Can You Make Our Ship Go?

As merchant services pros, we’ve all been there. You get that call, the one that makes you sigh, but also reminds you why you’re indispensable. It’s a merchant who, bless their heart, has no clue how their POS works outside of its daily function.

“The internet’s down, and my terminal isn’t working!” they exclaim, as if you’re the wizard who controls all ISPs. Or you ask them for their terminal’s serial number for a crucial update, and it’s like asking them to find a needle in a cosmic haystack. They can never find it.

It reminds me so much of a classic scene from Star Trek: The Next Generation. You know the one: an alien vessel, clearly in distress, hails the Enterprise. An alien comes onto the screen, looking bewildered, and asks, almost pleadingly, “Who’s in charge of engineering?”. Their ship is stranded, and all they know is they need help. They then ask the most fundamental question, “Can you make our ship go?” and repeat the sentiment: “We look for things to make us go”.

That’s our merchants sometimes, isn’t it? Their “ship” (their POS or terminal) is broken, and they just need someone, anyone, to “make it go.” They understand the daily transactions, but the underlying mechanics? The troubleshooting? The serial numbers? That’s our engineering department.

This is where we, as merchant services professionals, truly shine. We’re not just selling solutions; we’re the engineers who get their ships flying again. We simplify the complex, provide the answers, and guide them through the sometimes-mystifying world of payment processing.

So, the next time a merchant calls, stumped by a seemingly simple issue, remember our alien friend from Star Trek. They’re just looking for someone to “make their ship go,” and we’re the ones with the tools and expertise to launch them back into business.

Happy Selling,

David