Will a Square terminal be easy to use for our volunteer cashiers?

[RicardoSwe]

We have a small non-profit that has two fund raisers each year. We have been using several Square readers. We start each event recruiting volunteers to be cashiers. We have found it hard to recruit and train volunteers on the readers. For example, those we do recruit find it hard to get connected with the Square readers. 

A friend in another non-profit has had the same problems with volunteers. They advised me to use the Square Terminal. -- Almost no training needed and easy to use.

Any advice?

[VanKalkerFarms · Accepted solution]

Square Terminals are super easy.  If you can use a smart phone you can for sure handle a Square terminal.

It is the exact same interface you would have if using a phone connected to a reader.  So it is a bit of a cost to get into it, so if you can find a way to get the volunteers setup and connected then it will be the exact same thing (without a printer) but save you $300 each.  so if that is the only hiccup it seems a little work helping the volunteers can save you $600.   But I don't know what else they are having issues with.

[VanKalkerFarms · Accepted solution]

Square Terminals are super easy.  If you can use a smart phone you can for sure handle a Square terminal.

It is the exact same interface you would have if using a phone connected to a reader.  So it is a bit of a cost to get into it, so if you can find a way to get the volunteers setup and connected then it will be the exact same thing (without a printer) but save you $300 each.  so if that is the only hiccup it seems a little work helping the volunteers can save you $600.   But I don't know what else they are having issues with.

[Lou8]

Hi @RicardoSwe, thanks for posting and welcome to the Community 👋.

Could you give me a bit more details about the issues your volunteers are facing when trying to pair the Readers to their devices ? Do they get any error message during the process, or are they unsure about the steps to perform ? This support article here outlines the steps-by-steps to set up and connect the Reader, and even includes a video. You might also find this article helpful with troubleshooting.

To second @VanKalkerFarms, the Square Terminal is easy to use and intuitive. If that's a hardware you're considering purchasing, I'd suggest going over the following Support Articles to get a better idea on the set-up and functionalities:

• Get Started with Square Terminal (includes a video)
• Square Terminal FAQ

Let me know if you have any questions !

[Sam_400º]

Hey @Lou8 - it's a common problem with people sharing BT devices. They just seem to get grumpy being paired to different phones all the time. 

Our school PTA has the same issue every event they do. Where they seem to suffer connection issues and trouble re-pairing the readers. 

Hopefully the Reader Factory Reset Beta should help with this as it will fully wipe the reader - but still extra hoops to run through. 

[Sam_400º · Accepted solution]

Hey @RicardoSwe the terminal is a great device for this sort of thing. 

While there may be some 'resistance' as it's initially an unfamiliar device it's one that's very easy to train on as you know exactly how it works and is set up. 

If you're trying to help someone on their own phone then you're always having to deal with not knowing quite how they've got their settings and if that's got anything to do with it. 

The only thing 'better' is to be able to have an iPad in a stand - but that obviously has a different cost to it!