Let’s Talk About Point-Of-Sale Systems Artists Describe Features, Pros, and Cons
There are countless options for accepting payments from customers at shows. See which point-of-sale systems some of your fellow artists use and what they say about their features and capabilities.
Michael Stipek
Photography
How long have you been participating in shows?
Forty-eight years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, checks, and credit/debit cards.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Square — about eight years.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — rely on the venue’s Wi-Fi and my smartphone data plan.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
It is easy to use. Strong security. Universally accepted by the buyers. Excellent reporting on sales and many other data collection points. I have yet to find an error in their post-show sales information.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
You may have to jump through some hoops to get a live human response, but the chatbot does respond in a timely manner. The post-show emailed summary of sales is excellent. Also, all the sales are listed by customer. No cons that I’ve found.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Only one time was I not able to take a credit card, and that was in an area that had no cell towers or service.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
Square is quite flexible. You can use just about any charge service or card, Apple Wallet, etc. The company offers a number of devices you can use, such as the in-phone device, an iPad, and many other ways to close a sale. For space savings and ease of use, I use the little Square iPhone plug-in and swipe cards. I always carry a spare since they can get lost or damaged. Make sure the port on your mobile device is clean, because a dirty port will block a transaction (Best Buy, Geek Squad, Apple Store, etc. will clean out the port for free). You can also have Tap to Pay on your device to expand your ability to close a sale.
Tim Bacon
Wood
How long have you been participating in shows?
Six years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash and credit/debit cards.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Square — since we started.
What devices do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone and tablet — rely on the venue’s Wi-Fi at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Originally because inexpensive but works well (compared to similar PayPal system).
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Minimal investment and low processing fees. Very fast deposit from Square.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
We can fall back on cash or Venmo. I have had to use offline mode occasionally, but it is a bit more expensive.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
Square offers a range of hardware, and we have seen most of it used by other vendors. Go for reliability and make sure you have a good phone or data plan.
Jen McRae
Jewelry
How long have you been participating in shows?
Seven years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, and tap to pay/contactless.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Shopify — since I started my business.
What devices do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone and tablet — rely on the venue’s Wi-Fi and my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
$200 to $500.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
It works seamlessly with my website — everything is in one place.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pros: easy to use, works with my website, user friendly. Cons: doesn’t have a way to accept payments if the Wi-Fi/cell signal is bad or down.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Yes, my backup has been to use a friend who is on another carrier’s hotspot, or I will take Venmo/cash app payments. They normally pick up the moment the signal improves.
Dave Askeland
3D Mixed Media
How long have you been participating in shows?
Eight years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
PayPal.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — rely on my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Reliable name. Always works at shows. Can create invoices. Integrates with website for online sales.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Separate card reader tap unit to keep charged along with your phone. Average transaction costs. No monthly fees.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
One indoor show without Wi-Fi was challenging because cell service was intermittent. I didn't do that show again.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
A point-of-sale system does not need to be expensive or complicated. Do a little of your own research. Do not rely on advertising.
Allison Mullen
Wood
How long have you been participating in shows?
Three years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Shopify — 2.8 years.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — rely on my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Not sure.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
I built my website on Shopify and use barcodes to track product sales.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pros: ease of inventory and sales tracking. Ease of payment acceptance.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Yes, it may freeze up or disconnect from my phone. I just had to crash the app and restart. Cash is always a backup.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
Find a system that will help you track your inventory and sales so that you can do data research on what items are popular. You don't need an elaborate system, just something reliable.
David Schneider
Photography
How long have you been participating in shows?
Seventeen years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
QuickBooks GoPayment.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — rely on my own hotspot and smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
$200 to $500.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
It's an accounting reason. The full value of the sale is recorded, and a separate merchant fee is charged — unlike Square, where the merchant fee is removed before the sale.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
See above. It's more expensive than Square. However, it is also fully integrated into QuickBooks, which is very nice, if not expensive. It's a cost of doing business, in the end, and there's no free lunch.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Yes. My hotspot is a different carrier than my phone, which has saved me on more than one occasion.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
Never update your phone immediately before a show — especially not the morning of. And you do run a receipt book, right? Chargebacks happen.
