Anyone using "Square" Credit Card reader?

A4 1.8tqm

A4 1.8tqm

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I was wondering if anyone here is using the Squareup on their iPhone/Android.
If you are can you share your opinions and experiences with it?

I saw a couple people mentioned it in the thread- http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-make-money-detailing-cars/24721-cash-king.html but I wanted to start a dedicated thread.

Link-
https://squareup.com/

I already signed up (free) and am awaiting shipment of the device (free). I'll be using this for my Video Company to charge for Blu-ray/DVD orders of whatever event I'm recording. This thing is available to anyone, so if your friend owes you $20 for lunch yesterday he can swipe his card on your phone to pay you back. Pretty slick.

Checking out the App (free) on my iPhone 4 it seems very simple.
1- Set a price
2- Write a note to describe the sale and/or take a picture
3- Swipe the card, let them sign and enter email or cell number for the receipt.

It also does cash transactions at no charge for the sole purpose of convenience and organizing all your transactions in one place. As an initial test I "charged" my "Dad" "$2 cash" for a "Blu-ray" and emailed myself the receipt. Pretty cool, description, GPS location and picture included in the email.

The only fee is a flat rate of 2.75% (swiped) or 3.5% + $0.15 (keyed-in) of the transaction total. No commitment, subscription or payments due. It all seems too easy, Feed back please
 
I was thinking on getting the reader, but I really do t need it, it was for the cool factor, and the just in case I could use it at some point...
 
I have/use Square with my iPhone 3GS, and really like it. I don't get credit card customers all THAT often, but when I do it's nice being able to accept pretty much any card (can scan Visa/MC/AmEx/Discover).

Only gripe I have is that using the reader does take getting used to. It can be finicky but usually works within 2-3 attempts if it doesn't go the first time around.
 
I've been looking at this for the future when I upgrade to the iPhone. do you add the 2.75% onto the price if they want to pay by cc? I think that if I was to get this that's probably what I would do.
 
I've used it twice now. The first time was keyed in because I didn't have the reader yet. The second transaction was also keyed in because it couldn't get the reader to work. Not a big deal really, and I'm very happy with it so far. My clients loved it too! I take a pic of their car and it emails them the receipt with the pic. They also sign the screen with their finger.

Best part is no monthly fee's! I would rather get cash, but it can be an inconvenience for the client, especially when the jobs are nearing or in the 4 figure range. :props:
 
SeaJay's said:
I've been looking at this for the future when I upgrade to the iPhone. do you add the 2.75% onto the price if they want to pay by cc? I think that if I was to get this that's probably what I would do.
Click to expand...

For me it's so infrequent that I usually just eat the fee as a cost of doing business.
 
Makes sense. I honestly don't think that I'd be doing a lot of credit card transactions either and if I did we're probably only talking $5-10. But if I started getting a good amount of people using their credit cards that $5-10 can add up really fast.
 
SeaJay's said:
I've been looking at this for the future when I upgrade to the iPhone. do you add the 2.75% onto the price if they want to pay by cc? I think that if I was to get this that's probably what I would do.
Click to expand...

There is some fed law that states that you can not increase the price of a service to cover a credit card purchase fees... I think you could get away with it but honestly you are just going to get charged another 2.75% see the example below:


Detail - $150.00
Processing fee - $4.13
Total - $154.13

There is going to be a fee on the $154.13 of 2.75% so it will keep on compounding so technically you can't get out of it...

Sorry to burst any bubbles though...
 
rovetherockies said:
There is some fed law that states that you can not increase the price of a service to cover a credit card purchase fees... I think you could get away with it but honestly you are just going to get charged another 2.75% see the example below:


Detail - $150.00
Processing fee - $4.13
Total - $154.13

There is going to be a fee on the $154.13 of 2.75% so it will keep on compounding so technically you can't get out of it...

Sorry to burst any bubbles though...
Click to expand...

Good point...bubble burst...thanks Rove! lol jk.

That does make sense though...but it would cut the initial out of pocket loss down some. Since that $4.13 would cover the 2.75% at the 150...so your only loosing the $1 or so from the 2.75% of the $4.13. I'll have to find that federal law though make sure I'm not getting myself into any trouble.
 
SeaJay's said:
Good point...bubble burst...thanks Rove! lol jk.

That does make sense though...but it would cut the initial out of pocket loss down some. Since that $4.13 would cover the 2.75% at the 150...so your only loosing the $1 or so from the 2.75% of the $4.13. I'll have to find that federal law though make sure I'm not getting myself into any trouble.
Click to expand...

http://####.answers.com/Q/Can_merchants_charge_a_fee_for_using_a_credit_card
Charging Customers a Fee to Pay with a Credit Card
 
rovetherockies said:
There is some fed law that states that you can not increase the price of a service to cover a credit card purchase fees... I think you could get away with it but honestly you are just going to get charged another 2.75% see the example below:
Click to expand...

You can still give a cash discount though ... which actually might be some sort of psychological boost to the customer.
 
LegacyGT said:
You can still give a cash discount though ... which actually might be some sort of psychological boost to the customer.
Click to expand...

SeaJay's said:
This is why I love this forum! Answers my question without me even lifting my finger to go searching!

Sounds like more of a PITA than anything else. I'll just eat the cost! lol
Click to expand...

The cash discount is the way to go IMHO if you don't want to eat the cost...

Back to the OP... I just signed up! I think it is a great idea! Do you know the rough time as to when the reader will arrive?
 
Yeah well when the times comes I'll go down that road. For now I'm strictly a cash or check business.
 
SeaJay's said:
Yeah well when the times comes I'll go down that road. For now I'm strictly a cash or check business.
Click to expand...

You actually trust checks? WOW! I haven't taken a check for a few years (I won't even take them from good long time personal friends or family) I have been burned way too many times...

I have been using PayPal for all of my CC stuff but that becomes a pain too hopefully this will be a great thing for me!

And of course GREEN TALKS SOOOOO MUCH BETTER!
 
rovetherockies said:
You actually trust checks? WOW! I haven't taken a check for a few years (I won't even take them from good long time personal friends or family) I have been burned way too many times...

I have been using PayPal for all of my CC stuff but that becomes a pain too hopefully this will be a great thing for me!

And of course GREEN TALKS SOOOOO MUCH BETTER!
Click to expand...


Yeah I accept checks here and there. I honestly don't accept a lot of them. I tell everyone I prefer cash but if they need to write a check that's fine. As long as I have all of their info. Last year I only got 2 checks. One from a guy I work with at my day job, and another one from a neighbor. Both cleared with no issues. I don't even think a lot of people use checks anymore.
 
I just signed up too. It's going to be nice to offer this service to my customers. Like Chad said when you are talking about a grand or more people don't want to walk around with that much cash all the time.
 
rovetherockies said:
The cash discount is the way to go IMHO if you don't want to eat the cost...

Back to the OP... I just signed up! I think it is a great idea! Do you know the rough time as to when the reader will arrive?
Click to expand...

I received mine in about 5 business days.
 
Its a good device to have. And you could potentially reach customers that normally wouldn't buy a detail. There's something that makes putting 100 dollars on a credit card easier than spending 100 dollars cash for some people. Square is actually not that bad of a fee when you compare it to some other companies rates, some charge a monthly fee and activation fee. I do think they need a better reader but it's free for the service and free for the reader, so get one just in case. I have one for my iTouch and bought a nice stylus for signatures.
 
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