I need a POS system

[RoyalBishop]

Hello, I am wondering if someone could tell me all that I need to help me get a POS system up and running. I am openening my first store and I am missing this last part. I currently have a hp business desktop with some pretty good specs for everday use, also with a monitor and mouse/keyboard. Before I started writing a topic here I went over to best buy and talked to a best buy for business associate and he will be getting back to me with some solutions. I am not sure as for I dont have a POS system allready, so im hoping he will be telling me what I need and its the right stuff. He did tell me there are presetup systems all ready to go but I would like to use my desktop I allready have. I am planed to open in a month and I have plenty of time but suggestions are welcomed. Many thanks

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

When you say POS, do you mean for the credit card transactions and/or an inventory system? Drop me a PM, I can point you to someone that can help with all of the above.

 

[thepd7]

quickbooks ftw?

 

[BigJ]

You're not going to want to run a regular desktop as the POS server unless it has some very important features. Most importantly, RAID. At the very least, RAID 1. On top of that, you should probably be doing weekly backups and storing them offsite.

It'd be helpful if you gave more information. What business, how many PCs total, what other type of hardware are you using (touch-screen monitors, barcode scanners, printers, cash drawer), etc.

 

[RoyalBishop]

I just plan to be using this desktop I currently have that has a regular montior and amouse/keyboard. I do not have a scanner or any of that for that is something I am looking for. I have a 300gb hd currently and I plan to have an external hard drive esata for back up, If i need another 300gb hd to mirror I can do that. There will be only one POS and this is in a small shop within a mall.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: BigJ
You're not going to want to run a regular desktop as the POS server unless it has some very important features. Most importantly, RAID. At the very least, RAID 1. On top of that, you should probably be doing weekly backups and storing them offsite.

It'd be helpful if you gave more information. What business, how many PCs total, what other type of hardware are you using (touch-screen monitors, barcode scanners, printers, cash drawer), etc.

The way I usually help people is to link it through an internet connection to a server running raid 1 or 5, with nightly weekly monthly backups. It gets fed through a barcode scanner for an inventory database that is stored on the server.

 

[blustori]

I had a bad experience with getting a POS system from a company called Retalix. First thing they did was pressure my client into purchasing equipment from them even though they had equipment that was compatible with their software. Another thing, they overcharged my client for servicing their outdated product. They fixed a few settings in the program options menu and charged over a hundred dollars. Also, whenever you needed to back up data, the software required you to use a tape drive. I'm pretty sure tape drives are obsolete. Anyways bad product and bad business overall.

I'd suggest avoiding Retalix or any other local POS provider. The only reason my client decided to go with them was because SuperValu, the inventory provider, recommended them. Another reason was to save some money. My advice is go with a reputable company like IBM, even if they might cost a little more. Just my 2 cents.

 

[RoyalBishop]

Originally posted by: blustori
I had a bad experience with getting a POS system from a company called Retalix. First thing they did was pressure my client into purchasing equipment from them even though they had equipment that was compatible with their software. Another thing, they overcharged my client for servicing their outdated product. They fixed a few settings in the program options menu and charged over a hundred dollars. Also, whenever you needed to back up data, the software required you to use a tape drive. I'm pretty sure tape drives are obsolete. Anyways bad product and bad business overall.

I'd suggest avoiding Retalix or any other local POS provider. The only reason my client decided to go with them was because SuperValu, the inventory provider, recommended them. Another reason was to save some money. My advice is go with a reputable company like IBM, even if they might cost a little more. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the heads up

 

[NoShangriLa]

What type of store is it?
Do you need inventory control?
What type & detail reports are you looking for?

Quick Book is inexpensive and easy to use for a small cash register type business.

Traditional cash register & a pad of paper/pencil work perfectly if you don't mind looking over your sales book every day, and once a week/month peruse over the inventory count (which is the better way to keep on top of things).

 

[RoyalBishop]

I apologize bigj, The kind of business I will be opening is a book shop. nothing big, kind of like a very tiny barnes and noble.

 

[RoyalBishop]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

What type of store is it?
Do you need inventory control?
What type & detail reports are you looking for?

Quick Book is inexpensive and easy to use for a small cash register type business.

Traditional cash register & a pad of paper/pencil work perfectly if you don't mind looking over your sales book every day, and once a week/month peruse over the inventory count (which is the better way to keep on top of things).

I have over 500 rare books currently and I will be needing inventory control.

 

[GMI]

Like others in this thread have said,
what kind of store are you running?
Inventoy that needs to be tracked?
Will all your clients be payment upon sale of goods, or you'll going to have line of credits for them?

And do you plan on expanding to multiple locations or just going to have one pos computer?

I worked for a company that used Quickbooks POS and they would also import the sales into quickbooks premier for customers that have Net30/Net40 accounts. And most importantly, what's your budget?

edit:
after reading your last post. I think you can probably just get away with using Quickbooks Premier, I don't think you have a need to buy a full fledge POS system.

