Intuit/QuickBooks = Anti-Gun

[Bailey Guns]

I recently applied for a merchant account (credit card processing) for my new gun store with Intuit...the makers of Quickbooks accounting software and many other business products.

My merchant account was denied. Here is the email I received in explaining the denial of my merchant account:

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Intuitsignup-banner.gif
Thank you for applying for Intuit QuickBooks Merchant Service. After careful review, we regret to inform you that your application for a merchant account has been declined because we do not support the services or products you offer.

If you have further questions, please contact Underwriting, Intuit Payment Solutions, 21215 Burbank Boulevard, Suite 100, Woodland Hills, CA 91367.They don't support the "products and services" I offer? I sell guns. I sell gun stuff...and ammunition. The people I sell to subject themselves to state and federal background checks to pursue a hobby that is protected by the Constitution. My business is licensed by the federal government. But Intuit doesn't support my products and services.

Now, I thought for a moment they meant they somehow couldn't physically support the activity I was trying to conduct. But that can't be it because when a credit card is swiped for a gun purchase it's no different than the credit card transaction that's conducted when one buys a pair of shoes.

No...Intuit doesn't support guns and gun stuff. It's very clear because they asked in the application what products I would be offering for sale.

I hope you consider this the next time you think about buying an Intuit/QuickBooks product.

Intuit/QuickBooks is an anti-gun, anti-freedom, anti-Constitution and anti-American company. And that's ironic because I've been in the gun business for 10 years and they've never had a problem accepting my money for other products and services I've purchased that supported that gun business.

[arz]

can you recommend an alternative?

[Birddog1911]

What a bunch of libtard idiots. I'll be sure never to buy one of their products.

[mx'r]

WOW.. Gues all our money isn't "green enough" for those inbread liberal commy queers. I hope California falls into the ocean and drowns all the fags soon... Thanks for the heads up Carl. I guess you should've told them you sell organic granola and homo condoms.

[ronaldrwl]

That pisses me off. I can't believe it. I have supported them in many ways. By purchasing their software for myself and my business software supports theirs by linking to it.

[GreenScoutII]

WOW.. Gues all our money isn't "green enough" for those inbread liberal commy queers. I hope California falls into the ocean and drowns all the fags soon... Thanks for the heads up Carl. I guess you should've told them you sell organic granola and homo condoms.

Homo condoms??? [ROFL1][ROFL1][ROFL1]

Thats the funniest thing I've heard all day!

Nope, I won't be buying any intuit products. Fuck them.

[sniper_tim]

Although I support their right to not do business with whomever they choose, I also think it is a travesty. Unfortunate, I really like TurboTax, however will find a new product next year. I previously held an FFL and typically put "sporting goods" for "products and services" to avoid this same issue, however it really sucks that legitimate businesses have to do that.

Cheers,
Tim

[TS12000]

Should've put steel and polymer noise makers

[Irving]

So have you tried restating your case by shitting in the Quicken box and mailing it back to them?

Make sure to include the receipt.

[Ed_S]

I would respond to them saying that you believe you are being discriminated against etc.

Hippies freak at that the discrimination word.

[ronaldrwl]

It's best to move on. If you have any other problems that will just compound the problem. They don't have good rates anyways. I can have one of our reps give you a call and quote you current rates with no setup fee and no contracts. If you're interested PM me with your ph# and name. I'll have someone give you a call.

[BigBear]

No surprise, look at their HQ address...

You forgot Anti-Christian as well. Heard of one where they rejected a Christian bookstore because they claimed that the bookstore only targeted certain individuals and thus made it discriminatory.

[ChunkyMonkey]

We spend hundreds every year on their products - That will change [Rant1]

[sniper7]

Although I support their right to not do business with whomever they choose, I also think it is a travesty. Unfortunate, I really like TurboTax, however will find a new product next year. I previously held an FFL and typically put "sporting goods" for "products and services" to avoid this same issue, however it really sucks that legitimate businesses have to do that.

Cheers,
Tim


that is what i was going to say: just tell them "sporting goods".

[Bailey Guns]

UPDATE: I just received a phone call from Intuit.

I requested I be able to return the QB 2010 product I purchased a few months ago. To my surprise, and to Intuit's credit, the gentleman who called said pack it up and return it and Intuit would refund my purchase price.

It'll be in the mail today.

The person I spoke with today confirmed Intuit doesn't knowingly accept merchant applications from gun stores. He said that is the underwriter's policy.

I suppose I could've been dishonest on my merchant account application and said I was in the sporting goods business...but that's not the way I operate.

I'm sure there's a credit card processor who'd like my business - I'm applying with the NRA endorsed processor today. I just liked the convenience of the Intuit product despite their somewhat higher fees. But I don't like them enough to support their openly anti-gun policies.

I'll be looking for another accounting software product as well. I'll do the research beforehand in an attempt to avoid this sort of situation the second time around.

As a side note, I posted this on THR. Someone who claimed to be the Director of Marketing in Merchant Services at Intuit said the reason the application was denied was because Intuit doesn't accept applications from gun stores who sell online.

