What is the best way to set up Square POS and Kitchen printer in the outdoors?

[carwashgirl]

I use Square POS stand with cash drawer and receipt printer inside at the reception desk at my Full-Service car wash.

I am trying to take this POS system outside under a canopy to take payments as the customers drive in for a car wash to remove reception desk completely. 

#1 Challenge: With the white POS ipad stand, I can't move the stand (from the podium to customer's car) everytime the customers have to sign the receipt (if over $25.00) on the ipad while they're sitting in the car. Are there any ipad stand/accessories you have used that will be good in this situation? Since I need to make sure the ipad and cash drawer to be secured somehow - so it can't be taken outside. 

#2 Challenge: I want to set up kitchen printer outside as well. I want the "kitchen order" to be printer outside when the customer pays to use it as a car wash ticket on each car. The "kitchen order' will be used for my staff to tape it to the windshield so we know which car wash is needed to be done on each car. 

Anyone tried this before? Any suggestions? 

[Chad]

Hey @carwashgirl, this is a great question.

For your first issue you can print a paper receipt and have your customer sign it rather than bringing the iPad to them. 

Another option is to have a second device that's wireless for credit card sales over $25 dollars. You could use your own mobile device if it's compatible. 

As long as you have wireless internet, you shouldn't have any problems setting up an impact kitchen printer outside. 

@RHatch, any suggestions? 

[carwashgirl]

Hi Chad, thanks for the suggestion. I will definitely think about taking paper receipts. Kitchen printer has to be directly connected to the router so I thought it would be a little tricky.  Perhaps, if I have 2 receipt printers - I can give 1 receipt to the customer and 1 receipt from 2nd receipt printer to stick it to the car windshield. It definitely a little challenging!

[Chad]

@carwashgirl you're totally right. I forgot that printer has to be plugged into the router. 

I've done a little extra digging on this. You can get by with one printer if as long as your employee can pick up the order ticket from where you process the payment. You would just have to setup Order Tickets in your settings. 

Or you could setup a Bluetooth printer if it has to be a little bit further away, but then you would have to take into consideration how far away it could be.

Let me know what you think! 

[Unofornaio]

Hi Chad since you seem to have already researched this issue I was wondering if you could help me with my issue. I'm currently a temporary mobile food facility (outdoor food booth) using Square on my own Android pad. I'm looking to integrate a kitchen printer for this operation. I need something NOW that I can also use after moving my operation into a truck in the near future.  ALL my devices are Android an do not see changing in the future. At this time I need a printer that will work in a WiFi or Bluetooth environment. 

My goal is straight forward, I need to have orders printed for me to view. 

I'm sorry to hijack this thread. I looked to see how I could send u a direct message but was unsuccessful. If you feel this question is worth placing somewhere on it's own feel free to place it. 

Thank you.

Jeff 

[carwashgirl · Accepted solution]

Hi Jeff! With Chad's help... I figured mine out! I've purchased mPOP POS system (which works for Andriod as well). Mpop includes bluetooth printer/cash drawer, so when you connect your Android to mPop POS system - you go to "printer"  under settings and check order tickets and receipts to print on each transaction. That way, as soon as your customer pays- the ticket order will print first then customer's receipt will print. I hope this helps.  🙂