Card swiper.

Joshie · Apr 6, 2013

Since I am building/starting to be in a photography business in my area, I got these two devices that I use for when I go and sell my things every weekend at flea market. It's PayPal card reader and Square card reader, all customers seems to love those because often when the customers buying items from me asking me if I accept credit cards or such and I told them that I do and I hooked Square (this was before PayPal released their card reader) card reader onto my Iphone and they seems to love it right away and after they finished purchasing items from me, they'd begin to talk with whoever they came with about the device that I have on my Iphone - Square card reader.

Now that PayPal released their card reader called "PayPal Here" and it's cheaper than Square (fees) and I have begin thinking about how success it was to have Square with me at the flea market that I am going to start using PayPal card reader with PayPal Here app on my Iphone when I go and photograph for some clients. Have any one of you heard of those? Have you used it? Do your clients confidentially used them? What's your opinion on that.

If nobody heard of them, I suggest you to try them. PayPal and also Square ship you their card reader free, it's absolutely free as long as every swip you made pays very small % of fee. PayPal Here and Square, I'd suggest PayPal if you're looking for one.

CCericola · Apr 7, 2013

I like Square better because of how fast it is. Also, PayPals track record for disputes is pretty bad. I don't keep any balance in my business PayPal account because of that.

Superfitz · Apr 7, 2013

Oops I reported that as spam. I even checked his website first. The way he types over there is much different than this post here. I thought someone had his password or something and posted using his account.

Joshie · Apr 7, 2013

Superfitz said:
Oops I reported that as spam. I even checked his website first. The way he types over there is much different than this post here. I thought someone had his password or something and posted using his account.

Haha, it's okay. No worries.

My grammar and spelling are all mixed, which is why I think.

Joshie · Apr 7, 2013

CCericola said:
I like Square better because of how fast it is. Also, PayPals track record for disputes is pretty bad. I don't keep any balance in my business PayPal account because of that.

Actually I do have to agree with you about Square. I haven't exactly tried PayPal much yet, since Square were all I used when Square were only one trusted card swiper at that time until PayPal decided to made card reader. The way you said, I think I might stay with square instead of PayPal. Is there another better one do you know?

pixmedic · Apr 7, 2013

We have both square and paypal card readers. Paypal almost always sides with the "customer", but with the paypal debit card you have instant access to the money when you get paid. Square takes a few days to transfer the money to your account.

Rwsphotos · Apr 7, 2013

That's a hard one I have both and are happy with both. If I had to choose I would go with PayPal. I like being able to pull cash from an atm with out having to transfer to my bank account which with square usually took 2-3 days. Also like being able to take deposits for weddings on the spot or sending a paypal invoice at the time they sign their contract. Its really a matter of preference. Choose the one that fits you best.

Rwsphotos · Apr 7, 2013

Pixmedic beat me to it lol

orljustin · Apr 7, 2013

I like how you have a website before you have any images for your "photography" business. Guess selling your "things" at the flea market pays better than shooting.

CCericola · Apr 7, 2013

Another option is the Intuit. But, last time I checked up on them they had so many hidden fees it was ridiculous.

Josh66 · Apr 7, 2013

As a customer, if all you had was paypal, I would spend my money somewhere else. As far as the fees, couldn't you just add that into the price? Nobody would even know... Just raise your prices enough to cover the fee and make the same profit you're used to.

Not everyone uses paypal, but pretty much everyone has a debit/credit card. Not sure if you can use a regular credit card with the paypal swiper thing, but in general - I don't think too highly of (any) business that have paypal as the sole payment option. In the end, my business just goes somewhere else. I don't like paypal, lol.

pixmedic · Apr 7, 2013

O|||||||O said:
As a customer, if all you had was paypal, I would spend my money somewhere else. As far as the fees, couldn't you just add that into the price? Nobody would even know... Just raise your prices enough to cover the fee and make the same profit you're used to.

Not everyone uses paypal, but pretty much everyone has a debit/credit card. Not sure if you can use a regular credit card with the paypal swiper thing, but in general - I don't think too highly of (any) business that have paypal as the sole payment option. In the end, my business just goes somewhere else. I don't like paypal, lol.

We can swipe your debit or credit card on the paypal reader. You dont even need a paypal account.

kathyt · Apr 7, 2013

Being a wedding photographer I try my hardest to avoid either. I use a check for deposits, and pay no fees. Then for all other orders from family and friends it is all Paypal. If I am out in the field I use the Square.

Josh66 · Apr 8, 2013

pixmedic said:
We can swipe your debit or credit card on the paypal reader. You dont even need a paypal account.

That's fine with me then. I've seen a lot of businesses online where paypal was the only thing accepted - at all. I just spend my money somewhere else when that happens.

Joshie · Apr 8, 2013

CCericola said:
Another option is the Intuit. But, last time I checked up on them they had so many hidden fees it was ridiculous.

Glad that you mentioned Intuit because I was actually looking into that and seeing if any difference between Square or PayPal (fees, transaction etc etc) and seemed to almost sold on me to get myself one but since you said many hidden fees then I am staying away from it - you saved me, thank you ma'am!

pixmedic said:
O|||||||O said:

As a customer, if all you had was paypal, I would spend my money somewhere else. As far as the fees, couldn't you just add that into the price? Nobody would even know... Just raise your prices enough to cover the fee and make the same profit you're used to.

Not everyone uses paypal, but pretty much everyone has a debit/credit card. Not sure if you can use a regular credit card with the paypal swiper thing, but in general - I don't think too highly of (any) business that have paypal as the sole payment option. In the end, my business just goes somewhere else. I don't like paypal, lol.

Click to expand...

We can swipe your debit or credit card on the paypal reader. You dont even need a paypal account.

Ah, yes. You are correct that it doesn't require to register an account at PayPal in order to purchase, hence ordering as a guest. But I think it may be a bit of risk ordering as a guest rather than a registered account though since you wouldn't have almost no control over a guest.

kathythorson said:
Being a wedding photographer I try my hardest to avoid either. I use a check for deposits, and pay no fees. Then for all other orders from family and friends it is all Paypal. If I am out in the field I use the Square.

I will have to try my hardest to avoid either, too. But nowadays a lot of people rather to use credit cards or especially debit card than paying with cash or a check. There's most of people in this area that I know always uses cards rather than carrying a cluttered things in their pocket such as cash and some changes so carrying only a card makes it easier for them but hopefully that I don't end up to a client who rather to use a card but card reader is definitely a best optional.