Is an Ipad POS system a good idea?

[LivHolmes]

I have a small business and I am planning on transitioning from a more traditional point-of-sale system to an iPad-based system. I this a good idea? I've heard that it is cost saving, it this true? Can you give me a range of iPad-based point-of-sale systems are on the market now? Thanks!

 

[sapphirescales]

iPad POS systems frankly suck. One minor problem with the iPad and you have to throw it into the garbage and buy another one. The apps are under powered and some services have monthly fees and other BS you have to deal with. If Apple decides to change the connection, you have to throw away all your expensive accessories. An iOS update can totally screw up your register, and the updates can't be easily postponed and will constantly nag at you.

 

[glennd]

iPad POS systems frankly suck. One minor problem with the iPad and you have to throw it into the garbage and buy another one. The apps are under powered and some services have monthly fees and other BS you have to deal with. If Apple decides to change the connection, you have to throw away all your expensive accessories. An iOS update can totally screw up your register, and the updates can't be easily postponed and will constantly nag at you.

But apart from that??

 

[jamiesev]

we use iZettle, free card machine and free app, works great out in the field!

 

[jbartlett323]

Running a Win10 tablet as my POS in my store front. I think its an HP, Woot.com sold it as a "Famous Maker" product, but it boots with an HP logo. Works great! Same basic issues as a PC, in that you have to reboot it every now and then, but otherwise is super easy to use, and I can leverage all the standard windows programs while handing my customer the whole tablet to sign instead of paper.
I see iPad POS system as the above do, something is gonna break, and the walled garden means your gonna be starting over...

 

[Markverhyden]

There are tons of tablet options these days. Personally I've installed a number of systems, iOS, from squareup.com. People have been very happy with them. And the company has improved the software tremendously over the years. You can setup pretty much everything via a regular computer browser via your account. You can actually start for free by just setting up an account and getting the mag stripe reader, use it with your iPhone or iPad. However, if you want to stay with them you need to get the contactless/chip reader, to be in compliance, which is not free. You can also add a cash drawer, printer and scan gun if you want.

 

[Mike McCall]

There are tons of tablet options these days. Personally I've installed a number of systems, iOS, from squareup.com. People have been very happy with them. And the company has improved the software tremendously over the years. You can setup pretty much everything via a regular computer browser via your account. You can actually start for free by just setting up an account and getting the mag stripe reader, use it with your iPhone or iPad. However, if you want to stay with them you need to get the contactless/chip reader, to be in compliance, which is not free. You can also add a cash drawer, printer and scan gun if you want.

The chip card reader can be had for $29. It plugs into your iPad, iPhone, or Android.

https://squareup.com/shop/reader

 

[starbrightest]

I have a small business and I am planning on transitioning from a more traditional point-of-sale system to an iPad-based system. I this a good idea? I've heard that it is cost saving, it this true? Can you give me a range of iPad-based point-of-sale systems are on the market now? Thanks!

Yes, I think, you are referring to the new payment service system called Apple pay in which you can payplug into the iPhone to scan credit cards. There were a lot online who offers of such kind specifically for business nowadays.

 

[calldrdave]

I've set up dozens of iPad POSs for clients. Most of them have been through Square. It is free through Square, you just pay the credit card processing fees.

 

[Digital Micro]

I've setup several iPad pos systems also using Square. They work great for the businesses they are in. Don't know if they're right for every business type.

It's free to setup a Square account and give it a trial run.

 

[calldrdave]

I've setup several iPad pos systems also using Square. They work great for the businesses they are in. Don't know if they're right for every business type.

It's free to setup a Square account and give it a trial run.

The most common place I see problems with Square POS is places with lots of inventory. It doesn't track it very well or integrate with other accounting systems.

 

[LivHolmes]

Yes, I think, you are referring to the new payment service system called Apple pay in which you can payplug into the iPhone to scan credit cards. There were a lot online who offers of such kind specifically for business nowadays.

I'm choosing between Ingenico and Verifone, the credit card machines are both advanced and I can't decide which one to choose.

 

[Your PCMD]

We use iPads out in the field. Heres the trick, we use Square. On iOS, its an amazing POS. Its totally different from an Android or Windows based tablet. Yes we may pay a bit more in CC fees, but we compensate for that but adding a terminal fee of $5 if under $150. We have it set up with our own images, taxes, discounts, you name it. We love it and its at the low low price of FREE!!

 

[What'd you break?]

I've been using square on iOS for 2 year now and loving it.

 

[Your PCMD]

I've been using square on iOS for 2 year now and loving it.

4 years here myself.

 

[kwest]

I use iPads with square at both of my locations. It will cost you about $1000 for all the equipment. But it has never crashed and works great.

I also use square for my inventory and payroll.

 

[Your PCMD]

It will cost you about $1000 for all the equipment

I bought 2 iPad 4's for $200 each from a pawnshop. Square stand $79 when I got it from Square on sale. Bought a Bluetooth receipt printer from Amazon for $70 and 2 Canon MX492 printers for AirPrint for $49 each. Less than $750.

 

[kwest]

I bought 2 iPad 4's for $200 each from a pawnshop. Square stand $79 when I got it from Square on sale. Bought a Bluetooth receipt printer from Amazon for $70 and 2 Canon MX492 printers for AirPrint for $49 each. Less than $750.

Cash drawer too.

Yes you can get it cheaper. I forgot the total but I searched the model numbers and got them cheaper and bought the iPads refurbished from Apple.

 

[kwest]

Also once you go over 250k a year they drop your rate from 2.75 to 2.3

 

[TAPtech]

I setup a local farm with Vend on iPads. We chose that because they have some interesting programs like crop share, monthly pickups, etc. It works out pretty well.