Barb Quenneville
Jewelry
How long have you been participating in shows?
Thirty-five years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, checks, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
I have been using Square for 15+ years.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — rely on my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Ease of use is the most important. Coupled with my phone provider, I've never had issues with connectivity.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
You can't call if you have a problem. You have to send a message for help, which has only happened once.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
When there’s a glitch, another artist has been able to help.
John Crandall
Leather
How long have you been participating in shows?
Five years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Credit/debit cards and tap to pay/contactless.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Square.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Dedicated point-of-sale terminal — rely on my own hotspot and smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Over $1,000.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Ease of use. Dedicated checking/savings account from Square.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pros: UI ease. Banking through Square. Square loans. Cons: lack of customer service in regard to when equipment fails or malfunctions.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Yes, but only due to excessive use of the local wireless network slowing down. I use offline payments for those moments and hope they don't last too long.
Janet Mandel
Painting
How long have you been participating in shows?
Thirty years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, checks, credit/debit cards, and tap to pay/contactless.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
PayPal — for 10 years.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Tablet — rely on my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
My research at the time showed there were less complaints with PayPal than others I looked at.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pro: immediately transfer to my PayPal account, where I can then manually transfer to checking if I wish. Con: One time, my card reader failed. I could still take cards — just entered numbers manually, so I paid a higher rate. They sent a new card reader within two days.
Noah Peters
Wood
How long have you been participating in shows?
Three years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, and tap to pay/contactless.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
PayPal.
What devices do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone and dedicated point-of-sale terminal — rely on the venue’s Wi-Fi and my own hotspot at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Simple to use and set up. No annual fees for the dedicated terminal. Links directly to my PayPal account, so things are streamlined.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
The dedicated terminal can be a bit slow to use and requires a phone hotspot or Wi-Fi.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
I was not able to connect to Wi-Fi or the hotspot, so couldn't take payment. Eventually, I found Wi-Fi and was able to connect.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
Keep it simple and pick one that can take chip and tap.
Anna Kapinska
Clay
How long have you been participating in shows?
One year.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Square — for three months.
What devices do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Tablet and dedicated point-of-sale terminal — rely on my own hotspot and smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Not sure.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Transaction processing fees, funds transfer fees.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pros: free business checking account associated and handled with Square account.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
The Square card reader not keeping charged long enough for a single day. Backup: cash, Venmo.
John Lauritsen
Photography
How long have you been participating in shows?
Three years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Square payment system. I have been using Square from the first day.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Dedicated point-of-sale terminal — rely on the venue’s Wi-Fi and my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
I chose this for its simplicity and the ability to take both cards and contactless payments.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pros are the ability to take multiple forms of payment quickly and easily, and the ability to capture contact information from sales and send receipts through email or phone number. Cons are the battery life of my terminal, as it occasionally doesn't go into sleep mode.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Overall, the system works well for me. Once, I forgot to check for updates before a show started and had to wait when going to take my first payment. But other than that, I have had zero issues. If any issues arise, I can switch to my phone or directly invoice the customer through my website for payment.
Mechelle Harrison
Acrylic
How long have you been participating in shows?
Seven to eight years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Tap to pay/contactless.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Square.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — rely on my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Ease of setup and low cost for contactless device.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
So far, no problems with my transactions. I have only had the contactless point-of-sale system for about six months.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
Do your homework based upon how many sales you have. I had taken many years off the show circuit but chose this system after (returning to the circuit).
Morgan Adams
Oil
How long have you been participating in shows?
This is my third year, but I ran art fairs and have plenty of trade show experience.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, checks, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Square Reader.
What devices do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone and tablet — rely on the venue’s Wi-Fi and my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Ease of use and thought it looked professional.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pros: It’s beautiful, sleek, and professional looking. Cons: takes up space. Not everyone trusts it, and it can be a little bulky.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Actually, the phone has proven the easiest way to take payments.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
The only system anyone needs is the one that works best for them.
