Tag Archive: card

June 14th, 2011
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Mid-Season Al Playoff Predictions

By Jay Nault

The American League is extremely competitive in 2006, and nearly all of the postseason positions could come down to the final week of the regular season. All of the races at this point are too close to label a clear favorite, but history and trends in general will create a potentially riveting September for any of several teams.

AL East Winner:

Boston Red Sox

Why they’ll win the division:

This will likely be the most-watched race for the rest of the season because the way it’s shaping up, the Wild Card will come from the AL Central. As such, the division pennant will be akin to a sudden-death playoff in September. The Red Sox get the edge simply because they’re younger, healthier and play better together than the Yankees, who have questions all over their roster.

AL Central Winner:

Detroit Tigers

Why they’ll win the division:

The Tigers have been the surprise of baseball in 2006, and they’ve played so well so far that it’s unlikely they’ll collapse to the point where they fall out of contention. Teams that sit more than 30 games over .500 at the break almost always wind up in the postseason, and their chemistry and pitching, which leads the AL in team ERA, will carry them through to the division title.

AL West Winner:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Why they’ll win the division:

This will be a three-team race for the rest of the season between the Angels, Rangers and A’s, but the Angels get the nod for a couple of reasons. First, they have a more talented roster than their competition. Secondly, the Angels have a recent history of playing well in the second half and peaking at the right time. Third, the A’s and Rangers have been scrapping their way to respectable records, while the Angels have been far from satisfied with their play, and they have the ability to bring their collective game to a level that’s unreachable by the other teams.

Wild Card:

Chicago White Sox

Why they’ll win the Wild Card race:

In just about any other season or in just about any other division that didn’t include the white-hot Tigers, the White Sox would hold a comfortable lead. However, the Tigers are having an unbelievable year, and the White Sox have a lot of internal turmoil to go with their talent. The defending champs will defend that title in the postseason, however, as their record is too far above the Yankees/Rangers/A’s to have to worry about being caught at the end. They’ll also be an extremely tough “out” in the playoffs, as they obviously have the experience to present an enormous challenge to anyone they face in October.

After another look at each of the divisions over the next few weeks, we’ll revisit this issue and let you know who we think will win it all in October. Until then, sit tight and enjoy the ride – it’s going to be a fun second half in the American League.

About the Author: By Jay Nault sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells aa href=”http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/” target=”_blank” rel=’nofollow’>baseball tickets: http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/ , concert tickets, theater tickets and more. Please link to this site when using this article.

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June 13th, 2011
post by halogen-bulbs | | 0

Mid-Season Nl Playoff Predictions

By Jay Nault

As we round into the second half of the 2006 season, many fans begin to look ahead in hopes that their team can either catch fire or hold their lead and qualify for the postseason. In the National League, it appears that the postseason picture is beginning to take shape. One team is all but cemented in its place, another has history on its side and the rest have different factors in their favor that will aid in their quest to play into October.

NL East Winner:

New York Mets

Why they’ll win the division:

In short, the Mets will win the division because they’ve simply dominated it so far in 2006. As of this writing, they hold a 12-game lead on the second-place Phillies and they’re not showing any signs of slowing down. They have very good pitching, timely hitting and a team “chasing” them that isn’t showing many signs of life. The only word of caution that needs to be heeded by the Mets is that sometimes teams that “coast” into the postseason can be surprised in the first round of the playoffs, especially if they meet a team that’s been battling to qualify. Regardless, the Mets have time to worry about that possibility.

NL Central Winner:

St. Louis Cardinals

Why they’ll win the division:

The Cardinals are going to win the NL Central for a few reasons. First, they have the best team, and in a 162-game season, there are very few anomalies that can play above their heads for that long. Second, they’re getting hot at the right time, winning seven in a row as of this writing, while their “competition,” the Reds, continue to fade after a hot start. The Cardinals also have slightly better pitching and hitting than their divisional competition. The Cardinals won’t clinch too early, but they will clinch.

