Multiple readers offline with one account?

[TonolowayFarm]

I operate a maple syrup farm and we will be doing 40% of our yearly sales during a single festival. We are offline with no cell phone or wifi at the retail site. I know it is possible to associate 2 readers on separate devices with one account. Does this also work offline? If I have 2 phones with 2 readers, both offline, and they register a few hundred transactions, would there be any issue synching when they both come online again? Thanks!

[GlassJudy]

As long as both of your devices are logged into the same account, you shouldn't have any problems with them syncing.  However, I shudder a little at the thought of doing so many transactions in the offline mode, since there is no security check at the time of the transaction and you only have a limited amount of time to get back online and let the sales get processed.  Sales processed in the offline mode also have a higher chance of being disputed.  However, if that's your only choice, you'll probably have to work it that way.

Good luck!

[TonolowayFarm]

Thanks @GlassJudy for the reply! Yes indeed, we'd prefer everything to be online, but we are making numerous small sales so we are less concerned if one or two cases fail to process. It is better for us to accept credit cards and lose a few declined sales, than to be unable to accept cards. Could you please explain in more detail what you mean about "limited time to get back online"? If we receive the transactions and then connect at the end of day, should we be alright? And also, why are offline transactions more likely to be disputed? Thanks for your perspective, as this is all new to me!

[GlassJudy]

In offline mode, you need to connect to Square within 72 hours or your transactions will be lost, so if you can connect at the end of the day, you'll be fine.  As far as offline transactions being more easily disputed, offline mode only allows cards to be swiped, not dipped or tapped, and swiped transactions are far more susceptible to being disputed.  Also, since you're not connected to Square at the time of the processing, the card can't be validated and checked for security, so there's that risk also.  However, it sounds like you'll be OK given the nature of your sales.  If you want, check out this thread where these issues are discussed more thoroughly.

You may also want to check out this article, although you probably know most or all of the information in it.