Your source for cash registers in Seattle / Tacoma wishing you a Happy New Year. If you need a register in the new year we have them all from cash registers with credit card readers to simple entry level machines as well.
Happy New Year
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Should I add a pin pad to my cash register?
Many cash registers process credit cards directly rather than the old school method of having a standalone credit card terminal next to the register. Processing credit card directly on your cash register makes a lot of sense and can help you make more money for many reasons. The question I'm addressing however in this post is do you also want to take pin based debit cards through your cash register or even if you should take them at all?
What we have seen over the course of installing hundreds of merchants cash registers and credit card machines is it is all about the average ticket size in regards to whether you should take pin based debit or not.
Let's first clear up what "Pin based debit" is. Most debit cards carry the Visa or MasterCard logo and as far as the POS equipment knows they are a Visa or MasterCard however these same cards have the ability to work as a debit card when the user enters their pin at POS on a pin pad and the register treat them differently as does your merchant services.
It is the Fee's associated with a Pin Based Debit cards that are the problem for you the merchant. Almost all cash registers that take credit card can in fact have a pin pad added enabling you to accept Pin Based Debit transactions as well, and there are times when you will want to. Most merchant services will tell you there is a $0.10 to $0.25 fee per debit card transaction however they fail to mention there are also debit network fees with each one as well that can be another $0.20 to $0.60 each making a grand total of $0.30 to $0.85 per transaction. Does not sound like a lot of money does it? However lets look at a $10.00 transaction and compare the cost between a credit card and a debit card
$10.00 sale fees for a credit card (average) $0.21 transaction fee plus discount fee of 1.8% which is $0.18 for a total of $0.39 leaving you with $9.61 of the original $10.00 sale. Now lets look at the same $10.00 sale using pin based debit with average Debit card fees $0.20 for the merchant services fee plus $0.40 for the debit network fee leaving you with $9.40 from the original $10.00 sale and it could be worse it might cost you $0.80 to $0.85 for that transaction!
If your average ticket is $25.00 or less than stay away from pin based debit as you can see over time that small difference adds up. If you save $0.20 on 4000 transactions over the year than you have saved $800.00 and if you are really busy maybe you would save double or triple that amount.
Now on the other hand if your average transaction is $25.00 and up it may make much more sense to take pin based debit. If you have a $100.00 transaction it is much cheaper to take a pin based debit than a standard Visa/MasterCard!
The average cost to add a pin pad to your SAM4s cash register is about $200.00 maybe more if looking for a fancy one that is also a swipe and pin pad
What we have seen over the course of installing hundreds of merchants cash registers and credit card machines is it is all about the average ticket size in regards to whether you should take pin based debit or not.
Let's first clear up what "Pin based debit" is. Most debit cards carry the Visa or MasterCard logo and as far as the POS equipment knows they are a Visa or MasterCard however these same cards have the ability to work as a debit card when the user enters their pin at POS on a pin pad and the register treat them differently as does your merchant services.
It is the Fee's associated with a Pin Based Debit cards that are the problem for you the merchant. Almost all cash registers that take credit card can in fact have a pin pad added enabling you to accept Pin Based Debit transactions as well, and there are times when you will want to. Most merchant services will tell you there is a $0.10 to $0.25 fee per debit card transaction however they fail to mention there are also debit network fees with each one as well that can be another $0.20 to $0.60 each making a grand total of $0.30 to $0.85 per transaction. Does not sound like a lot of money does it? However lets look at a $10.00 transaction and compare the cost between a credit card and a debit card
$10.00 sale fees for a credit card (average) $0.21 transaction fee plus discount fee of 1.8% which is $0.18 for a total of $0.39 leaving you with $9.61 of the original $10.00 sale. Now lets look at the same $10.00 sale using pin based debit with average Debit card fees $0.20 for the merchant services fee plus $0.40 for the debit network fee leaving you with $9.40 from the original $10.00 sale and it could be worse it might cost you $0.80 to $0.85 for that transaction!
If your average ticket is $25.00 or less than stay away from pin based debit as you can see over time that small difference adds up. If you save $0.20 on 4000 transactions over the year than you have saved $800.00 and if you are really busy maybe you would save double or triple that amount.
Now on the other hand if your average transaction is $25.00 and up it may make much more sense to take pin based debit. If you have a $100.00 transaction it is much cheaper to take a pin based debit than a standard Visa/MasterCard!
The average cost to add a pin pad to your SAM4s cash register is about $200.00 maybe more if looking for a fancy one that is also a swipe and pin pad
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Dou you have to program your cash register for the New Year?
The New Year is often accompanied by new sales taxes in many states or counties so make sure you are prepared to program your cash register if that is the case. We are also seeing an increase in many areas where there are now multiple tax rates for example a general retail sales tax and maybe another separate higher one for food and beverage? If your area is moving to multiple sales taxes make sure you know how to program your cash register for one. Almost all newer Sharp cash registers and all of the current SAM4s cash registers can handle up to four tax rates.
When programming your cash register for a second rate don't forget you not only need to set the rate but also make the items or departments taxable by the new rate. None of the tax programming will affect your cash register and credit card interface if you have one.
