Mobile Terminal for Shows

[smo]

We have a requirement for a mobile terminal to use at shows, it will need to be GSM based as we wont have a fixed line and can't guarentee any form of internet connection.

Currently we have merchant accounts with both Streamline and HSBC but dont have any terminals as everything is ecommerce and MOTO.

Is it possible to buy a terminal and use that as i dont fancy paying a monthly rental for it as it will only be used 4-5 times a year and "one off hire" costs a fortune

 

[Sparx]

You could potentially look at buying a Mobile PDQ terminal directly from a manufacturer/supplier - in terms of costs you are looking in the region of £400/500+VAT along with a limited warranty period. As you want a GSM/GPRS-based terminal as well you will have to buy a SIM which will incur further monthly costs. You may be able to use a PAYG SIM and 'top up' when needed but you would have to ask the supplier if you bought a PDQ outright.

Alternatively, you could take out a Mobile terminal on contract with your acquiring bank. You are probably looking at an approx fixed £20-30 per month plus transaction charges, also probably on a 12 month minimum contract. You say these are very seasonal/one-off events so you would have to do the maths and work out if it is going to be cheaper this way or not.

You will have to factor in if you rent a terminal per month, you have a lifetime warranty and on-going support. If it ever develops a fault and can not be easily fixed over the phone, typically it would be replaced free of charge the next working day (probably the exclusion is if you physically damaged it). You don't have to pay extra airtime/top-up etc as the SIM charges would be fully included as part of your monthly costs (£20-30 p/mo).

You need to weigh up and compare the overall costs and see what would benefit you more in the long run.

 

[Talay]

Spoke to Barclays / Barclaycard yesterday and they want £25 a month, 3 months free up front and bespoke commissions in the (non negotiated) 2%-3% range.

Payment to your nominated account in 24 hours except for retentions based on business type, company and personal credit check.

If you have an iphone, https://www.izettle.com are still giving out their payment options (I got one yesterday or at least the approval link). No chip and pin but less than 3% and no ongoing fees.

This might be up your alley ?

Search earlier threads this week for the original link.

 

[smo]

Wow, £25/month seems a bit steep!

Sadly (or thankfully) i dont have an iphone.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If you are with Streamline and are an FSB member, you may be able to participate in a new service trial, which gives you a free mobile terminal i.e. no monthly costs, but with a higher transaction cost, ideal fro infrequent use.

 

[airposjen]

iZettle works well, but mPOWA (www.mpowa.com) I think provide a better service. Their card reader works with Android, Windows, Apple and Blackberry phones. And they also accept VISA cards which iZettle don't.

 

[smo]

If you are with Streamline and are an FSB member, you may be able to participate in a new service trial, which gives you a free mobile terminal i.e. no monthly costs, but with a higher transaction cost, ideal fro infrequent use.

We would join the FSB for this benefit alone!! I might give them a call...

 

[davidakerr]

The other alternative with being an FSB member is it offers you the opportunity to obtain a mobile terminal with 123Send at preferential rates either monthly or 3 day hire.

 

[Talay]

If you are with Streamline and are an FSB member, you may be able to participate in a new service trial, which gives you a free mobile terminal i.e. no monthly costs, but with a higher transaction cost, ideal fro infrequent use.

Would you be able to help with a link or similar ?

My google only came back with http://www.fsb.org.uk/card-processing an other new items but nothing specific to mobile terminals, FSB and free

 

[ctrlaura]

Here is the link to the Worldpay Pay as you go pilot https://mobile.worldpay.com/

We are in the pilot and so far so good, we think its an excellent idea.

All you need is a blackberry or an android phone to run the Worldpay app on.

 

[smo]

Thanks Laura, it looks interesting if a little pricey but I suppose for the odd show here and there the inflated fees are viable

 

[Page]

Here is the link to the Worldpay Pay as you go pilot https://mobile.worldpay.com/

We are in the pilot and so far so good, we think its an excellent idea.

All you need is a blackberry or an android phone to run the Worldpay app on.

Charges are high

 

[Page]

iZettle works well, but mPOWA (www.mpowa.com) I think provide a better service. Their card reader works with Android, Windows, Apple and Blackberry phones. And they also accept VISA cards which iZettle don't.

Have you been using this and if so what do you think

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Page,

charges are high in comparison to what?

Sure, if you have a normal merchant account, you will pay under 2% for CC's and <£0.30 for DD's, however, a mobile terminal costs £20-£30 a month tied to a 2 year + contract. There may be a monthly service charge or signing up fee! Even a standard terminal is £15 month!

When I initially saw this (I was invited to the trial several months ago), my knee jerk reaction (being a streamline customer) was similar, but, when you investigate further it isn't bad - you have to look at the whole picture (something, sadly, too many business owners do not - never make a decision based on the headlines!)..

I would not recomend it if you sell a lot of low value items (especially on debit cards), however, for a lot of businesses, it will be great.

 

[ctrlaura]

Charges are high

For our business and the frequency in which we need to take mobile payments the charges for this are much more agreeable than signing up to a monthly contract and we only allow payments via the terminal for items over a certain amount.

As consultant says, it will not suit a lot of businesses but for us, it's great.

 

[JordanBarclaycard]

I cant say exactly what it is, but the £25 p/m with Barclaycard is changing soon. Ive heard *rumours* that it could be going down to as little as a £1.00 on a certain offer, but again I cant 100% confirm this until I find out more within the next few days, im just going off company hearsay!

 

[Sparx]

I cant say exactly what it is, but the £25 p/m with Barclaycard is changing soon. Ive heard *rumours* that it could be going down to as little as a £1.00 on a certain offer, but again I cant 100% confirm this until I find out more within the next few days, im just going off company hearsay!

That offer has already been done previously by Barclaycard, maybe before you started working there. It was £1 a month for the first 3 months then the standard monthly fee thereafter.

 

[JordanBarclaycard]

That offer has already been done previously by Barclaycard, maybe before you started working there. It was £1 a month for the first 3 months then the standard monthly fee thereafter.

We did a £1 for a month for 3 months recently, but not on GPRS. Just portable and countertops. The offer im talking about could be £1.00 p/m for a year.

 

[Talay]

You might be interested in this http://www.tellmemore.elavon.com/mobilemerchant/

£10 a month for 12 months or £99 one off payment and no monthly charge.

2.95% charge for all cards across their merchant account.

You do need the net on your phone and bluetooth but who doesn't have that these days ?

From my investigation, it looks a potential solution, thought not perfect.