Any hardware engineer know how one goes about sourcing electronics (IC) for a chip reader? Thinking directly from the manufacturer, I know you can order stuff on AliExpress but I'd prefer to be able to rely on the original chip maker's docs, evaluation kits etc.
Square Terminal
51–60 of 114 posts
Re: Square Terminal
#52I hope this takes off solely so I can pay with a credit card directly at my table at restaurants instead of having them take it to back of house. Much of Europe has been doing this correctly for a long time now
Speaking as an American, I've always found at-the-table swiping to be kind of strange, at least for higher end meals. It puts the commerce part of the evening a little too front and center for me. Or maybe I'm just not used to it.
It's way more convenient. In the US, primarily, you either ask for the bill, you wait until they bring it, you give them your credit card, wait for them to charge it and bring back your card and the copy to sign, then you are free to leave.
In the EU, you ask for the bill, they bring you the bill and the credit card machine, and you are charged right there at the table, where you have to sign (because you have an US Credit Card after all)
Actually it's kind of funny when you visit remote places in Europe, and the proprietors are confused because this is the first time they've rang up a US Credit card, and the machine spits out a second receipt asking them to validate the signature.
Re: Square Terminal
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
You prefer strangers running away with your credit card?
I've handed over my card to strangers hundreds (or maybe thousands?) of times in my life and had no problems to date. So ya, not really worried about it.
To take the contrary position, my father has had his card info skimmed at restaurants at least a dozen times over the years. It's a real problem.
Re: Square Terminal
#54I hope this takes off solely so I can pay with a credit card directly at my table at restaurants instead of having them take it to back of house. Much of Europe has been doing this correctly for a long time now
I don't think all restaurants should emulate the Chili's experience.
They DO already in much of Europe. Every single restaurant in Norway operates this way. It's fantastic. You pay and go on your own time and you don't worry about your card getting skimmed. Nothing not to love.
Re: Square Terminal
#55I've helped run a family home improvement business for a while now, and for now we're a little wary about accepting electronic payments, since the fees are so high + the possibility of dealing with a chargeback. It's interesting that they mention disputes with high 4-figures. Contracts are routinely over 5 figures, so 2.6% ends up being quite a big cut just to accepts credit. I suppose a ~2.6% fee could be added, but…
I helped two friends who do trades work set up for taking card payments. Both report that their average charge amount increased by more than enough to make paying to accept cards worth it.
As a customer, I can attest to this. The hassle of paying by check (I’ve had checks stolen and abused, plus I don’t keep them handy any more) or (perish the thought) cash for more than a couple hundred dollars is not worth it to me. I will seek out the next-most-trusted contractor who does accept cards and use that person.
Re: Square Terminal
#56How is this going to affect how often I get asked to tip? I want to see less tipping, not more. Square seems to be one of the primary offenders in introducing bribery to transactions where I don't really want to rate how much I was pleasured by the personal performance being put on for me. Getting coffee shouldn't be embarrassing, and don't prompt me to tip you before you give me what I'm paying for.
Tipping helps pay for a worker's living. If tipping didn't exist, the cost would just go back into the base cost of the drink. One way to get out of the embarrassment you feel is to tap the preset tip button and go on with your day.
Tipping isn't bribery. If your barista is making your coffee differently based on a tip, they're a bad barista.
Re: Square Terminal
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
..and then be forced add the new card to every service you have set to auto-pay like Amazon, Steam, Audible, Verizon, etc.
One solution is to have one card for autopay services and one for restaurants.
Another solution is for the merchant to bring the card reader to you.
Re: Square Terminal
#58How is this going to affect how often I get asked to tip? I want to see less tipping, not more. Square seems to be one of the primary offenders in introducing bribery to transactions where I don't really want to rate how much I was pleasured by the personal performance being put on for me. Getting coffee shouldn't be embarrassing, and don't prompt me to tip you before you give me what I'm paying for.
Tipping helps pay for a worker's living. If tipping didn't exist, the cost would just go back into the base cost of the drink. One way to get out of the embarrassment you feel is to tap the preset tip button and go on with your day. Tipping isn't bribery. If your barista is making your coffee differently based on a tip, they're a bad barista.
> If tipping didn't exist, the cost would just go back into the base cost of the drink.
So the advertised cost would actually be the honest that you would pay for the product. What a horrible world that would be!
Re: Square Terminal
#59Is that an iPhone? iPad? Android?
Re: Square Terminal
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
Speaking as an American, I've always found at-the-table swiping to be kind of strange, at least for higher end meals. It puts the commerce part of the evening a little too front and center for me. Or maybe I'm just not used to it.
It's way more convenient. In the US, primarily, you either ask for the bill, you wait until they bring it, you give them your credit card, wait for them to charge it and bring back your card and the copy to sign, then you are free to leave. In the EU, you ask for the bill, they bring you the bill and the credit card machine, and you are charged right there at the table, where you have to sign (because you have an US…
It's embarrassing for Americans because they're squeamish. They have to leave a tip, and if the server is doing the payment right there, you have to actually face them when leaving your embarrassingly inadequate tip.
In the American model, payment is processed away from the customer and the bill is left for tip-adding after the server has left, to save the sensitibilities of cheap customers who tip badly.