NL West Winner:

San Diego Padres

Why they’ll win the division:

The Padres not only have history on their side, but they’ll also be pushed throughout the season. The Padres have never failed to qualify for the postseason after leading the division at the All Star break, which is where they are in 2006. They also play in a mediocre division where no team is a threat to go off on a tear in the second half. However, their lead is slim, and the Dodgers will remain within striking distance through the rest of the season, forcing the Padres to keep the pedal to the metal through the last week of the season.

Wild Card:

Los Angeles Dodgers

Why they’ll win the Wild Card race:

The Dodgers will qualify for the postseason more because of what their competition doesn’t have than what the Dodgers bring to the table. The Reds, who currently lead in the Wild Card standings, have a tough second-half schedule and lack the consistent pitching needed to hold their lead. The Phillies, Brewers and Astros are too inconsistent and/or inexperienced in general to mount serious challenges, and the Dodgers will continue to press the Padres for the NL West crown as that division will remain competitive throughout the season.

This is how things should shape up in 2006, and the next time we revisit this subject, we’ll analyze how the rest of the postseason will unfold.

About the Author: By Jay Nault sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells aa href=”http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/” target=”_blank” rel=’nofollow’>baseball tickets: http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/ , concert tickets, theater tickets and more. Please link to this site when using this article.

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April 5th, 2011
post by LED-Bulb | | 0

The Cost Of Acceptance: How To Turn The Cost Of Credit Card Processing Into Net Revenue Growth

By J. David Sharp

Have you ever slowed down to ask what comprises the cost of accepting a credit card, better known as the Discount Rate? Why does this cost vary from one transaction to the next? To understand best, I encourage you to step into the shoes of your valued customer, the consumer. The average American carries 4-5 bank issued cards in his or her wallet and utilizes them to finance transactions, expedite the transaction at the point of sale, and in many cases, to take advantage of the benefits these plastic cards give back.

The consumer’s choice as to which card to draw from his or her wallet is generally based upon the answer to one key question…”What’s in it for me?” The list of incentives made available to the consumer by the card issuing banks is extensive. Ranging from signup bonuses and teaser introductory rates to cash back incentives and airline miles, consumers receive tremendous benefit from the issuing banks for their day to day purchases. Financing these incentives sounds like the issuing banks’ problem, right? Not exactly.

The largest component to a merchant account is the cost of Interchange, which the processor collects from you via the discount rate and pays to the issuing banks, in large part to fund the consumer incentives mentioned above. At the end of the day, there is very little that you can do as a small business owner to reduce your cost of credit card acceptance while continuing to satisfy your customers’ need for choice. However, you can leverage this cost and customer-mandated payment type to improve collection processes and payment convenience to your customers.

Just as you provide a breadth of products and services for your customers to choose from, I would encourage you to provide equal choice to them for their form of payment. Choosing a payment processing solution that accepts all of the major credit card types and allows for alternative payment methods, such as ACH direct-debit and eChecks, helps you to minimize your overall cost of acceptance.

By allowing your customers to make payment with the credit card or other remittance type of their choosing, you’re increasing their convenience. In addition, credit cards have other electronic payment benefits that enable your business to set up more flexible payment options for your customers–such as online bill-pay, email invoicing, and recurring billing. You will attract new customers to your business, build customer loyalty, and potentially increase your customers’ average purchase amount. The impact on your net revenue growth will likely offset the variance in Interchange expense and yield maximum growth to your enterprise.

Interested in expanding the payment processing options for your business? PaySimple can help. PaySimple is the premier provider of electronic payment solutions for small businesses and creates platforms that simplify and empower the lives of small business owners. PaySimple provides an on-demand Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that enables small businesses to bill, collect, and manage their customer payments under one user-friendly system. The PaySimple Solution includes: recurring billing, email invoicing, ACH direct-debit, credit card processing, e-check processing, EFT, online payments, and more.

It does not matter whether you are buying LED bulbs , energy saving light bulbs or a new TV these things still apply.

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