Technology has had a profound effect on the American consumer. He can now shop from home, make payments online, and save himself time and money. But even so, the average shopper prefers to shop in person. One possible explanation is that he fears identity theft and fraud on the internet. Another is that he actually enjoys shopping in real stores.

Customer surveys confirm that payment processing business model shoppers are willing to pay a bit more for a pleasant shopping experience. This means the store had better have a helpful and knowledgeable staff. They should also accept multiple payment options. We are speaking specifically about credit and debit cards.

Sixty percent of retail purchases are completed with a debit or credit card. Cash is involved in only about thirty percent of transactions. The remaining ten percent of purchases are made with personal checks, money orders or gift cards. Since they surpassed paper payments in 2003, plastic has become the preferred payment method, both online and in person.