You might look into something like PayPal. That can process credit cards,
and payments through the PayPal system.
They have 2 different rates for business, standard rate is 2.9% + $0.30 and
merchant rate is 2.2% + $0.30. I dont know how that would compares to
automated cc services costs. According to the website you get merchant if
you have been member 90 days, and have had $3000 in sales the past 90 days.



"GrantPerks" wrote in message
...
Larry, John, and Bruce,

Yes, 40% reductions in staff will affect services. Chess Life won't have
the
same look. We won't be publishing books in the short term as well.
Volunteers
have filled in for some of the key staff positions. I am sure we will be
able
to find other volunteers to do things like be the official photographer at
tournaments etc.

One item on my to do list for Monday is to find an automated credit card
processor for the online store. The manual processing of credit cards was
a
full time position. This technological advancement shouldn't cost us any
capital and hopefully very little programming time from our end. We are
looking
to update other systems as well as we go along.

The staff reductions have gone a long way in reducing expenses and
righting the
ship. We need to reduce other expenses and increase revenues to make it
seaworthy. Many people have suggested raising the rating fees for
scholastics
to that for adult tournaments. Raising both to an amount slightly greater
than
the current adult rate might be justified and necessary.

Long-term we need to find a way to stop the decline in total adult
memberships.
I played in a tournament last weekend that had a total of nine players. In
the
past this same tournament has seen numbers in the 30's. Not large by any
means
even at 30, but multiply this around the country and it adds up. Members
that
don't play don't renew. The organizer did not run a TLA since he was
trying to
control cost. This event is at the risk of being cancelled next year. I
am
sure there are other similar stories from other affiliates. In order to
stop
the decline in tournament participation, I will be suggesting to the board
that
we bring back a limited number of free TLA's for each adult affiliate.

I don't recall seeing Stan's comment about me firing anyone from the
office who
post to the newsgroup. As I recall, Stan's comments were regarding another
concern. While I would rather office employees not post to the newsgroup
or
leak out information, as long as they don't do it during office hours and
it
isn't harmful to other staff members or of a sensitive nature there won't
be
retribution from me.

We have received many suggestions regarding cuts in Chess Life. I am
lobbying
for keeping the content essentially the same, just limiting the use of the
four
color press. Is a red masthead that never changes all that bad? In that
regard
if the cost savings justify it, I am leaning toward a retro 70's look,
hopefully we can avoid a retro 50's look.

Best,
Grant Perks
Interim (shorter the better) COO