Square! Discuss...

[Your PCMD]

I use Square and have for the past 3 years. I have never had an issue with it. And until I got me an iPad, I was using an old POS Dell (point of sale guys lol)

With the features I get from Square on an iOS its a nice bit of kit. So nice, I ditched my Dell and got an iPad Mini for the Shop and I use my iPad 4 for field work. I know the fees aren't that great, but I am happy. The only problem is there isn't a CRM that works with it. Either you need a merchant account (I used to have one - til I got Square) or use something like Authorize.net

I wonder, how many of you use Square? If you do, are you using all the features that are free? I know there are some you pay for, but I have no use for them.... yet

The ONLY problem I have with Square is no ability to call them, like you used to be able to. Its all email. I do have a business PayPal but honestly, I like have my money in my bank the next day. With PayPal, transfering money takes 3 days minimum and my inventory cannot wait that long, neither can the wife if you get my meaning

So what do you guys use as your POS and why? Thanks for the discussion.

 

[tek9]

I use Square and for the most part I'm happy with it. Fees are high, and they actually just notified me that they're raising the rates for online invoicing to 2.9%+30c, But they keep on adding new features all the time. They just added recurring automatic invoicing and keeping the customers card on file for automatic billing. The product keeps on getting better, so I'm sticking with them until I have enough volume to justify paying a monthly fee for a traditional cc processor.
I don't use any of their other, paid features, though, I don't have any use for it now.

 

[JustMe]

I do have a business PayPal but honestly, I like have my money in my bank the next day. With PayPal, transfering money takes 3 days minimum and my inventory cannot wait that long, neither can the wife if you get my meaning

So what do you guys use as your POS and why? Thanks for the discussion.

Square deposits my money into my business checking account at a local bank and as long as the transaction occurs before 2pm Hawaii time, it gets deposited the next business day.

I would not like having to wait 3 days for my money...

 

[sapphirescales]

We use Stripe. It's so easy to just type in the details and away you go. No stupid card readers, no overpriced iPads. You can do it on your smartphone, a cheap laptop, any computer in the shop really (obviously not a client's computer), whatever you want.

 

[labtech]

Stripe does take 3-4 days to clear payment though. It can be annoying. But I like the fact that I don't have to touch or see the customer's credit card or their info, ever.

 

[sapphirescales]

Stripe does take 3-4 days to clear payment though. It can be annoying. But I like the fact that I don't have to touch or see the customer's credit card or their info, ever.

Honestly, I wouldn't really care if it took 3 months for the payment to clear. What difference does it make so long as you've got enough capital for your business ventures? If you have to wait for payments to clear before you can spend the money needed for your business, then you need to raise your prices, reduce your expenses, or get more clients. I can understand that it might be a problem for smaller shops and startups, but if you're an established business and you've got to wait for payments to clear before you can invest in new inventory, shop supplies, etc, then you've got a problem.

 

[drpcfix]

I would say from a glance at this;
https://www.technibble.com/forums/threads/what-is-your-businesses-services-software-stack.67984/

Most people use RepairShopr or PCRT, but you can see the others..

When you use square with these, you just use the square register as a "dumb terminal" - make the invoice in the primary system (eg, repairshopr) and then open up square and type in the invoice amount and charge it. Then in repairshopr click take payment and use "Square" (cash-like) payment method.. Everything will be nice and tight.

 

[mrapoc]

I might just signup for stripe and risk it. They do claim its a prohibited business (https://stripe.com/gb/prohibited-businesses - point 51) but I can probably get around this by being B2B (??).

@drpcfix We are looking forward to total integration into the ipad app (we are even going to buy ipads for it) as we need a more portable solution. I'm going to relook at what stripe offers us in the UK as at the moment we are messing about with zero integration messiness with gocardless doing our monthly invoices (VERY cheap but a PITA to account for) and iZettle for chip and pin (not too bad on price but again totally seperate) - we are yet to offer card payments over the phone or offline.

 

[calldrdave]

The ONLY problem I have with Square is no ability to call them, like you used to be able to

They are back to phone support. I called them last week about a problem and they were very helpful. All US based. I had a problem with "bank rounding" not matching our accounting system. The problem had always been there but with our new accounting system, I wanted to resolve it. I talked with two support people. The first person was wrong, called me back, apologized and gave me $30 in processing credit. I'm a fan for life.

