Card readers which one?

Ludoloki

Hi, I'll be selling at markets stall over the Xmas period and need a card reader. I was thinking of the iZettle but have heard some people say it doesn't work as well on Android phones. Anyone experienced that? Paypal would be a goer but take a 2.75% of each transaction which is the higher end as far as I see. Sum up and Square get some horrendous customer service reviews which have put me off them.
Any advice anyone
Thanks
Mark

Anthorn

Have you been reading this link:
https://merchantmachine.co.uk/credit-card-machine/

I have been looking at payment processing because I was investigating organising my caravan bookings myself instead of through an agent. I decided that the agent is a lot cheaper.

It would appear that 2.75% with a minimum of £1 is the standard commission for small business but iZettle beats that with a flat 1.75%.

StopIt

Although not for selling, I've seen people use iZettle with Android devices with no trouble when buying from local craft fairs.

tastyhog

if you don't want to be stuck in expensive and lengthy contracts paypal here is a recognisable brand and their reader looks more professional than most others in this sector.

you'd need to be taking about 10k a month to make a contract with lower rates and monthly fees worth it over a paypal here reader

Ludoloki

Ok thanks for taking the time to reply

chappers

Anthorn wrote: »

Have you been reading this link:
https://merchantmachine.co.uk/credit-card-machine/

I have been looking at payment processing because I was investigating organising my caravan bookings myself instead of through an agent. I decided that the agent is a lot cheaper.

.

what sort of agent are you using. Commission or subscription, are your bookings also coming via the agent.

To the OP, I use both izettle and paypal and both work fine on android, if you use paypal alwys make sure that you use the chip and pin as the rate is different for remote payments

Anthorn

chappers wrote: »

what sort of agent are you using. Commission or subscription, are your bookings also coming via the agent.

To the OP, I use both izettle and paypal and both work fine on android, if you use paypal alwys make sure that you use the chip and pin as the rate is different for remote payments

French caravan sites own service for bookings, payments and maintenance. The major problem is that my customers are almost exclusively from the U.K. but the currency is Euros. So the GBP paid is converted to Euros and then back into GBP if I withdraw from my French bank account into my U.K. bank. The other problem is that if I processed my own payments I would need business bank accounts whereas at this time money received from bookings via the site's own service is income.

chappers

Anthorn wrote: »

French caravan sites own service for bookings, payments and maintenance. The major problem is that my customers are almost exclusively from the U.K. but the currency is Euros. So the GBP paid is converted to Euros and then back into GBP if I withdraw from my French bank account into my U.K. bank. The other problem is that if I processed my own payments I would need business bank accounts whereas at this time money received from bookings via the site's own service is income.

Yep see your issue, but could you not take GBP from your UK customers and save you both the conversion. Not sure how the French site's system works but if its anything like someone like pitchup, whereas the deposit is equal to their commission. Then the balance can either be paid via their site or you can process it how you like, alternative payment, cash on arrival anything you like.
I presume you own caravans on a site and rent them out.

chattychappy

I, and an associated business, used iZettle a few times in the past. A few points (NB things may have changed, this is probably a year or so out of date):

1) You can't do cardholder-not-present.
2) My transactions were irregular and ad-hoc. I began to get payments to me withheld against demands for paperwork, details of transactions etc. In dealing with them you send of a well constructed reply only to get a stupid boilerplate back.
3) You can't take deposits, payments to cover previous amounts outstanding, or part payments. Given (2) above, if you ignore this you risk not getting your money.
4) You can't use it overseas.

In my business (which is b2b), I charge extra for iZettle in order to cover the fee and the hassle. If that is no longer allowed under the new regs, I'll probably abandon it.

Anthorn

chappers wrote: »

Yep see your issue, but could you not take GBP from your UK customers and save you both the conversion. Not sure how the French site's system works but if its anything like someone like pitchup, whereas the deposit is equal to their commission. Then the balance can either be paid via their site or you can process it how you like, alternative payment, cash on arrival anything you like.
I presume you own caravans on a site and rent them out.

Look upon it as buy-to-let which is managed by an agent and you'll get a better idea. Customers pay the agent directly.

Yes I own static caravans (mobile homes) which are rented.

chappers

Anthorn wrote: »

Look upon it as buy-to-let which is managed by an agent and you'll get a better idea. Customers pay the agent directly.

Yes I own static caravans (mobile homes) which are rented.

Probably sounds like your doing it the easiest way anyway.
Excuse my nosiness, it's just that very soon we will be moving into a similar venture, all be it, that we will be the site owners, and the accommodation will be ours too, so won't have the same issues anyway.
Thanks for the info, who knows how the future may pan out.
ATB
Gareth