Make sure you know how to do all this before the day you need to start. Don't forget cash register companies do charge for support for this service even if over the phone. If you require help programming your cash register call us at 1-800-863-2274
When programming your cash register for a second rate don't forget you not only need to set the rate but also make the items or departments taxable by the new rate. None of the tax programming will affect your cash register and credit card interface if you have one.
Make sure you know how to do all this before the day you need to start. Don't forget cash register companies do charge for support for this service even if over the phone. If you require help programming your cash register call us at 1-800-863-2274
Thursday, December 20, 2012
SAM4s SPS-500 series cash registers
The SAM4s SPS-500 series cash register is the most advanced register on the market today and is made up of several models
The entire series is made up of 4 different models and they break down as follows
Any of the four models has optional credit card interface, kitchen printer, computer, coin changer, DVR and many other options. These machines feature an SD card port for back up, program transfer and ROM upgrade. The CF slot allows for very cost effective memory upgrades and the keyboard port makes this machin easy to program and don't forget the crown jewel the 7" color touch screen!
Very affordable and scalable. Don't buy a register until you have looked at this series.
The entire series is made up of 4 different models and they break down as follows
- SAM4s SPS-520FT (dual printer, flat keyboard)
- SAM4s SPS-520RT (dual printer raised keyboard)
- SAM4s SPS-530FT (single printer flat keyboard)
- SAM4s SPS-530RT (single printer raised keyboard)
Any of the four models has optional credit card interface, kitchen printer, computer, coin changer, DVR and many other options. These machines feature an SD card port for back up, program transfer and ROM upgrade. The CF slot allows for very cost effective memory upgrades and the keyboard port makes this machin easy to program and don't forget the crown jewel the 7" color touch screen!
Very affordable and scalable. Don't buy a register until you have looked at this series.
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| SAM4s SPS-520F Cash Register |
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
What cash register should you buy in 2013
In 2013 I don't see much of a change from the state of things today in the cash register business. I project SAM4s will still be the best selling commercial cash register on the market beating out Sharp cash registers.
Both make great commercial grade cash registers but it seem clear that SAM4s is leading the way in the industry today as they have for the last few years. SAM4s has come out with a slew of new machines with features that really are game changers. For example SAM4s makes several entry level cash registers with SD card ports and make the same models with one printer and two so you can make the best choice for your needs. The newer models that include some of these great features are:
All of the above cash registers have SD card ports for reporting, programming and upgrading. They all can interface to credit card payments with the Datacap Twin Tran, interface to computers and come with free software and have models with receipt and journal or receipt only.
So let's not forget about Sharp completely as I'm not writing them off. They have made some great moves this year too. They came out with two new models that are great machines with some leading edge features. The machines are:
Both of these machines have features that SAM4s cash registers do not have. First both of these machine interface to a standard credit card terminal from Hypercom which is very unique (not as complete a system as the Datacap Interface). They both also have a programming Software that interfaces to the cash register with an SD card instead of a direct connection to the PC, however the big feature that has to long in coming for any register company is that these two machines have a Quick Books Transfer tool that allows you to take the sales from the register and import into your Quick Books accounting software.
I can't wait to see the new models if any that will be released from SAM4s or Sharp in 2013 and beyond. If you have any questions about which cash register you should buy call us at 1-800-863-2274
Both make great commercial grade cash registers but it seem clear that SAM4s is leading the way in the industry today as they have for the last few years. SAM4s has come out with a slew of new machines with features that really are game changers. For example SAM4s makes several entry level cash registers with SD card ports and make the same models with one printer and two so you can make the best choice for your needs. The newer models that include some of these great features are:
All of the above cash registers have SD card ports for reporting, programming and upgrading. They all can interface to credit card payments with the Datacap Twin Tran, interface to computers and come with free software and have models with receipt and journal or receipt only.
So let's not forget about Sharp completely as I'm not writing them off. They have made some great moves this year too. They came out with two new models that are great machines with some leading edge features. The machines are:
Both of these machines have features that SAM4s cash registers do not have. First both of these machine interface to a standard credit card terminal from Hypercom which is very unique (not as complete a system as the Datacap Interface). They both also have a programming Software that interfaces to the cash register with an SD card instead of a direct connection to the PC, however the big feature that has to long in coming for any register company is that these two machines have a Quick Books Transfer tool that allows you to take the sales from the register and import into your Quick Books accounting software.
I can't wait to see the new models if any that will be released from SAM4s or Sharp in 2013 and beyond. If you have any questions about which cash register you should buy call us at 1-800-863-2274
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Happy Holidays from the cash register people
Seattle's own cash register guys would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season. If you find yourself needing a new cash register in 2013 please come see us. we offer Sharp cash registers and also the best selling SAM4s cash registers. We have very simple registers to cash registers that interface to credit card payments!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Cash Register Supplies
There are a couple good places to find supplies for SAM4s cash registers where you can find keyboard covers, receipt paper and ink ribbons, cash tills and even replacement keys. If you need support they can also help with that. Here is a list of three of the best
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