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Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

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11–20 of 47 posts

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#11
So what happens with signatures? I recently visited a cafe where they were using an iPad as a checkout, and the cashier had to constantly swivel the thing around to let customers sign for their purchase.

I know it's not that big an inconvenience, but it just seemed like an awkward conclusion to a transaction that's supposed to be simplified by these devices.

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#12

So what happens with signatures? I recently visited a cafe where they were using an iPad as a checkout, and the cashier had to constantly swivel the thing around to let customers sign for their purchase. I know it's not that big an inconvenience, but it just seemed like an awkward conclusion to a transaction that's supposed to be simplified by these devices.

I believe if you're a verified business account and the total is under $20 or so, no signature is needed. If it's over a certain amount, then you have to get a signature, which means you're going to be swiveling or handing someone an iPad regularly.

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#13
post #3

Are there any wires needed to hook into receipt printers, cash boxes, etc?

The receipt printer is a network printer; it needs an ethernet cable. The iPad connects to the printer over wifi. The receipt printer is connected to the cash drawer by, essentially, a telephone cable. The printer tells the drawer to open through that line; the iPad does not directly communicate with the cash drawer. Unfortunately I paid $499 for this stuff from Square just last month, and I'm not going to spend $299…

Why not see if they'll swap the gear, refund you, etc?

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#14

So what happens with signatures? I recently visited a cafe where they were using an iPad as a checkout, and the cashier had to constantly swivel the thing around to let customers sign for their purchase. I know it's not that big an inconvenience, but it just seemed like an awkward conclusion to a transaction that's supposed to be simplified by these devices.

If you have a printer attached they just sign the old fashioned way.

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#15

Is there any chance that Square (or any of its competitors) will open up their service to custom app developers? I want to build a custom application that uses their hardware and payment processing back end. But I can't.

I see no evidence that Square would make one although they could. Until they achieve a huge market percentage they are still in growth mode. That requires brand trust first.

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#16

So what happens with signatures? I recently visited a cafe where they were using an iPad as a checkout, and the cashier had to constantly swivel the thing around to let customers sign for their purchase. I know it's not that big an inconvenience, but it just seemed like an awkward conclusion to a transaction that's supposed to be simplified by these devices.

In Canada, virtually all credit card transactions now take place via chip insertion, not swiping, and chip transactions require PIN entry, not signing. Unless they get an external numpad to handle such things, this is going to be a security nightmare.

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#17

So what happens with signatures? I recently visited a cafe where they were using an iPad as a checkout, and the cashier had to constantly swivel the thing around to let customers sign for their purchase. I know it's not that big an inconvenience, but it just seemed like an awkward conclusion to a transaction that's supposed to be simplified by these devices.

My coffee shop has a wooden case they made that they flip over for the user to sign and add a tip amount while the coffee is being prepared.

This is just much less ghetto and has a more substantial card reader built into it.

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#18
post #14

So what happens with signatures? I recently visited a cafe where they were using an iPad as a checkout, and the cashier had to constantly swivel the thing around to let customers sign for their purchase. I know it's not that big an inconvenience, but it just seemed like an awkward conclusion to a transaction that's supposed to be simplified by these devices.

If you have a printer attached they just sign the old fashioned way.

Square asks for the signature on the iPad whether you buy a printer or not as far as I can tell.

Re: Square Debuts its Latest Hardware, a $299 Card Swiper for iPad Registers

#20

So what happens with signatures? I recently visited a cafe where they were using an iPad as a checkout, and the cashier had to constantly swivel the thing around to let customers sign for their purchase. I know it's not that big an inconvenience, but it just seemed like an awkward conclusion to a transaction that's supposed to be simplified by these devices.

Buying an iPad stylus makes it a little less awkward than asking the customer to sign with their finger.
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