thread Re: Tap-and-go for buskers in Payments Troubleshooting

Feature Request - Have customers make preset payments by just tapping (Like buskers)

Tonez — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 08:55:42 GMT

Can this be done?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-28/melbourne-buskers-trial-smartphone-and-tap-and-go-payments/10042792

Re: Can I initiate a preset payment by just tapping? (Like buskers)

Seamus — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 05:48:24 GMT

EDIT: Preset payment amounts are now available via QR codes.

Hey @Tonez,

Thanks for getting in touch.

At the moment this functionality is not available with Square's POS app - because it acts as both a point of sale and card processing terminal, it will require an operator to input information and values into the app.

It's possible we'll look into different apps and automated payments in the future - I'd be happy to pass your feedback on to our product development team as a feature request!

Re: Can I initiate a preset payment by just tapping? (Like buskers)

King_Casey — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 01:58:01 GMT

When I search 'tap and go payments' into google, Square come up first on the list.

Yet does not support this feature.

Does that mean Google is insanely stupid or is there some scams going down?

cheers, Mark.

Re: Can I initiate a preset payment by just tapping? (Like buskers)

Seamus — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 05:01:05 GMT

Hey @King_Casey,

Square absolutely supports tap and go payments! However as a merchant processing terminal it requires operation by a staff member - we don't have the ability to take automatic pre-set payments via tap and go, so someone will need to enter an amount / items into the POS app before a customer can pay.

If you're looking for customers to make automated payments at pre set amounts you may want to look into self service QR code payments though!

Tap-and-go for buskers

sammylevz — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:35:07 GMT

This has been setup by other companies but for charity only. Square has the opportunity to the at the forefront of this industry. No-one is carrying cash, please tell me you can add software to add a preset amount as a musician can not stop mid-set to put through a payment. What’s happening square? Not to mention what it would do for your brands image.

Re: Tap-and-go for buskers

Seamus — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 03:49:56 GMT

Hey @sammylevz,

Thanks for your message and welcome to the community 🙂

I moved your post across to this thread with a similar inquiry - have you checked out some of our QR Code payment features? This is how most buskers who use Square are currently taking payments!

Re: Tap-and-go for buskers

sammylevz — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 04:05:37 GMT

Thanks @Seamus

Although the QR code system is ok, it still does not have the effectiveness of the Quest style tap-and-go. When people walk past a busker they make a split second decision on whether to donate. A pre-paid tap-and-go amount has been proven to be far more effective for gathering donations. The QR code still requires a couple of steps and people are busy and lazy. I really hope Square develops some hardware with a 'Google Home style' screen (which will obviously profit their business) in sales and software to match. They will then be the only company south of the equator to have this system. In the USA they have this system and it has skyrocketed. I love Square products and I hope they listen to their consumers...

Re: Tap-and-go for buskers

Seamus — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 04:53:44 GMT

Thanks for the additional insight @sammylevz - I agree that this sort of system would be really helpful for buskers and certainly cut down the steps required to make a payment on the fly when compared with a QR code.

I'm not aware if this type of functionality is on our product roadmap at all, but I'll keep tracking the comments here and passing on feedback!

So I can get a better idea of the system you're referring to that's available in the US, are you able to post a link? I've seen Quest's Donation Point for Australian NFPs, but am not familiar with other products that do similar things.

Re: Tap-and-go for buskers

King_Casey — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 08:03:35 GMT

Since my post above, I've rolled up my sleeves and set this up as close to 'user friendly' as possible.

Not strictly 'tap n go' but only 2 touches and a wave of the card over the reader.

Only issue now is to get people to use it.

Most folk still prefer to use cash.

Re: Tap-and-go for buskers

Seamus — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 01:08:24 GMT

Thanks for sharing @King_Casey!

Keen to hear more about how this goes and if you run into any issues with people using the app - have you set up something like Team Permissions restrictions to prevent people from accessing the settings etc?

Re: Tap-and-go for buskers

King_Casey — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 02:52:19 GMT

It's mounted to a stand within arms reach so anybody attempting to delve into the workings would require skin like a rhino.

Still having reliability issues. Often refuses to pair with the reader.

I'm hoping it will attract more usage when it's presence is noted en-mass.

Some type of user manual would be handy

Also this website crashes quite frequently too.

You should compile a 'to do' list.

Cheers, Mark.

Re: Feature Request - Have customers make preset payments by just tapping (Like buskers)

OzBusk — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 01:05:39 GMT

Yes, yes and ... yes. Thanks to King Casey (above) who led the way with similar ideas. You can set up an iPad or iPod/iPhone's screen so that buskers can receive contactless (and chip) card payment from passers by without interruption.

As of June 2021 the process on the iPhone (or iPod) is three steps. The process on the iPad is two steps.

Plaster the 'Favourites' with the same price and graphic (eg $1) but create them in 25 separate categories so that a tap on any different '$1' shows up as a separate line item
Settings > Checkout > anull all the fiddly bits like receipt, review etc (for some reason the iPhone and iPod still does a review , anyway)
display a little poster that shows the 2 (or 3) steps
(see example at contributer's website in profile)
the passer by hits the '$1' whatever number of times
they hit the blue button(s) to continue to the payment screen
card is waved - they get a thank you
the screen goes bag to the original 'favourites'
bingo - long live the revolution 😎

Re: Feature Request - Have customers make preset payments by just tapping (Like buskers)

Arie — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 00:44:51 GMT

Thank you for sharing this workaround @OzBusk, glad to hear this is working for you 😊👍

Re: Can I initiate a preset payment by just tapping? (Like buskers)

KincumberIndoor — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 05:27:02 GMT

Hi Seamus,

I have a child who busks and has noticed a lack of cash.

Since this post was answered by you, over 2 years have passed.

Has there been any progress to being able to accept a set amount tap and go ?

Such as A$2 ?

There would be a reasonable market if you made it available.

Re: Tap-and-go for buskers

KincumberIndoor — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 05:55:26 GMT

Terrific question. Shouldn't be hard to implement ?

Re: Tap-and-go for buskers

OzBusk — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 06:42:21 GMT

go for it

Re: Can I initiate a preset payment by just tapping? (Like buskers)

Laurie_ — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 06:47:07 GMT

Hi, @KincumberIndoor thanks for reaching out and adding your voice to this conversation!

Have you had a chance to read our suggestion in the Best Answer on this thread? You can set preset amounts by creating a QR code that can be printed and displayed at your child's busking location.

Anyone who wants to make a donation by selecting a preset amount can scan the QR code on their device to submit their payment online.

If you have any questions about setting up QR codes on your Square Account, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Default tap donation amount

hwca — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 20:16:39 GMT

I'd like to set up my Square POS reader so that it can be card tapped and automatically take a $x default set amount donation for the organisation.

Re: Default tap donation amount

Laurie_ — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:37:18 GMT

Hi, @hwca, thanks for reaching out to us here.

I've gone ahead and moved your post to an existing thread where we have already answered this question.

While we don't currently offer the option to create preset amounts, the workaround here is to set up QR codes to accept donations.

Re: Can I initiate a preset payment by just tapping? (Like buskers)

KincumberIndoor — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 04:43:03 GMT

The question then becomes, does the busker need to interact with the payer each time ?

This makes things a bit awkward if they are in the middle of a performance.

What are the fees on what is likely to be small volume/small amount transactions ?