Newb question

[Vintagecat]

Newb here. I'm a PayPal Here refugee, After April 3, my POS will no longer function for my small vintage clothing/accessories/jewelry business so I am moving to Square. Having used Square in another venue about a decade ago, I liked it's functionality at the time. I would like to streamline my checkout as I make the change and I like the look of the Square Terminal. All in one, portable, small size, streamlined and I really like the idea of the printed receipt over the email/text options that I use now.

I would like to continue have provide line item descriptions/prices, all items in a sale subtotaled with sales tax added to the entire sale, to make the total charge. I have been doing research on the Square Terminal and because I have a seasonal, massive and varied inventory priced all over the map there is no reasonable way to use the inventory function as depicted in the tutorials. I do like the idea of categories to speed up the checkout process, such as "Vintage dress", "Vintage sweater" etc. but leaving details and pricing in the category blank. Each time I bring up the dress category can I add a few details such as "50s floral" and then add the item price or will I need to key it all in as I do at present without using the category functions? Also will the printed receipt reflect itemization, individual prices with a subtotal, sales tax and total?

I'm looking to as seamlessly as possible replace my present CC processing system and to add another wrinkle, my iPad that I'm using for PP Here is too old to use with Square or I might have just gone with the touchless payment reader. Thanks in advance for any insight and advice.

Vintagecat

[JK_Fiber_Art]

Hi Vintagecat,

Except for the items you sell, your situation is similar to mine.   I'm assuming you sell from one physical location.  I have a Studio and Gallery.  Almost all of my items are handmade and one of a kind so I had to figure out a simple solution.  I setup generic categories, Clothing, Wall Hangings, Pins, Cards, Coasters, Hats, Scarves, etc.  No prices and no inventory.  And I also have a category called "Misc" for items that don't fit in any other category.  Setting up the Sales Tax was straight forward.  As for hardware, I have a Square Stand, iPad, Receipt Printer, Contactless and Chip Reader and a USB Hub.  I also have a wireless Bluetooth keyboard which I use to enter the item description and price - this is much easier to type in the info.  As for what details are on the receipt - anything you type in shows so you have as much info or as little info - it's up to you.   Sales tax is automatically added so you get an itemized  receipt with all the details.  And the customer can get the same details emailed to them if they have previously used Square for other purchases - depends on their credit card details.  Hope that helps you out as to which way you want to go.

jk

[Vintagecat]

Thanks, very helpful. Your set-up sounds much like my PP POS at present inc the blue tooth keyboard without a printer function. I had no space for it but that will change in my new area. Certainly I would be more familiar/comfortable with that kind of set-up. I am operating from a stand alone storefront at present but am moving to a weekly Marketplace venue after my lease expires at the end of April.

I probably will elect to do a few vintage shows a year which was why the terminal was so enticing to me and I put my location in my profile as mobile with that in mind. It sounds like categories would work in the way that I would hope to speed up the checkout process as the marketplace will necessarily be more traffic dense and even though there will be two of us working the space instead of one, I don't want too many queues to check out. Thanks again.

Vintagecat