Square app

[emr]

I remember someone here started using Square to accept credit cards on their phone but I can't remember who. Anyhow, if anyone is or has used it, and what are your thoughts? Is it worth having?

 

[sotc]

Me, Lumberjack and Arborworks at the least. I dig it

 

[Paul B]

FWIW, Square Up....
https://squareup.com/

 

[MasterBlaster]

That's pretty cool.

 

[NickfromWI]

I use it a lot. It's cheap, works, and looks sexy. Seriously, is there a more affordable way for small timers (or anyone for that matter) to accept credit card?

No monthly fees? Awesome!
15¢ transaction fee? F yeah!
3% (ish) commision? Woohoo!!!
No sigh up fees? Now we're talkin'!

Just get it. You'll like it. (oh- it does take a bit to get used to swiping. I can never get mine to swipe right the first time)

I just got a new swiper in the mail toda. That might help matters...

 

[NickfromWI]

Hmmm... why does dropbox keep rotating my pictures. Oh well. You get the point.

 

[emr]

I brought up a concern in the last thread about a security issue with lack of encryption. Have any of you heard about this concern while doing research into getting Square? Also, the does Square ever update this app? I or has it been pretty much unchanged since you started using it?

I really think it would be nice to have but I guess I don't trust it fully. I just really hate all of the PCI compliance cap that goes along with the traditional methods.

 

[NickfromWI]

Screw PCI compliance. That is BS. And why do I feel like all the companies that sell credit card swipers are all scum? I just hated dealing with them.

The app gets regular updates. Sometimes every few months, sometimes just after a few weeks.

I think square is so big that the media likes to target them, but that the "normal" credit card readers are just as susceptible to CC fraud or identity theft as square is.

Once you go square...

 

[Paul B]

Still not available in Canada, too bad.

 

[sotc]

I'm with Nick. Step up or forget it, it less of a deal than your making it out to be

 

[NickfromWI]

Just give me your CC numbers and I'll run them for you.

 

[sotc]

. Same here, we can test from two states!

 

[NickfromWI]

Man, we treehousers are so generous. So willing to help.

 

[FJR]

I am thinking about switching to square, because for some reason my fees are through the roof and I don't even run that many cards! They do seem scummy for sure!

 

[okietreedude]

for a while i took cc thru quickbooks, now THERE'S over priced for ya. I got a squareup thing in the mail from the bbb for being a member but I havent signed up yet. I get very few inquries for cc's. most people ask if id rather have a cc or a check...well duhh...give me a check and let me make another 3%.

 

[sotc]

But there is that occasional job you lose because you don't accept cc. Thats where square up rocks, theres no minimum useage, just keep it in your truck and not lose that one or two jobs a year over a few dollars

 

[emr]

Two more questions. I am sure they are addressed on the web site but I am way too lazy to go looking. Are you able to enter a card other than swiping? Say a customer is not home and calls later to pay with a cc. Is that possible with out having to go back and get the card?

Secondly, what happens if you loose the thing or if some one steals it? Will they then have access to your accounts?

 

[sotc]

Yes, they take a higher percentage if you don't swipe. No info is stored on the swiper

 

[NeTree]

The swiper is just a reader that converts the magnetic strip on the card to an audio signal your phone can read through the mic jack. Nothing more.

I don't use it, but if I was going to.. I'd simply set up a separate account for it, and withdraw swipe funds as soon as they came in.

 

[emr]

Ordered one today. It should be here next week. I just got sick of almost $20 monthly fees for nothing. I will try and post after i use it for the first time.

 

[NickfromWI]

The square isn't anything amazing, but you'll love not having to pay $20/month for nothing.

The last company I used charged $5/mo to have the account AND $25/mo for PCI compliance or something like that. F that.

 

[emr]

It should be here in the next day or two. I already have the app on my phone. I think our first transaction will be for $1 on the company credit card.

Does anyone know how deal with this on Quickbooks? I assume you get some type of statement from Square so that you can account for the fees they take out? If they do, I guess you would treat it just like your regular merchant services vendor.

 

[lumberjack]

My first swipe was near 8pm for just under $7k after working a 14 hour day. Don't overthink it so much.

Your account will show the fees deducted.

 

[emr]

Over think it too much...... Now you sound like my wife.

 

[lumberjack]

Haha sounds like a smart woman! Seriously, it's not nearly as big of a deal as you're making it out to be.

The ONLY trouble I have had was a lack of internet coverage on that first transaction. I had to wait/walk around/hold my tongue right, but then again a F5 had gone through two days prior and a lot of infastructure wasn't functioning properly.