Portable WI Fi CC terminal with Printer?

[Earl Weiss]

When the tunnels are busy I have a "Greeter" walk 6 or so cars down the line from the entrance, take the $ and mark the window. That way the loader doesn't have to do this and it speeds up production. If one car is slow, 5 cars are stacked and ready and the greeter can usualy process the next ones quick enough to fill the gap.

But if the customer has a credit card the greeter can't process it and if the customer gives the card to the loader / cashier I can lose 3-4 cars of production in the time it takes for them to hand over the card, have the transaction entered and card swiped and receipt printed and handed back. I can see losing 20 cars per hour when we are operating at max potential.

Yep, having the greeter run the card up to the loader's kiosk each time and then run back could work but it could be a little fatiguing.

So i'd like to use a terminal of the type I see car rental companies use when cars are returned. Re Chargeable batttery, built in printer, and uses my internet connection (via Wi Fi?). Don't reallly want to use "Square" or another CC processor, but that's an option.

Anyone using some of this hardware? Seems to be several choices out there but not sure of the satisfaction levels.

 

[JGinther]

Dont know anything about these guys, but looks like what you are talking about.. http://www.egenuity.com/video.aspx

 

[cwguy.com]

What kiosk do you use? Is the greeter doing everything manually? Like on paper? The loader is just pushing a manual button and giving the wash noted from the windshield? Do you have a cash register?

 

[Washmee]

Earl, I don't know of any stand alone systems other than the ones that use a mobile phone or tablet to operate. For your idea to work the hardware has to be compatible with what ever POS you are using. I use DRB Sitewatch with PTT's(portable touch terminals). It is not a cheap system but it gives me great cash control. There is no way a car can be sent through my tunnel without being paid for in one way or another. The PTT's have CC readers that clear the cards in less than 1 second and DRB has a negotiated rate with the processor that is very good.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I have DRB and Datatrax. No "Kiosk". Use a seperate CC terminal for Both. Terminal is connected to the Internet. It is not connected to the DRB or Datatrax. Clearing speed is not the issue. Just like speed of cash payment is not the issue. Mechanics of the transaction is the issue.

 

[Washmee]

So no point of sale system? Just collect the money and rely on counters to make reports? DRB Sitewatch? Carwatch? Just Tunnel Watch?

 

[cwguy.com]

I was just asking because some registers allow network connections.... Even cheap ones. Maybe your cc terminal does also? You could call the terminal company you are dealing with.... They have a product that works with your bank/clearing house.

Washme, maybe he just doesn't want to pay drb for support? Aren't they super expensive? Or is that ics? I get them confused.

 

[Earl Weiss]

So no point of sale system? Just collect the money and rely on counters to make reports? DRB Sitewatch? Carwatch? Just Tunnel Watch?

Not sure how you define "Point of Sale System" To put a car thru the system the transaction is entered into the controller. The controller registers the sale. With the DRBs the cash drawer pops open. No connected drawers with my datatraxs. While a gated entry system "knows" if $ or a cc was inserted and will not open for the car to enter unless that happens, non gated systems don't know if $ was put in the drawer or a CC Voucher, or a coupon. . At the end of the day the Controller tell me how much money should be there or the equivelent total in Cash, CC and coupons.

 

[Washmee]

Earl, I just found exactly what you are looking for. Our local sports booster club is auctioning off a car and we got a wireless credit card reader from Huntington Bank. We are leasing it for $45 a month. The unit is a First data FD400GT.

http://www.northamericanterminals.com/first-data-fd400gt.html

 

[Earl Weiss]

I'll contact first Data. The one shown does not have a Wi Fi option but the First Data site lists availability so I will check it out.

 

[cwguy.com]

I think dealing with firstdata directly would be cheaper? They seem to negotiate also? But different departments might do different things? They also have/had a referral bonus thing.... So ask about that also. You could give them my name then I'll send you the money if there still doing that?

 

[Earl Weiss]

I already use First Data