Anyone Use Square Reader or Alternative EFTPOS for Sole Trader?

bumblebeetuna on 15/05/2024 - 18:18
Last edited 15/05/2024 - 18:41 by 1 other user

Evening all. Wondering if anyone out here has any firsthand experience with an EFTPOS card reader other than Square that they could recommend.

Long story short, wifey is starting up her own business as a sole trader. Did a bit of review reading, and settled on the Square Reader as low cost, convenient, readily available, useful features, etc. Going through the usual motions of creating the account, she gets to the ID verification stage. It fails. Try again, fails. Checked we had all the requirements met, tried again, fails. Anyone who has gone through this would know they only give you four attempts before locking you out. In the app, all documents and information are accepted OK, but the last attempt again fails.

So she calls Square today to try and figure out what's needed to get this working, and she's basically told "this is a problem with Veriff, we can't help you. Feel free to keep using the account with limited functionality, but just return the reader to Officeworks for a refund". WTH?

Anyway, I know there's some other ones like the Commbank EFTPOS terminal, and the NAB Easytap, but not super interested in creating a business account with these (for now at least unless she has to). Another competitor seems to be SumUp, but worry their ID verification would be a similar saga. Don't like the surcharging approach used by Smartpay..

What's everyone else using, and what tripped you up along the way?

Financial EFTPOS Terminal Square

Comments

  • askbargain on 15/05/2024 - 18:26
    +2

    Long story short

    :/

    • bumblebeetuna on 15/05/2024 - 18:34

      I appreciate your community spirit, well done on being able to concentrate long enough to type that much.

  • freefall101 on 15/05/2024 - 18:46
    +1

    Stripe is an option. Their website has an obnixious amount of detail on it, but basically you can buy a terminal and pay per transaction - https://stripe.com/au/terminal#pricing

    I never had a problem with Square except the first terminal only lasted about 4 years (with very minimal use, my partner uses it once a year at events). Account has always worked great, sounds like their verification system is just a mess.

    • bumblebeetuna on 15/05/2024 - 21:20

      Thanks. Stripe does look like it would fit the bill, just need to wade through the sales information. I think for Square, the third party used to verify ID, Veriff, leans heavily on automation and AI, which is fine, but there's no fallback or support process in place with Square to complete it manually when the bots fail. It would probably be OK if Square weren't cutting corners on the product support. I just find it odd that they'd say 'hey thanks anyway for trying to be a customer.. better luck with someone else'

  • mskeggs on 15/05/2024 - 18:57

    Square has just been bought out by private equity, so expect price increases and poorer service to be incoming.

    • FFx0 on 15/05/2024 - 19:14
      +1

      I thought it was Squarespace that got bought out by private equity?

      • mskeggs on 15/05/2024 - 19:25

        Oops, my mistake.

  • jv on 15/05/2024 - 19:52

    but not super interested in creating a business account with these

    CBA business accounts are free…

  • jv on 15/05/2024 - 19:55
    +1

    Do you really need a device?

    I've been using Stripe for years… Quite low fees too… Especially for AMEX.

    • bumblebeetuna on 15/05/2024 - 21:34

      Two votes for stripe so far gives me some confidence. Separate device definitely not needed, but depending on the app requirements, a new phone might be in order. As for the CBA or NAB accounts being free, yes they are. What we haven't looked at or compared are the terms and conditions and other fees associated with those accounts, to see what would trip her up later. Plus the accountant advised it wasn't necessary to open a 'business' account when an existing personal one will do just fine for now.

      • jv on 15/05/2024 - 21:55
        +1

        With stripe, pretty sure you can sms a payment link.

        I just use online forms that have stripe payment set up… Easy to do without any coding knowledge using something like Jotform.

  • omguleh on 15/05/2024 - 21:20
    +2

    We use Zeller, they have tap to pay on the iPhone, no need to buy their terminal for most transactions.

    • bumblebeetuna on 15/05/2024 - 21:54
      +1

      Thanks. Interestingly Zeller didn't appear in search results previously, either they need some seo or i need to sharpen my typing. I like that these guys are Australian - mrs. bumblebee is going to have a much better time talking to local support. At a very simple level, 1.4% per transaction for all cards, including American Express. This is lower than Stripe, and what Square were taking. Plus they have a promo for 0% transactions this month! I'm definitely going to read more into this.

      How has your experience been with the company or the app? Any negatives you wish you knew beforehand?

      • omguleh on 15/05/2024 - 22:20
        +1

        Ive been using them for the last 2-3 years using their terminal without any issues. Sweeps every night to my nominated bank account. It's connected to my Wifi and have a backup 4G sim inserted. It does do overnight updates, and once it wakes up you will need to login again.

        Our business is under a trust so it's more difficult to set up. Took about 5 days to get the account activated, mostly from them asking for more documentation along the process.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 15/05/2024 - 22:24

      Zeller also supports Android.

  • bloom on 15/05/2024 - 21:46
    +1

    Obligatory “eftpos is down, cash only” sign will suffice

    • bumblebeetuna on 15/05/2024 - 21:56

      But someone will always complain they don't carry cash anymore 🤣 This is the cost of doing business

  • soan papdi on 15/05/2024 - 22:06
    +1

    In Australia, contactless payments are ubiquitous. Now, with the introduction of Tap to Pay on iPhone, Australian businesses can accept contactless payments from wherever they do business. Merchants can enable Tap to Pay on iPhone through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone Xs or later device running iOS 16.4 or later. Once enabled, merchants will simply prompt customers to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay with Apple Pay, their contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology. Tap to Pay on iPhone also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options

    https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2023/05/apple-introduces-t…

  • hasher22 on 15/05/2024 - 23:04
    +1

    are you going to have an online store like shopify? To have the best experience, best to see what POS system they use and see the fees.

    For example shopify has their own POS hardware and software kit and easily merges with your shopify store. I used the POS app and it was pretty easy, though I don't sell physically, only online.

    Shopify is 1.75% per card with a monthly fee (if you have a shopify online store as well) and Square is 1.9% with no monthly fees.

    • bumblebeetuna on 17/05/2024 - 16:48

      Online presence, but not a store. The original idea was to link payments to another booking system. Square would have worked well for this but that's off the cards now.

      Shopify looks good but i feel like it wouldn't suit a hyper small business that's selling a service and not an inventory of products. Fees are higher and a bit convoluted.

  • Platinumtelecom on 16/05/2024 - 04:03
    +1

    The type of business your wife does is important to take into account. Does it involve a website also with payments through the website? Or does she need some kind of POS system or is she on the road visiting clients?

    This will help identify the most suitable product.

    • bumblebeetuna on 17/05/2024 - 15:28

      The business is in the realm of fitness instruction, so very small. The requirement is to be able to accept all forms or payment when needed, but the truth is in person may be very infrequent. The majority would be expected to be via an online booking system, which is a separate subscription rather than a dedicated website, and Square was a good integration with this to keep everything uncomplicated.

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