 

[RoyalBishop]

Will quick books premier allow me to process a credit card transaction or cash transaction?

 

[GMI]

Originally posted by: RoyalBishop
Will quick books premier allow me to process a credit card transaction or cash transaction?

Premier will be able to track the method of payment, but it's not as detailed as most POS system can be. However, to process a credit card transcation, you'll need to sign up with a merchant services company. Depending on your location, you might get cheaper rate with a third party company that will also provide you with a credit card terminal.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: RoyalBishop
Will quick books premier allow me to process a credit card transaction or cash transaction?

Product Information
Software Sub Type: Financial Management
Software Name: QuickBooks 2007 Premier - Complete Product
Features & Benefits:

# Multiple user access
# Print checks, pay bills, track sales & expenses
# Create estimates, invoices, purchase orders and reports
# Tools for payroll & tracking employee time
# Works with Word, Excel & Outlook
# Download credit card & bank transactions
# Track inventory, set reorder points & create purchase orders
# Advanced features track costs for assembled products & inventory
# Create business plans & forecasts
# Industry-specific versions available

 

[RoyalBishop]

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

Originally posted by: RoyalBishop
Will quick books premier allow me to process a credit card transaction or cash transaction?

Product Information
Software Sub Type: Financial Management
Software Name: QuickBooks 2007 Premier - Complete Product
Features & Benefits:

# Multiple user access
# Print checks, pay bills, track sales & expenses
# Create estimates, invoices, purchase orders and reports
# Tools for payroll & tracking employee time
# Works with Word, Excel & Outlook
# Download credit card & bank transactions
# Track inventory, set reorder points & create purchase orders
# Advanced features track costs for assembled products & inventory
# Create business plans & forecasts
# Industry-specific versions available

Is downloading credit card and bank transactions the same as processing a credit card transaction?

 

[Nocturnal]

Try Netsuite.com. They're an online POS system and CRM system. It's really intuitive. The only downside is that it's on the expensive side.

 

[GMI]

Originally posted by: RoyalBishop


Is downloading credit card and bank transactions the same as processing a credit card transaction?

I might be repeating information you already know, so I beg your pardon if that's the case.

When you process a credit card, i.e. getting it swipe by the checkout guy at ciruit city, a third party company is contacted to handle the transcation between your credit company and the retailer. These third party companies (usually call merchant services) will take a % of the transcation. Most POS software makers, such as quickbooks, will have integerated merchant services, but they tend to charge a higher % cut than others. I'm 90% sure Premier doesn't have integrated credit card processing, quickbooks do sell a seperate software package for that though. Or you can find one of these merchant services company, if you don't want to shop around, the service costco provides are a pretty competitive rate. Credit card processing can get expensive, expect about 3% of your transcation go to the merchant services company of your choice.

 

[Kaspian]

We got keystroke.com for our store. It has been working flawlessly for a few years now.

 

[Googer]

Contact HP, they have some very nice and easy to use touch screen POS systems.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you try to use bar code scanners, that will increase your costs slightly.

Otherwise quickbooks systems (available at OD, OM, Staples, etc) will cover your needs.

If you will take Credit cards, shop around for service providers. The costs vary considerably based on support, convenience, usage, etc.

Your bank may have some good recommendations on who you should look at for such things.

Also, make sure that your system is backed up every day one way or another.

Try to also have a method that can be used if your primary system dies, even if it is just hand receipts that can be entered into a laptop spreadsheet/database until the primary system is back up.

If the primary dies it could take the supplier of the system up to a week to get to you and up and running.


Or if you put the system together yourself, you will have to spend a late night or to getting the unit up. Having a backup on standby (whether immediate or the next day) will be essential.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: blustori
I had a bad experience with getting a POS system from a company called Retalix. First thing they did was pressure my client into purchasing equipment from them even though they had equipment that was compatible with their software. Another thing, they overcharged my client for servicing their outdated product. They fixed a few settings in the program options menu and charged over a hundred dollars. Also, whenever you needed to back up data, the software required you to use a tape drive. I'm pretty sure tape drives are obsolete. Anyways bad product and bad business overall.

I'd suggest avoiding Retalix or any other local POS provider. The only reason my client decided to go with them was because SuperValu, the inventory provider, recommended them. Another reason was to save some money. My advice is go with a reputable company like IBM, even if they might cost a little more. Just my 2 cents.

Tape drives are not obsolete. In fact they are the industry standard for disaster recovery

 

[jandrews]

I work in IT and a small part of our business involves supporting POS systems and software and working with POS vendors. Here are some rules

1. POS vendors suck and are rude and are usually small companies
2. POS software often has problems
3. POS anything pretty much sucks.

We work with companies such as IDEA, Celerant etc they all suck, be wary. If you just want to process credit card transactions and not as much in store stuff use pc charge.

 

[RichUK]

You mean EPOS?

 

[SoulAssassin]

OP - where are you located?