When it comes to choosing a merchant service provider, there are a lot of reasons to choose someone local. Being able to reach a live support team and getting same-day service is hard to beat. That’s how Chesapeake Payment Systems out of Williamsburg, VA differs from the competition.
Take It From a Customer Who Knows, Mathews Land Conservancy and Tour de Chesapeake
Each year the Mathews Land Conservancy holds their biggest event of the year, the Annual Tour de Chesapeake, a cycling event bringing in hundreds of people for a full weekend of activities leading up to the main attraction.
On May 18, 2018, the team was just kicking off their 20th weekend with presales and registrations on the Friday before the big event. Around 10 p.m. that evening, Lynda Smith Greve, General Operations Manager for the Conservancy and Cycling Event Director, was finally able to sit down and settle the transactions for the day, when she came across a message on the credit card machine. But because she only processes transactions once a year [for this event] she couldn’t remember what the message meant. Nor could she bypass it to continue on.
With the next round of activities starting again at 6 a.m. the following morning, she grew anxious and reached out to [then] branch Manager of our Mathews office, Cathy Mise, and requested help. Cathy promptly contacted our Chesapeake Payment Systems’ Merchant Service and Support Team and explained the situation to them.
While several members began researching the issue online, another team member, Joe Mayfield, hopped in the car to drive from his home in King & Queen County to the office in Williamsburg so that he could start prepping a new terminal for delivery that night if needed.
In the car, he contacted Lynda to handle any troubleshooting that could be done over the phone. Thankfully, it was a simple setting that could be resolved during the call.
Why This Matters
In the merchant services world, most support is national, not local. Meaning that if a new terminal was needed, there would have been shipping and delivery considerations that may not have gotten resolved over the weekend, much less ‘same-day.’
Our live support team cares about your small business because we’re a small business, too—living and working in your community.
Additionally, our Chesapeake Payment Systems team offers a full-service merchant solution with countertop and mobile solutions for your processing needs. We also rent out credit card terminals and point of sale equipment for events just like Tour de Chesapeake.
In this case, the Mathews Land Conservancy was able to experience a resolution, with someone they knew personally, before their next event, less than 10 hours away.
“I can’t say enough great things about how this company worked together quickly to fix my problem after hours on a Friday night! Great customer service is alive and well with them!” says Lynda.
About Mathews Land Conservancy & Tour de Chesapeake
The Mathews Land Conservancy is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization located in Mathews, VA. Their mission honors the history of Williams Wharf and the county by providing public access to the water and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay.
They promote conservation, maritime education, cultural experiences, stewardship, and tourism through events like the Tour de Chesapeake. The next cycling event is May 20, 2023.
The event itself is a huge attraction to the county which helps economic development in multiple ways. “A great number of people discover Mathews through Tour de Chesapeake. Then they come back to visit and even move here,” says Lynda.
There are four cycling routes all beginning and ending at Thomas Hunter Middle School. “Cyclists can choose any route they want, starting at any time and travel at their own pace for 23 to 101 miles,” says Lynda. “Each route has great water views and historical sites along the way”
You may register online or make a donation through their website. If you’d like more information about the event, you may contact tourdechesapeake@gmail.com or 804-725-9685.
If you would like more information about credit card processing for your small business, please contact Chesapeake Payment Systems at 757-941-1335.
**Photo taken by Arlene Armentor of participants in the race.