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Square Mobile Payments Now Available for iPhone
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No worries, you're safe. The sinister beauty of Apple's closed App Store and oppressive approval process shines again!
True, but it will still work for cards that don't have a magnetic stripe like the ones the guys were talking about earlier. You just have to pay a little extra.
perfect for SMALL merchants/individuals
This does NOT replace a regular merchant account for any but the smallest of businesses. If you sell more than $1,000 of merchandise a month then you will keep more money by using a real merchant account. The 2.9% rate is highway robbery, really.
Cliff
This does NOT replace a regular merchant account for any but the smallest of businesses. If you sell more than $1,000 of merchandise a month then you will keep more money by using a real merchant account. The 2.9% rate is highway robbery, really.
Cliff
re: only for small merchants
Sure, but do you realize how MANY people that includes? I have a side business doing on-site computer consulting and service, and merchant accounts make no sense for me. Half my customers pay by check, and I only do it on the occasional weekend or evening to begin with -- so I don't process more than maybe 3-5 card transactions a month. Until now, I've had to do things in a round-about manner, emailing them invoices from Google Checkout or PayPal and having them click the links and pay online. Their rates are, I believe, higher than the 2.9% rate here.
This doesn't look like a card reader that would even physically hold up to doing a whole lot of card swiping, either. This is clearly aimed at the average individual who might have the occasional reason to take a credit card payment. (Imagine garage sales where you can take credit card payments, or the convenience of letting your friends pay YOU their share of a split restaurant or bar tab, so you can just pay the total to the establishment. How about the person who occasionally sells things on Craigslist?)
Sure, but do you realize how MANY people that includes? I have a side business doing on-site computer consulting and service, and merchant accounts make no sense for me. Half my customers pay by check, and I only do it on the occasional weekend or evening to begin with -- so I don't process more than maybe 3-5 card transactions a month. Until now, I've had to do things in a round-about manner, emailing them invoices from Google Checkout or PayPal and having them click the links and pay online. Their rates are, I believe, higher than the 2.9% rate here.
This doesn't look like a card reader that would even physically hold up to doing a whole lot of card swiping, either. This is clearly aimed at the average individual who might have the occasional reason to take a credit card payment. (Imagine garage sales where you can take credit card payments, or the convenience of letting your friends pay YOU their share of a split restaurant or bar tab, so you can just pay the total to the establishment. How about the person who occasionally sells things on Craigslist?)
That would only be available in the Android Market
Since the android market is open like a cheerleader on prom night.This is going to be a multi billion dollar industry.
A lot of you should stop over thinking because trying to be too smart is bs and a waste of time.
A lot of you should stop over thinking because trying to be too smart is bs and a waste of time.
I doubt it. Large business have better solutions, even on the iPhone. Small businesses may be interested, but I doubt it'll reach anything like those kinds of figures.
Individuals aren't going to use it. You need an accessory that doesn't fit flush with the iPhone (so you can't keep it on, you need to carry it with you in advance). Besides, the security issues are going to be a massive barrier to adoption.
I like the concept, but the execution just doesn't work. It'll flop. It may have occasional use, but I don't think anybody's going to rush out to compete in this market.
Just signed up
I just signed up, and all went well, BUT...
It sucks that they need to do a credit check on you, and they set my limits at 100 dollars per transaction MAX, and 700 dollars per week MAX.
This does me no good since the cheapest service I sell alone is 495.00
www.hollingsworthdesign.net
Oh well, seemed like it would have been quite nice on my ipad.
I just signed up, and all went well, BUT...
It sucks that they need to do a credit check on you, and they set my limits at 100 dollars per transaction MAX, and 700 dollars per week MAX.
This does me no good since the cheapest service I sell alone is 495.00
www.hollingsworthdesign.net
Oh well, seemed like it would have been quite nice on my ipad.
That would only be available in the Android Market
LOL! That should be Android's new tagline.
Android: Open Like a Cheerleader On Prom Night (Hope You Like Gonorrhea) (TM)
My company has a merchant account that charges 2.9% - 3.6% and charges 30 cents per transaction. Plus a $15/month fee.