I use all the features I can of Square

1) Obviously the POS in the app. Makes checkout quick
2) For remote support clients, I can send them an invoice from my Square Dashboard
3) Selling online. Clients ask about gift certificates, so they can purchase them through the Square Marketplace. I could use Square's gift card program, but I just print the gift certificate and mail it
4) Marketing and follow-up. For $15, they'll send triggered marketing. You can send a customer a small discount if you haven't seen them in a year
5) Automatic chargeback protection up to $250 a month
6) Chip-card reader and Apple Pay support

 

[Pixelated Tech]

I use Square and for the most part I'm happy with it. Fees are high, and they actually just notified me that they're raising the rates for online invoicing to 2.9%+30c, But they keep on adding new features all the time. They just added recurring automatic invoicing and keeping the customers card on file for automatic billing. The product keeps on getting better, so I'm sticking with them until I have enough volume to justify paying a monthly fee for a traditional cc processor.
I don't use any of their other, paid features, though, I don't have any use for it now.

I also use square for my primary billing.

To be clear here, regular invoicing will remain at 2.75%. On record auto bill will be 3.5% + 15c. Scheduled series on invoices will be priced at 2.9% + 30c.

With this said, I am generally happy with the product but I am only displeased with its QB Online integration. I cannot match Square payments with transactions. This is a known issue that QB has yet to address.

 

[kwest]

I use square and have enough to volume to get a discounted rate 2.4 (over 250k per year).

I use their payroll to pay employees.

I use the register to ring up customers then it auto imports once a day into QuickBooks online.

Very happy with them.

 

[sapphirescales]

I might just signup for stripe and risk it. They do claim its a prohibited business (https://stripe.com/gb/prohibited-businesses - point 51) but I can probably get around this by being B2B (??)

What they're trying to keep away is those hack job "unlimited" remote support companies that hire "techs" from India. I talked to the head hancho there and got special dispensation after going back and forth with them for weeks. I made it clear that I was a LOCAL business and would be doing most of my processing face to face. However, I think my volume might have been one of the reasons they accepted me.

On a side note, I personally know people that have signed up for Stripe in the past with prohibited businesses and they usually get canned after a month or two. So it's not all talk. They WILL ban you if they find out you're running a prohibited business unless you get a note on your account from the higher ups.

 

[Pixelated Tech]

I use square and have enough to volume to get a discounted rate 2.4 (over 250k per year).

I use their payroll to pay employees.

I use the register to ring up customers then it auto imports once a day into QuickBooks online.

Very happy with them.

PM me on how you are matching your transactions with QB online. This is a big thing for me. LOL

 

[cypress]

I use Square and for the most part I'm happy with it. Fees are high, and they actually just notified me that they're raising the rates for online invoicing to 2.9%+30c, But they keep on adding new features all the time. They just added recurring automatic invoicing and keeping the customers card on file for automatic billing. The product keeps on getting better, so I'm sticking with them until I have enough volume to justify paying a monthly fee for a traditional cc processor.
I don't use any of their other, paid features, though, I don't have any use for it now.

Wow that is great! I knew this feature was coming but great to hear that it finally happened! Definitely on board with setting that up now.

 

[Pixelated Tech]

Wow that is great! I knew this feature was coming but great to hear that it finally happened! Definitely on board with setting that up now.

Its definitely a nice feature. Though, I am not pleased about the increase in rates for it.

 

[Your PCMD]

Its definitely a nice feature. Though, I am not pleased about the increase in rates for it.

Yeah, 3.5% + 15 cents? Thats a bit much. But worth it to me as I dont have to pay annual compliance fees and deal with a merchant provider.

 

[SoloCon]

I don't understand why more people are not using Quickbooks Go Payment? It has all these features and downloads directly into QB. Even sees my customers from the app? Not sure what I am missing??

I have it charging my monthly customers automatically using their software and it downloads into QB as well. Simple!

 

[drpcfix]

PM me on how you are matching your transactions with QB online. This is a big thing for me. LOL

There isn't a way, and probably can't be with the way square charges the fees. Traditional merchant accounts give you 100% of the transaction, and then take all the fees at one go - once per month. This allows QB/any accounting software to match properly, and then see a single transaction in the month for the fees.

All of the other major payment providers do it this way - it's really not a QB problem, it's a square problem.

 

[Pixelated Tech]

There isn't a way, and probably can't be with the way square charges the fees. Traditional merchant accounts give you 100% of the transaction, and then take all the fees at one go - once per month. This allows QB/any accounting software to match properly, and then see a single transaction in the month for the fees.

All of the other major payment providers do it this way - it's really not a QB problem, it's a square problem.

This is probably the most clear response I have ever gotten on this issue. I'm not surprised as Repairshopr has incredible support anyways

 

[alphatechone]

So this is new or just don't work? https://squareup.com/dashboard/apps/55

Edit: I guess is just for QB Online?