Square Mobile Credit Card Reader

Has anyone used one of those square credit card readers? I'm thinking that would be a great option for my customers to be able to pay with a credit card at their lesson. Anyone used one? Are there better ones out there?

I've never used Square but I've used plenty non-portable card readers.

The only issue with accepting credit cards is the fees (usually a percentage of each transaction and sometimes a yearly or monthly fee) AND if anyone "disputes" a charge, it is immediately removed from your account and you then get to spend a crapton of time proving that the charge was correct and they need to give the $$$ back to you. If you do decide to accept credit cards make sure you get a SIGNED slip for each charge because otherwise if someone decided to dispute a charge, you will be SOL.

Oh, thanks for the advice! I didn't know that about disputed charges. I think with this the customer signs electronically on your phone. Would that work? Yeah, I'm aware of the fees. I think what I would do is ask the customer to pay that fee. I'd tell them, yes I take credit cards but there's a $x.xx fee. I think it works out to about $1.10 per $40 lesson. I don't think my customers would mind. If they do, they can pay with cash like they do now!

.

Square is similar to what my Dentist uses, it charges 3.1% for the transaction, the one she uses charges 2.8%

From what she told me, neither has a monthly fee or contract and you have to have a smart phone as you sign on the phones screen and an email receipt is mailed to the customer and business.

Charge backs are no different with the square thing as they are with any CC device. They all have that possibility.

.

Ok, Thanks! Yeah, I like that there's no monthly fee or anything. From what I was reading it said there is a 2.75% charge, so that would be good compared to 3.1 or 2.8. That's nice that a receipt is sent to both of us.

Square also has NO customer service so if you run into an issue you are SOL if you can't fix it yourself.

Paypal has Paypal Here at 2.7%

Payanywhere is another option.

Intuit Go payment is another good one.

I have the three I listed above for my various DS businesses.

We have friends who do/sell artwork at Anime/Comic-Con's, and they love it. There are 2 ways to purchase--one, through their site, and 2, at stores like Staples, where you pay $10 for the deivce, but that is rebated back to you.

I know several people use it at the farmers markets where I sell.
They love it. They also have the purchaser pay the fee. I would use it but I would need to get an up grade on my phone, unfortunatly you can't find an I-phone that is "ruggidized" which is what I need.
I have lost a few sales because I don't take cards.

Ruggidized? As in physically tougher? Buy an Otterbox.
Posted via Mobile Device

Be aware that in most cases it is illegal to charge the customer the fees.

I am fully aware that tons of businesses do it or charge a "convenience fee" which by no means is a legal loophole. They are all betting that no-one will go to the hassle/expense of suing them.

I ran the Accounts Receivable dept for a gigantic corporation and when a CEO wanted to pay a 2.5million invoice with his Amex, I very quickly learned all there was to know about credit cards, the fees associated with them, the legality of passing on those fees and so forth. It is completely plausible that a corporate attorney would take legal action over their corporation being charged many, many thousands in fees, so needless to say, we did not accept his card as we couldn't legally pass on the fees and we didn't want to pay $50,000+ in fees!