By my calculations, that makes Square cheaper.
Lame & Greedy
A high cut of your hard earned $$ to swipe a credit card and an even higher cut of your $$ when you can't swipe the card.
Plus a flat fee on top of the already high percentage they are taking!?
WTF!!
It's like they screw you AND make you pay for the condom.
What a bunch of greedy hipster doofases!
A high cut of your hard earned $$ to swipe a credit card and an even higher cut of your $$ when you can't swipe the card.
Plus a flat fee on top of the already high percentage they are taking!?
WTF!!
It's like they screw you AND make you pay for the condom.
What a bunch of greedy hipster doofases!
What security issues? You mean like when you hand your credit card to your server and they go to the kiosk to swipe you card for your bill and then copy all your information?
Whatever...
Those are initial limits. They'll increase them after they "evaluate" your account and transactions.
How long does it take to have the limits raised. I too would be dealing with transactions in the $300-1000 range.
Can you do the credit check, then call them up to have the limits raised?
Prefect Example...
This is the perfect example of how much BS can be spread on MR.
I have been following Square for awhile now. No, it's probably not for really large companies, but for small business (which I am) and individuals it perfect.
Waiting for my square now.
It's going to go global so stop complaining. If you follow them on Twitter @Square you will read all about that.
People before you get on here and complain do your homework... or at least read and watch the article
Yes, I would gladly pay 3¢ on the dollar to:
A: not have to go to the bank (gas)
B: know the money will be there in a day or two
If someone doesn't trust me with their credit card, then pay cash!
I for one am glad they checked my credit, I'm sure this will help keep it on the up and up.
/rant
This is the perfect example of how much BS can be spread on MR.
I have been following Square for awhile now. No, it's probably not for really large companies, but for small business (which I am) and individuals it perfect.
Waiting for my square now.
It's going to go global so stop complaining. If you follow them on Twitter @Square you will read all about that.
People before you get on here and complain do your homework... or at least read and watch the article
Yes, I would gladly pay 3¢ on the dollar to:
A: not have to go to the bank (gas)
B: know the money will be there in a day or two
If someone doesn't trust me with their credit card, then pay cash!
I for one am glad they checked my credit, I'm sure this will help keep it on the up and up.
/rant
Will it charge the person that certain percentage? Or will it come out of the money that you are being paid?
Me too. I hope they or someone else steps up.
If this does well i can see one of the big boys either snapping them up or offering a competing service.
This is the perfect example of how much BS can be spread on MR.
I have been following Square for awhile now. No, it's probably not for really large companies, but for small business (which I am) and individuals it perfect.
Waiting for my square now.
It's going to go global so stop complaining. If you follow them on Twitter @Square you will read all about that.
People before you get on here and complain do your homework... or at least read and watch the article
Yes, I would gladly pay 3¢ on the dollar to:
A: not have to go to the bank (gas)
B: know the money will be there in a day or two
If someone doesn't trust me with their credit card, then pay cash!
I for one am glad they checked my credit, I'm sure this will help keep it on the up and up.
/rant
+1 all the way here.. I don't know many times I've paid for the entire dinner/bar, etc tab. Sold things to friends and not been paid for weeks, purchased things for friends of family while I was at the store and they are at home "I'll pay you back".
Now I know they'll pay me back, because as soon as I get back home I'll be swiping that credit card.
I really don't like getting cash for any of the above, since I use my credit card for everything and when I have cash I blow it. I would much rather just swipe their cards and get paid in a few days.
The whole cash payment of Square app is useless to me, but I'm sure it would be great for some places.
The whole small restaurant thing would be awesome. Bring me out an iPod touch or something to see my bill, swipe my own card and select the % of tip and I'm off. Screw paper bills and my server walking off with my credit card.
The only thing that sucks is the $100 transaction/$700 weekly limit to start with but I'm sure it'll get raised up.
Out of the money paid, just like every other merchant account or payment service. You just build these charges as well as other "cost of doing business" into your prices.