Timbers Tid Bits: Zizzo's FC Edition

by Geoff Gibson on Oct 12, 2011 12:48 PM PDT

So we reported on this briefly when first announced, but I thought it was worth revisiting as it's probably one of the coolest things an MLS player has ever done with regards to their respective teams' city. I mean, no matter what happens to Sal Zizzo at this point he's pretty much setting himself up to be a Portlander for life.

The most interesting part of the whole thing, for me anyways, was learning that Sal Zizzo's family runs their own Italian restaurant in San Diego (where Zizzo is from) so it certainly will help bring the authenticity of the idea up a bit.

One request for the new venture: TAKE DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS. I don't know about most people but my interaction with physical cash these days is very low. In fact, I probably only have cash on me once or twice a year at this point.

Enjoy your afternoon news!

Timbers news

Timbers video: Jack Jewsbury says next three games will "define season"
Naturally. If they win them they'll make the play offs.

Portland Timbers’ Zizzo set to open food truck business
Can't wait to try it!

Timbers video: John Spencer happy with defense
As the Portland Timbers prepare to face Houston Friday night in a game with huge playoff implications, coach John Spencer will look to his defense to lead the way against the Dynamo.

Timbers' Zizzo looking to score in food business
More on the venture.

Other news (after the jump)

Wasted chances, Tim Ream gaffe, lead to 1-0 U.S. loss against Ecuador
The most interesting piece here is a bit at the bottom concerning New York 2 investors.

TFC building permanent training facility at Downsview Park
Also a 15 acre academy!

Man United Prepare £10m January Bid for MLS Star Brek Shea
No source cited and is pretty outlandish so take this with a huge grain of salt.

Gulati backs Klinsmann's idea of stretching MLS season
That's USSF President Sunil Gulati.

Whitecaps might leave roof open at BC Place
Soccer is traditionally an outdoor sport, after all.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber: If we can build the stadium, we will have the 20th team in New York City
He also addresses some of Klinsmann's comments regarding the schedule.

D.C. Hopes To Make Up Ground At Vancouver
One of the few times Timbers fans should be rooting for Vancouver.

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Comments

Food carts very rarely take plastic as it dramatically increases the cost of doing business

Cash businesses don’t have to pay transaction fees.

by pdb on Oct 12, 2011 12:53 PM PDT reply actions

Granted

But taking credit/debit cards isn’t that hard to do anymore. Hell I can do it right now with my smart phone. I could literally swipe your card right now and bam, money exchanged.

RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS

by Geoff Gibson on Oct 12, 2011 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

It's really, truly only about the expense and not the ease

It’s ultra easy, nobody argues that. But every time a debit card is swiped, it costs the business between 20 cents and 50 cents depending on transaction (credit and debit transaction fees differ). A food card probably only sells about 100 meals a day, maybe 150 on a really busy day. Let’s say for this example that there are 125 meals served, each one was paid for with a debit/credit card, and the fee was 35 cents per transaction. That’s $43.75 just in transaction fees, on a gross revenue of $750.

With all the other expenses food carts incur (ingredients, rent, insurance, gas to power cooking equipment, etc) it’s no surprise they don’t want to fork over $44 to the card companies, for much the same reason bars can’t just play the radio – licensing laws are different for individuals and businesses, and so are card processing agreements.

by pdb on Oct 12, 2011 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions

*a food cart only sells about 100 meals a day

not a food card. Typing is hard.

by pdb on Oct 12, 2011 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions

I understand...

Although your numbers are a little high.

The method I use only takes a 2.75% cut which off the cost of a typical meal is just about $0.14.

I think, at this point in the modern world, most businesses probably benefit and sell more with card readers than those without. Well, at least I would visit foodcarts more often if they did.

RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS

by Geoff Gibson on Oct 12, 2011 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

And I think that's part of the food cart culture

Most food carts don’t take cards, and that means they aren’t at as much of a competitive disadvantage against other food cart purveyors for not taking them. This way, the quality of the food, not the convenience of the purchase, drives the success of a cart and a pod overall.

If more food carts started taking credit cards, yes, they might win a competitive advantage over other carts, but they’d be hurting the food cart culture as a whole and probably pissing off their neighbors.

I don’t want the other food cart owners to hate Sal Zizzo.

When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy

by Andrew Wheeler on Oct 12, 2011 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions

pdb's in the right on this

I don’t want to give Visa/MC any more money than I absolutely have to. They are evil, predatory corporations that prey on small business owners and the poor.

When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy

by Andrew Wheeler on Oct 12, 2011 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

OCCUPY STUMPTOWN FOOTY!!!!

by pdb on Oct 12, 2011 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Internet squatters unite!

Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.

by Kejsare on Oct 12, 2011 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree!

Which is why I just use a debit card in almost every instance.

RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS

by Geoff Gibson on Oct 12, 2011 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Yay!!

And why my debit card is with a credit union.

When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy

by Andrew Wheeler on Oct 12, 2011 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I used to work in the credit card industry

Visa/MC aren’t really corporations in the way most people view them. Visa/MC are just associations with retail bank executives on the board, e.g. Wells Fargo, BoA, Citi, etc., and they set the base interchange rates and qualifications which are notoriously confusing for merchants. Visa/MC do little of the work, if any.

AMEX and DISCO are different in that they’re not members of the association. It’s also why Visa/MC are ubiquitous, it is easy to get a market advantage when most card issuers and creditors (retail banks) join together in association (some might call it collusion). AMEX sued and won over this not too long ago.

Banks make money in a multitude of ways with card interchange. As you all know, consumers who use credit cards pay interest to the bank that issued the card. Merchants pay the base MC/Visa interchange rates and fees to the associated retail banks plus whatever the processor charges. Often the processor is also a Visa/MC associated bank and card issuer. As you can imagine there have been many lawsuits over this stuff.

In many ways interchange is a modern marvel and a convenience despite the rigging of the game by the Visa/MC association. But it’s not for every business, especially ones with low average tickets like food pods. Also, cash is privacy.

To all this I say go Sal! But I would prefer he score a goal or two Friday night.

by yepyou'reright on Oct 12, 2011 7:17 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions

in at least a few of the cart pods, they have ATMs set up for those with cards

by YoniRap on Oct 12, 2011 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Those ATMs tho charge a lot more for their fee than going to the competitor's banks will

It’s horrible

Blazers win!

by The X-man on Oct 12, 2011 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I think it's even worse

than just taking cards.

At the food cart pod I frequent the most (NW 19th and Quimby) every single cart there but my favorite Thai cart (Sawasdee, who also have a cart famously at 10th and Alder) and I think a new Polish one all take cards. Literally the only reason I have been able to entice my normally reluctant coworkers to check it out and take a bit of a longer walk than going to the nearby Subway or whatever is because almost all of them take cards, and either way, someone ends up paying a fee to the banks whether it’s an ATM fee by the customer or a small percentage (2.75% in most cases) by the merchant.

I totally understand that cash makes life easier and all for carts, but it’s a pain in the ass for most people in 2011.

Square is a really great tool for taking credit card payments, very reasonable fees and super easy to set up and use.

by vitaminx on Oct 13, 2011 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions