What POS/customer tracking software do you use?

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

First off, first "real" topic, so sorry for all the rules I'm about to break.

Now, for the first 6 months I just used MS Word and just had a new Doc for each customer... It works.
I have recently switched over to QuickBooks, and I am still currently using it.

Please let there be something better out there.

I'd prefer a program over a internet browser web app, as I have pretty bad luck with my crappy ISP.

I debated writting my own little program, though I haven't had the time to figure it out.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I 100% recommend RepairShopr, though it is hosted.

 

[sapphirescales]

Try Express Invoice. It's 1000x better than Quickbooks and they even have a free version if you have 5 employees or less!

 

[gadgetfixup]

We moved to RepairShopr from OSticket about a year ago. Also moved from Quickbooks on local drive to QB online. No more manually entering Bank data, running CSV conversions from PayPal data or entering sales from websites. We integrated all the systems and one of the best moves we've made in a while. Saves us a ton of time every month.

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

Try Express Invoice. It's 1000x better than Quickbooks and they even have a free version if you have 5 employees or less!

I'll take a look at this, never heard of it before.

I've looked into repairshopr, I just don't like the whole web-browser feel... (stupid personal opinions )

 

[Jeff Gedgaud]

RepairQ

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

We moved to RepairShopr from OSticket about a year ago. Also moved from Quickbooks on local drive to QB online. No more manually entering Bank data, running CSV conversions from PayPal data or entering sales from websites. We integrated all the systems and one of the best moves we've made in a while. Saves us a ton of time every month.

Why did you move away from OSticket, looking into it, it looks amazing!?

 

[myleso]

We use PC Repair Tracker and OSTicket, we are very happy with both

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

Well I attempted to get OSticket up and running today to try it out. the whole server setup thing hit a snag, not my area of expertise. :/

 

[jbartlett323]

PCRT and host it yourself locally.

I used to use OSticket, great product. But you will quickly find that it is just a ticketing system, and you will need more functionality, namely billing. This is where a product like PCRT or RepairShopr really makes the difference. When you can create a ticket, post charges, send an invoice, get paid, and have customer records in an easy to use database, life gets so much easier.

One of my first solutions for all this was QB + OSTicket + MSWord, much like you are doing. I did it this way to save money. Well, ya gotta spend money to make it, so buy the right product from the start and you won't spend too much. I still use QB for back-end accounting, but pulling sales number from PCRT is so, so very easy....

As for hosting either PCRT or OSTicket, get familiar with web-hosting programs. I recommend WAMP (http://www.wampserver.com/en/) if you want to host it on a Windows box (PCRT says not technically supported, but works just fine). If Linux, then get VERY familiar with the various components and roll your own web server.

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

PCRT and host it yourself locally.

I used to use OSticket, great product. But you will quickly find that it is just a ticketing system, and you will need more functionality, namely billing. This is where a product like PCRT or RepairShopr really makes the difference. When you can create a ticket, post charges, send an invoice, get paid, and have customer records in an easy to use database, life gets so much easier.

One of my first solutions for all this was QB + OSTicket + MSWord, much like you are doing. I did it this way to save money. Well, ya gotta spend money to make it, so buy the right product from the start and you won't spend too much. I still use QB for back-end accounting, but pulling sales number from PCRT is so, so very easy....

As for hosting either PCRT or OSTicket, get familiar with web-hosting programs. I recommend WAMP (http://www.wampserver.com/en/) if you want to host it on a Windows box (PCRT says not technically supported, but works just fine). If Linux, then get VERY familiar with the various components and roll your own web server.

trying WAMP now. hopefully this'll work.
for all my money intake I simply use Square. It just works well for me. So I am mostly looking for something that will do customer info/computer info/notes.

 

[cypress]

Another vote for Repairshopr.

 

[jbartlett323]

trying WAMP now. hopefully this'll work.
for all my money intake I simply use Square. It just works well for me. So I am mostly looking for something that will do customer info/computer info/notes.

I use Paypal as my processor, not routed through PCRT, because I'm cheap and don't want to pay Paypal the monthly fee. I just added a custom generic paypal button to PCRT checkout. Don't need to use the system to actually "process" the payments, just to record them.

Like you, I thought computer info was all I needed too, but I can tell you from experience that being able to see what they paid, for what service, when/why they paid it, and the extra notes all in one place is a huge boon. You don't waste time trying to track this info down and looking foolish in front of your customers (experience talking again). And again, check in ticket, add charges, checkout charges and close ticket at the same time helps to ensure you are getting paid and not looking at a ticket going "Where'd that computer go? Did I charge for it?" and having to try to cross-reference it with a closed invoice in QB that may or may not have the customers info attached (which only happens if you like data-entry x2).

Good luck with WAMP. Be honest though, if you don't know anything about PHPmyAdmin, MySQL, Apache, etc, then its gonna be a PITA. If you do, it should be pretty simple.

 

[Mr. Ingram's Computer Repair & Shoppe]

I use Paypal as my processor, not routed through PCRT, because I'm cheap and don't want to pay Paypal the monthly fee. I just added a custom generic paypal button to PCRT checkout. Don't need to use the system to actually "process" the payments, just to record them.

Like you, I thought computer info was all I needed too, but I can tell you from experience that being able to see what they paid, for what service, when/why they paid it, and the extra notes all in one place is a huge boon. You don't waste time trying to track this info down and looking foolish in front of your customers (experience talking again). And again, check in ticket, add charges, checkout charges and close ticket at the same time helps to ensure you are getting paid and not looking at a ticket going "Where'd that computer go? Did I charge for it?" and having to try to cross-reference it with a closed invoice in QB that may or may not have the customers info attached (which only happens if you like data-entry x2).

Good luck with WAMP. Be honest though, if you don't know anything about PHPmyAdmin, MySQL, Apache, etc, then its gonna be a PITA. If you do, it should be pretty simple.

So I had to google the word "boon" ...I approve of that word, some would say it's boonerific... sorry...

I did get OSticket running. I already uninstalled it. Not what I am looking for.

I really do think I will like Repairshopr and PCRT. but those cost real money, and I don't like spending real money. :/

 

[PR Tech]

RepairShopr. Integrations (App Center) are incredible. We interface RepairShopr with our FreePBX phone system, Quickbooks Online, Slack, Google Calendars, D7, Google Cloud Print..and the list goes on. This CRM is worth every penny.

 

[jbartlett323]

So I had to google the word "boon" ...I approve of that word, some would say it's boonerific... sorry...

I did get OSticket running. I already uninstalled it. Not what I am looking for.

I really do think I will like Repairshopr and PCRT. but those cost real money, and I don't like spending real money. :/

Trust me, I know. Spending money is not making money, therefor it sucks. But this will be money well spent that will make you more money than you spend. Right tools for the job is always a good idea!

Now I will say, being frugal minded, RepairShopr is outside of my price-range by more than a little. The free plan is great, but if your trying to make money, you will outgrow that quickly (hopefully), and at $600/yr, ow.... And you like to host it local? Yeah RepairShopr just lost... $200 for PCRT and you never have to buy it again (unless you want to), host local or on web, keep complete control over all data, and if its down you have only yourself to blame. Either way, get on their trials, run a mock customer step-by-step from check-in to billing, and see which system fits your needs better.