Square Tested
29. Jul, 2011 
11 Comments
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Shell Leather Metro Card Business, Credit, Travel Card Holder
I wrote an article a while back about how to accept credit cards at craft fairs. After that article Shawn Hoefer wrote the article “It’s Hip to be Square” which was more comprehensive and gave us a lot more information. His strong recommendation was to use a company called “Square” to process credit cards.
Since those articles appeared, I have implemented credit card processing using Square. I HAD to use Square because I live in a remote area that has never had US Postal Service mail delivery; therefore, my physical address is never verifiable via authentication routines at big companies. Square was able to work around that with me.
I have been attending art and craft sales nearly every week since early June and I can absolutely, positively say that accepting credit cards at those sales has increased my sales! I have easily made up for the $15 per month data plan in extra sales. We get a lot of tourist traffic in our town and most tourists don’t bring their checkbook. By the time they reach my table, some have gotten low on cash.
While a woman was looking at my $6 coin purses, she said, “I love these! And I can afford one because I still have a little cash left.” I said, “I take credit cards!” She ended up buying about $34 worth of merchandise.
There has been strong enough signal everywhere I’ve been to process the charges. One time I was having trouble and discovered that I just needed to “reboot” – turn off the phone, turn it back on, re-sign in to Square and I was back authorizing cards.
This weekend I have my biggest show ever during the Ely Blueberry Arts Festival. I won’t be in the park with the big vendors; I’ll be in the Ice Hockey Arena with my local farmer’s market artists. We aren’t big enough yet for tents and that volume of inventory. But you don’t need to be big to process a credit card!
Find me at www.aShareeDesign.etsy.com
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This is a great testimony for using Square! I have one too and have used it with great success. It took me a few tries to swipe the card through properly, and then to figure out the signature part, but it worked great. I would highly recommend getting it, even if you don’t do many craft fairs. I am definitely hoping to get in more fairs, especially how that I have a Square for taking credit card payments.
I wouldn’t go to an event without my Square!! So easy to use and I know I make more sales. love it!!
everyone keeps raving about the Square, but I have a window phone and I don’t think it’s compatible. Anyone have any tips on that?
Go to squareup.com and see what they have to say. I know the iPhone and droid support the app.
Good Luck.
Sally Anne
I absolutely love my Square! One day all my sales were made using it; awesome! And thanks to a glitch on their part, I have two readers. I was getting so frustrated about having not received my reader, with a show looming in a day’s time, I went to the Apple store and bought one. What’s great about the reader I bought is, there’s a $10 credit included inside! So after buying it for $9.95 plus tax, it was still basically free. Now I have one as a back-up.
Occassionally a card will be difficult to swipe, but that happens to cards. You can still process thae card by typing in the numbers; you get charged more for that transaction, but not by much.
Such as awesome tool to have for us crafters! I’m talking my honey into getting one for his business, too. He does pool and construction work, and it would be so handy for him! Handy, get it?!
I got the iPad app but it didn’t approve me when I tried to sign up.
I know I need to get one…thanks for the reminder !
I original had iSwipe. But as some of the sales I do each year handle, with the monthly fee of $19.00 a month and the %, it was killing my profits.
The Square rocks for the months that I don’t have anything going on and it’s there when I need it. And people are totally amused. I like saying “Sign my phone with your finger.”
Look into it.
Sally Anne
Wow! Square sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been debating a phone with data capacities. I think I’d better go see what Square supports — this is the thing finally helping me to go for it.!
thank you!
Angelea