I find that totally ridiculous and contradicted by what the person told me on the phone this morning.

What, exactly, is the issue with a person accepting a credit card for an online gun sale? The gun must be sent to and received by a licensed dealer. The buyer then has to show a state-issued identification and subject him/her self to a state and/or federal background check. I'd say the chances of fraud with an online gun purchase are far less than for most any other product. After all...you don't have to show ID or go through a background check if you buy flowers online.

Screw Intuit...they pissed me off. I hope I've cost them some future business.

[arz]

Screw Intuit...they pissed me off. I hope I've cost them some future business.
you have.

[theGinsue]

Screw Intuit...they pissed me off. I hope I've cost them some future business.

Because of your posts, I know I'll never purchase their products or do business with them.

[Drilldo]

Carl, thanks for the heads up. Gunpal worked just fine. Intuit can go to hell with their lips on my dog's butts. Or do they not approve of dogs either?

[ryanek9freak]

After reading this, I promise you I will run my Quickbooks software through my shredder, and take a nice video of it, and send it to Intuit.

Fuck them.

[jason303]

Maybe someone with more business or legal knowledge can explain how this isn't illegal discrimination because the OP is running a perfectly legal business. I don't get it. I bet I would be accused of discrimination if I opened a super market and declared that I would not have an ethnic food section because I did not support the products.

[Irving]

Gun ownership is a choice and not a race. Gun ownership is not a protected class.

[Bailey Guns]

Gun ownership is a choice and not a race. Gun ownership is not a protected class.

True. But gun ownership is a constitutionally protected right as well.

[Graves]

Gun ownership is a choice and not a race.

Kind of like humping another man in the ass?
http://www.greaserlee.com/smilies/no-puke.gif

[buckshotbarlow]

Damn,
never really looked around for something as an alternative to paypal, or googlecheckout, both of which...well need i say more?

gunpal is my new way of doing business, i hope the rest of the ffl holders out here do the same...

[rforsythe]

True. But gun ownership is a constitutionally protected right as well.

Granted, but that doesn't make this a case of illegal discrimination. Just like the sign on the back wall of some truck stops and restaurants saying they can refuse service to anyone for any reason, Intuit always has that right. It's not like they denied employment because of the OP's race or something - they just refused to do business with him. It is 100% their prerogative and right to do that; they are not required to sell their products and enter into a long-term business relationship with anyone just because it's a legal business activity.

Their underwriter, however misguided they may be, says the risk for "something bad happening" is too great and won't agree to allow it. I daresay Intuit's hands are tied on that one as going against it would mean losing their policy. Now they could always go choose a new underwriter so I don't remove them from fault, and don't want to dissuade any of you from speaking with your dollars, but don't mistake stupid corporate business decisions for committing a felony. :)

[Graves]

Their hands are tied? As you said, plenty of other underwriters out there...Fork em

[Slider5150]

You are better off without Intuit processing anyway. As hard as it is to make a buck in the 'sporting goods' business, the slightly higher discount fees that Intuit was gonna charge you would really add up. Every percent counts, especially on high dollar low profit margin items. Shop around. There are plenty of processors that will take your business. When I had my shop we had a processor and machine that allowed us to scan checks as well and direct-deposit the money into our business account effectively eliminating bad checks. Now that was worth it!

[Irving]

Their underwriter, however misguided they may be, says the risk for "something bad happening" is too great and won't agree to allow it. I daresay Intuit's hands are tied on that one as going against it would mean losing their policy. Now they could always go choose a new underwriter so I don't remove them from fault, and don't want to dissuade any of you from speaking with your dollars, but don't mistake stupid corporate business decisions for committing a felony. :)

You seem to be talking about an insurance underwriter. There is no "risk" in this situation. It is accounting software. Doesn't matter what kind of business it is.

[Aloha_Shooter]

This is a case of legal if uninformed discrimination. As with any other case of legal discrimination, the best antidote is to publicize the heck out of the case. Everyone who ceases use of their products over this issue should tell them why -- otherwise they'll just assume it's fallout from the economy or something.

Raise this with the NRA-ILA and send copies of your info to news outlets that would actually cover something like this (Fox News, Wall Street Journal, Investor's Business Daily, etc.). If Intuit sees enough business and bad publicity over this, they will find another underwriter (if that's really the issue) or change their policies.

[cowboykjohnson]

So have you tried restating your case by shitting in the Quicken box and mailing it back to them?

Make sure to include the receipt.
[ROFL1][ROFL2][ROFL3]

[arz]

I'm going through the same thing.

I bought www.ammosphere.com - a small online ammo retailer that was advertised here, as well as on other sites. Previous owner was using authorize.net as the gateway and merchantwarehouse.com for the processing. apparently Authorize.net will no longer accept vendors who sell ammo or firearms.

I just finished my paperwork with Payment Alliance www.paymentallinaceintl.com (http://www.paymentallinaceintl.com). I found them on the NRA website. Rates seem to be inline with everyone else, though merchantwarehouse.com was cheaper.

Hope to be doing business by the end of the week.