Michael Todd
Painting
How long have you been participating in shows?
Five years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
SwipeSimple.
What devices do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone and dedicated point-of-sale system — rely on the venue’s Wi-Fi, my own hotspot, and my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
No fees.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
You must use it every month.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments? |
Connection … yes … Square or cash.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
Most people either use cash or tap. Some use their phone, but there is less swiping of cards.
Mark Hilligoss
Wood
How long have you been participating in shows?
Ten years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Squarespace — I've used it since Squarespace launched it — at least five years ago.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — rely on my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
I chose the Squarespace app and point-of-sale since my website is also Squarespace, and inventory updates automatically between the app and the website.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
The advantage is the syncing of the point-of-sale and website-online sales platforms. Now that Squarespace introduced "tap and pay," there is no longer any disadvantage since all business aspects are on a single platform.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Yes, there was a system interruption right in the middle of a show once. I called the Squarespace support line, and they assured me that the issue was on their end and immediately restored service within maybe 30 minutes. My backup plan is to use the Square app for payments and then sync inventory to Squarespace later.
Raymond Truitt
Wood
How long have you been participating in shows?
Seven years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, and tap to pay/contactless.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Square.
What devices do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone and dedicated point-of-sale terminal — rely on my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
$200 to $500.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
Ease of use, takes multiple card types, and goes straight to a bank account.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Higher fees than some.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
It didn’t have enough signal strength to work, but we switched into taking payment offline, and it kicked in and processed once we got into the city.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
Square has a more expensive terminal, but there really isn’t any reason to buy it. If you have a good cellphone and nationwide coverage, the phone and the small tap reader work great.
Sharon Yarwasky
Fiber
How long have you been participating in shows?
Five years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Shopify because my website is on that platform, and it allows me to barcode my products and keep track of inventory.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — rely on the venue’s Wi-Fi and my smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
It syncs with my website!
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
I haven't had any cons so far except to say that barcoding every product was initially tedious.
Brigit Kowalczyk
Leather
How long have you been participating in shows?
Five years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
Shopify — we have used it from the start of business five years ago.
What device do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone — I have a tap to pay reader (Chipper 2x BT) that Bluetooth connects to my phone for processing the transaction.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
$500 to $1,000.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
It integrates with our inventory, figures taxes based on our zip code of the shows, and deposits into my account via Shopify.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pro: easy to use and integrate. Con: shuts off if there is not a purchase and needs to be rebooted to hook up to the tap to pay hardware they use.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
No problems — even with two separate phone plans I've used while having it (T-Mobile and Verizon). The only thing is that it times out if I haven't had a sale in a while, so it's annoying to have to reboot it while a customer is waiting. It would be nice for them to set a feature to keep it on or have it time out in a period of time that we choose, not some unknown arbitrary timeout time.
Barb Bloom
Fiber & Soap
How long have you been participating in shows?
Fifteen years.
Which payment types do you accept at shows?
Cash, checks, credit/debit cards, tap to pay/contactless, and mobile payment apps.
Which point-of-sale system do you use at shows, and how long have you used it?
SumUp.
What devices do you use with your point-of-sale system? What type of internet connection do you rely on at shows?
Smartphone and tablet — rely on my own hotspot and smartphone data plan at shows.
What do you spend annually on your point-of-sale system?
Under $200.
Why did you choose this system? Which features or capabilities mattered most to you?
It was highly recommended. We wanted to get away from Square.
What are the pros and cons of this system based on your experience?
Pros: easy setup, great tracking, can set up inventory, invoicing, take payment offline.
Have you experienced situations where your point-of-sale system failed or didn’t work? How did you handle those moments? Do you have a backup plan for taking payments?
Prior to traveling with a hot spot — yes. We took the transaction offline, and when the Wi-Fi signal returned, the transactions processed. But that’s always risky. We lost once that way, and the customer was long gone.
Do you have additional comments, tips, or advice for artists who are choosing a point-of-sale system?
SumUp offers readers that allow you to insert, swipe, or tap. And some units will print a thermal receipt.