Archive for May, 2009
We are extremely fortunate to live in such a beautiful and bountiful part of America. The Chesapeake Bay and our many waterways provide us with beautiful scenery, wonderful seafood, and many places for water recreation. With summer just around the corner, it’s time to make plans for summer fun! Our merchant of the month, SunTime Rentals, can get you started!
Located at 2820 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater, at the foot of the South River Bridge, SunTime Rentals has everything you need for a great day of fun, adventure, or relaxation on the water, from vessels to jet skis to all of the sporting and safety equipment. Bob McLean, owner of SunTime, was born in Bethesda and grew up in Maryland around the water. He’s been an avid water sportsman for years and as a seasoned business owner, he knows what it takes to keep his customers happy. He purchased SunTime in 1992 when it consisted of five small outboard boats and two jet skis that did not run. Today, SunTime’s fleet is made up of seven 19-foot boats with V8 inboard/outboard engines and four brand new Yamaha jet skis.
Safety is SunTime’s number one priority, and Bob and his staff do everything they can to ensure that your experience is a safe and enjoyable one. Boat rentals are available for cruising and for water sports like tubing, water skiing, and wakeboarding. The recommended capacity for one boat for cruising is six passengers; for water sports, Bob recommends no more than four passengers on the boat. To drive one of SunTime’s boats, you must have previous experience at the helm of a boat and be comfortable behind the wheel. Boat drivers must be at least 16 years old, but a rental contract requires the signature of someone 21 years of age or older. Personal flotation devices (life vests) are provided with every rental, and all boats are inspected and cleaned between every rental.
If you have never driven a boat but would like to give it a try, SunTime can help you out. Once you’ve reserved your boat rental, SunTime offers boat driving lessons during weekdays with a licensed Coast Guard Captain (lessons are priced separately from the boat rental).
SunTime is open from May 1 through September 30 (weather permitting, of course). Boats can be rented for as little as two hours or as long as eight, but all boats are required to be returned by sundown. Water sports equipment is available for an additional fee, or you can bring your own. Gasoline is also priced separately – your boat will be fully fueled when you leave the dock, and you will pay for the actual gas used when the tank is refilled upon your return. Rates are reasonable, too: boat rental for one hour is $125; four hours, $395; all day (eight hours), $745 (prices do not include tax or fuel). An additional $45 will get you the sporting equipment that you need for a four-hour period.
If jet skis are more your speed, SunTime has four available for rent. Typical jet ski rentals are for one hour, but longer rental periods are also available. One hour on a jet ski is priced at $89 for a one, two, or three-person jet ski (gas not included). For both boat and jet ski rentals, frequent user and group discounts are available.
SunTime can also bring the fun to your home or location on the water with a boat or jet ski party at your location. Vessels can be transported over land or water, and rates vary depending on the number of vessels needed, the length of time for the rental, and your location.
Don’t let summer go by without giving SunTime a call! Hours are 10am-6pm weekdays, 8am to sunset on weekends and holidays, and they are open 7 days a week from May 1 through September 30.
www.suntimerentals.com suntimerentals@verizon.net 410-266-6020
If you are a merchant who accepts credit cards, you could be missing an opportunity to save money! If your average credit card ticket is $35 or more, you may benefit in the long run by accepting debit cards in addition to credit cards.
With PIN- based debit transactions (where the customer has to enter a personal identification number to complete the transaction), merchants typically receive funds for the purchase in their accounts the next day…and the higher the average ticket, the more you save on fees.
Debit card transaction fees are the same for each transaction, regardless of the actual amount of the customer’s purchase, whereas with credit card transactions, merchants typically pay a percentage of the total of the purchase, along with a transaction fee, for each credit card transaction that they accept. If you do the math, you can see where accepting more debits (if the average purchase is $35 or more) can save money!
Adding debit cards to your accepted modes of payment is easy. You can add a PIN pad to your existing terminal or have your terminal encrypted internally.
Another way that you can add to your bottom line as a merchant while driving more business to your door is by offering ATM machine services at your location. Did you know that four out of every five Americans have an ATM card? Studies show that the typical ATM customer spends 20-25% more than a customer who does not use an ATM. The average ATM withdrawal is $52, and depending upon the type of business, anywhere from 15 to 80% of the cash withdrawn is dispensed back into the business.
With an ATM machine at your business, customers will be able to obtain the cash they need to complete their purchases with you, without leaving your location. Plus, you will experience an increase in customer traffic flow and cash sales. As an added benefit, you as a merchant can set your own ATM surcharge which virtually offsets the merchant fees that you pay on credit card transactions and earns you money daily.
Many types of businesses can benefit from having an ATM on site, including restaurants, liquor stores, variety stores, grocery stores, bowling alleys, movie theatres, nurseries, hair salons, and more!