Square Mobile Payment system

[Chiefcrowe]

has anyone heard of or used this before? it seems really nice!

https://squareup.com

 

[zerocool84]

Mobile payment systems have been around for a while. This one is cooler as it's MUCH smaller than most I've seen and works with iPhone AND Android.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

So interesting that all that data can come through the headphone jack.

 

[zerocool84]

So interesting that all that data can come through the headphone jack.

Cellphone manufactures use to use the headphone jack for everything. I remember on an older Motorola that you'd use the headphone jack for sending data to a computer.

 

[sswingle]

So interesting that all that data can come through the headphone jack.

All you need is two conductors to make a serial connection. A USB jack is only 4 conductors. 2 for data and 2 for power.

 

[Oyeve]

So interesting that all that data can come through the headphone jack.

My Vibrant does A/V through the headphone jack, too bad its not HD .

 

[trippy1976]

I signed up and got the reader for my android. I don't use it for much, but have a couple events I sell at during the year. Normally we use PayPal with the dell reader hooked up. It's clumsy and hard to use.

I got this Square reader. Plugs into the headphone jack of my phone and it's really easy to use. Just slide the card through and all the info is taken. Then you can have them "sign" with their finger and you can even take a picture if you like (of the product or the person).

They get an email receipt with the purchase details and a lat/lon of the purchase place. It seems pretty slick to me.

I'm hesitant about the financial access aspect, but even with PayPal I am. We keep a specific account that we auto-sweep fund from nightly so it's always empty. Limits our risk in both situations from withdrawels.

RE: actually getting your money from Square, I have to imagine they are good for it or they'd be defunct by now.

 

[QueBert]

Bump for a cool product, I signed up for it today. I fix computers strictly on-site, so this will be perfect. I wish they offered a small Bluetooth receipt printer option so receipts could be printed on the spot. But I couldn't pass up no monthly fees, no credit check and no merchant account needed. Their rates aren't that much higher than a merchant account place that will come with a monthly fee + equipment to buy.

 

[hanoverphist]

a guy i know that is trying to get his bouncy house rental business uses this daily. he likes it so far, but says he will switch to a "better" service when his volume makes squareup not worth it.

 

[QueBert]

Used it today for the 1st time, don't have the actual swiper yet so I did a manual transaction, 3.5% + .15. It requires the CSV + zip code if you do it manual so it's pretty secure. Got an email instantly with the receipt + a Google map that showed the location. I'm always mobile so that's great. 2.5% + .15 per transaction's cheaper than Paypal which is great.
Logged on my account and the receipt showed the google map too. The address estimation was 1 house before to 1 house after of where I was at.

I'm amazed the hardware's free and there's no monthly fees, definitely thumbs up to this company.

 

[gsaldivar]

I have it and it seems to work fine with my Droid Incredible. But I haven't actually used it with any clients yet...

One obvious feature that is missing from Square, is a Visa/MC debit card that is tied to the account. If I accept a payment with Square, they will initiate a transfer to my bank account "within 24 hours", but I might not actually see anything for up to 3 days. Sometimes that delay can be unacceptable.

With Paypal, once my invoice is paid the funds are available immediately in my Paypal account and can be accessed with the Paypal debit card. There is no need to wait for a bank transfer to take place. :thumbsup:

 

[Spicedaddy]

I do IT work (small businesses and residential) and thought about getting one of these a while ago but it's US only.

My business clients all pay by check, but it might be useful for residential clients who pay cash or by check. The thing is my business bank account only costs me 15$/month, so in comparison 3% per transaction gets expensive fast.