Card sales

[JamezF]

Are SumUp and Zettle still the "providers of choice" for taking card payments and honesty box payments? Can either do payments for multiple items of different values (if we had a number of different items available via an honesty box, for example)?

James

 

[E&MBees]

I have a SumUp which I have programmed via my phone to list the honey, candles and polish that I sell. If a customer wants a number of items, I tap on each one listed in the SumUp phone app, it adds it altogether and produces a total. I find it very useful at a fair as it itemises sales enabling simple stock control.
I only use mine in person, an honesty box wouldn’t work here, stuff would get stolen.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Are SumUp and Zettle still the "providers of choice" for taking card payments and honesty box payments? Can either do payments for multiple items of different values (if we had a number of different items available via an honesty box, for example)?

James

I use ithe SumUp the same as E&M but when using it with a QR code it opens your page on the SumUp site and the customer enters the payment sum, so if they took several items they add them up and authorise the appropriate sum.
SumUp now has a tap to pay facility on modern mobiles so you can just take a payment using your phone. ( of course I can’t use this faculty as my phone came out of the ark)

 

[ericbeaumont]

an honesty box wouldn’t work here, stuff would get stolen

It would if the base of the box was connected to a 150mm waste pipe that led to the other side of a hedge or fence.

 

[Newbeeneil]

It would if the base of the box was connected to a 150mm waste pipe that led to the other side of a hedge or fence.

How would that stop someone stealing the honey?

 

[ericbeaumont]

How would that stop someone stealing the honey?

Forgot that bit.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

How would that stop someone stealing the honey?

We have used most, if not all of the different card machine providers and found Dojo to be far & away the best by a mile.
The readers have their own sim card which is not network specific, it roams to the strongest network.
There was an event last year that the only traders able to accept cards were those with Dojo as maintance work was being done on the masts nearest to the site.

 

[Amari]

It would if the base of the box was connected to a 150mm waste pipe that led to the other side of a hedge or fence.

Yes, that works for me - note mouth of drainpipe above box. Lazily, I don't keep a meticulous tally but am not aware of any thefts.
Problems:
1. folk often don't read the instructions within the box asking them to rubber-band banknotes = notes get stuck halfway down the tube. Solution: poke with a very long bamboo
2. Folk either don't read about the tube, can't see it or can't reach it = cash left within the box

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Solution: poke with a very long bamboo

a bit extreme - wouldn't that deter the customer from returning?

 

[ericbeaumont]

mouth of drainpipe above box

The cash pipe could be reciprocated by another pipe coming down through the hedge into the delivery box, triggered to roll a jar slowly when correct payment has been made.

Of course, some method to calculate the correct payment would be needed. Perhaps this might inspire your inventive juices, Amari, on a crisp and even winter night when the cat has left your lap and your good lady has brushed the cobwebs from the sherry?

 

[JamezF]

View attachment 41753

Ooh, Professor Branestawm! One of the early ones too, given the illustration by Heath Robinson.

I struggle to recall any of the stories now, but I'm sure there was one where he invented "invisible" glass.

James

 

[pargyle]

I have a SumUp which I have programmed via my phone to list the honey, candles and polish that I sell. If a customer wants a number of items, I tap on each one listed in the SumUp phone app, it adds it altogether and produces a total. I find it very useful at a fair as it itemises sales enabling simple stock control.
I only use mine in person, an honesty box wouldn’t work here, stuff would get stolen.

Same here with my Zettle ...

 

[Amari]

a bit extreme - wouldn't that deter the customer from returning?

I remember, JBM, you saying on here a few years ago that if you were to set up a similar sales box to mine (post 8), that not only would the honey be stolen but also the sales box, pole and drainpipe..............

 

[Darryl]

We have used most, if not all of the different card machine providers and found Dojo to be far & away the best by a mile.
The readers have their own sim card which is not network specific, it roams to the strongest network.
There was an event last year that the only traders able to accept cards were those with Dojo as maintance work was being done on the masts nearest to the site.

Does the SIM card need a contract as in mobile phone SIM or us it like Sumup's who claim it's totally free of running costs?

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

Does the SIM card need a contract as in mobile phone SIM or us it like Sumup's who claim it's totally free of running costs?

I will ask my finance department (Wendy ).

 

[JamezF]

Well, SumUp must be considered a big fat fail

When I try to complete the second stage of signing up, I'm told that they need access to the camera and can't continue without it. But camera access is already enabled! And in fact, the instructions that they give for enabling access to the camera aren't actually correct. Grrr.

James

 

[Sutty]

I use square and have had no great problems though a new phone update failed to work for a bit a few years ago.
I have a reader but my latest phone can take payment directly too.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Forgot that bit.

Dishonest characters devise methods of gaining advantage over the honest because in general the honest have an underlying expectation others will live by honest standards. Life can be full of disappointments.

 

[beeker]

Well, SumUp must be considered a big fat fail

When I try to complete the second stage of signing up, I'm told that they need access to the camera and can't continue without it. But camera access is already enabled! And in fact, the instructions that they give for enabling access to the camera aren't actually correct. Grrr.

James

Had similar thing on a Samsung A34, so not the newest phone, but not too old either. Works fine with the hand held card reader though. Just can't do the tap on phone thingy.

 

[JamezF]

Had similar thing on a Samsung A34, so not the newest phone, but not too old either. Works fine with the hand held card reader though. Just can't do the tap on phone thingy.

I guess it doesn't have the NFC functionality? As it turns out, despite only being four years old neither does mine. I'm trying to decide on the best way forward now. Tap to pay would be very convenient, but frankly I don't value a mobile phone sufficiently to pay hundreds of pounds for a new one every few years.

James