How do I set up multiple devices so volunteers can take payments with their own phones?

[DrDK]

I have several volunteers working a fundrasing booth.  I need to be able to let them each use my chip reader with their own phone, rather than tying up one person's phone all day.  Obviously I do not want everyone to have full access to the account, just to be able to receive payments.  I've spent the last hour reading through several suggestion related to the "Employees" and "Guest Point of Sale" items (and I have enabled Guest POS on the Dashboard) but here's where the trail runs cold - what does the guest user do then?  Scenario...

I give the Square to Jill, she plugs it into her phone (with the Square app installed but no other setup done yet).  How does the phone know to which band acct the funds go?  Seems I should be able to tell my Square acct to send her an access code via text or email, click the code and her device in ready to go.  Or I can leave such a code at the booth for everyone to use on their phone when it's their turn.

[VanKalkerFarms]

you can use device codes for the users to sign into your Square account.

https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/5586-manage-devices-by-location

by signing in with that code Square will load all the items and settings of your account.

[Scouts401]

I think my question relates to the original and the advice doesn't resolve it.  I also have volunteers and I don't want to have to create and individual account for each person(I don't care about each persons specific sales).  We're selling Christmas Trees as a fundraiser. I would like them to use their phones and connect to the square tap unit.  When I assign a device code it and try to access it from a different device(phone) than it was originally setup on it says it can't be used because its paired to another device.  Its a lot of work to create 100 accounts for each 3 hour shift 🙂

[Joe · Accepted solution]

Hi @Scouts401 - thanks for reaching out to us here on the Seller Community! 

Device Codes are specifically designed to keep track of sales specifically by device, especially one that is tethered to a countertop or set in a specific location. This device code will also be 'registered' to that specific device.

Are you specifically looking to keep track of sales by employee? If not, the easiest way for you to have dozens of employees take transactions may be to have them each sign in with the main account credentials and have them pair their individual phones to your hardware. Or if you would like to refrain with sharing your main email address and password, you can make one individual Employee account and make it general enough for all of your employees to use.

I hope this makes sense! Feel free to clarify your situation and what you are looking to do, and I will try to provide a more tailored answer. 

[Scouts401]

Thanks Joe!  Ok, I will create a “generic” account to give to everyone...so much easier than creating 50 hahaha

[Joe]

Sounds good! Let us know if you need anything in the process, @Scouts401!

[HSA_for_ICS]

Joe,

Similar scenario... Charity Organization with volunteers taking payments.  However, our 3 volunteers will be issued an iPad and a Reader, each.  Additionally, they will be spread out across a golf course.

What is the best configuration for this arrangement?

Thanks!