiveness of their 24-hour technical assistance.
If your call is replied to slowly or not at all, it is generally because the offer is too good to be true.
Summary:
When looking for an ATM, budget between $1800 to $3000 for a dependable one.
Look for a deal where you receive at least 100% of the surcharge while shopping for ATM processing. Also, if you have or anticipate having a significant volume, bargain for a small portion of the “back-end” of the contract (maybe an additional $0.10 to $.20).
Avoid signing an ATM processing contract over two to three years.
Call any references you are given from other ATM users.
Verify whether the ATM company’s 24/7 service is as reliable as it claims.
Inquire about “chargebacks” for ATM inconsistencies (a good ATM processor will handle them for you).
Find out if there are any startup costs (sign up fee, application fee, rebates, etc.)
Beware of hidden costs, bait-and-switch tactics, etc.
Verify that daily deposits of withdrawn monies are made by reading the ATM processing agreement (business days).
Noah Wieder is CEO of Intelligent eCommerce, Inc., Creator of ATMDepot.com, an ATM Business which gives a plethora of knowledge and resources regarding how ATM Machines work.
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