After changing to a new card payment system, Sophie from Seres Gifts gives her honest opinion on using SumUp Air to date.
How did you hear about SumUp?
To find an alternative payment solution for Seres Gifts, it was important for me to get guidance from others who fully understood the challenges that working at different events around the country can present. Who better than fellow traders? I asked many trusted colleagues whose requirements were similar to mine what systems they used. SumUp was one that was regularly given good reports.
What were the positives?
There are loads:
- There is no contract tie-in period. If you don’t like the system, simply stop using it.
- The set up cost is extremely well priced. You have to pay for the portable card reader, but this is well priced. However, I was even more fortunate to be able to buy this at a discounted price because I went via an existing client’s recommendation. A good deal just got better!
- There is a 30 day money-back guarantee. Try it for a month. If you don’t like it, send it back and get a refund. Low risk-just became no-risk!
- There is no monthly fee. Oh, how I wish I had known of this system before! Like many traders, Seres Gifts has periods of time where there are no events. On the old chip and pin machine a monthly rental was due whether the machine was used or not. With SumUp, after the purchase of the machine, the only other charge is a standard transaction charge.
So, how does it work?
You need two pieces of equipment; a mobile phone and a card reader. The card reader is supplied by SumUp, along with a charging cable. Once charged, the reader can work for 500+ transactions.
An app is installed on your phone and you use this to input details of the sale (price and description of sale). The payment card is placed in the separate card-reader which connects via blue-tooth to the phone. The two machines “talk” to each other, and once the sale’s details are transferred to the card reader. Sales can be contactless or via chip and pin number. This is then authorised (hopefully!) and the sale is shown as complete. The customer’s card is returned to them. An option is then given by the paired phone as to whether they would like a receipt sent either via mobile phone or e-mail to them.
The set up is easy. Trust me. I’m not great with technology and if I can do it, then you can!
So it works on a mobile phone signal then?
Yes. But it also works on wi-fi. This gives you two options on how to get a signal. Many traders will tell you that one of the biggest nightmares is when mobile signal is poor and machines won’t work. More and more event organisers recognise the importance of access to a wi-fi network and this can often be more successful than a mobile phone signal for payment systems. It is great to be able to have the choice.
But there must be a down-side?
Initially when I adopted the machine (November 2017) I was informed that it would be possible to take “customer not present” sales. I had used this facility with the old chip and pin system and was pleased to retain it. However, it wasn’t until April 2018 that I needed to use it. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t get the machine to work for the sale. I have since found out that this facility is no longer standard and requires further approval, which I have applied for and am waiting to come through. Until it is approved, I have other methods of dealing with these sales. They are not quite so convenient, but even this slight inconvenience does not outweigh the good points of the system to date.
The only other thing I found was that my old mobile phone didn’t support the system. This didn’t come as a huge surprise because it was over seven years old! Choosing a new phone that was compatible was easy as SumUp give a comprehensive list of supported models.
What about support?
A support helpline is just a phone call away. I have found them to be efficient and polite. The main issue that I have used them for has been when the phone and card reader need re-pairing. This simply means that they have lost connection and won’t “talk” to each other, which can happen if they haven’t been used for a while. I was talked through the steps of re-pairing them and the problem was easily and quickly solved.
Is it easy to reconcile sales?
Yes. Reports of sales are easily accessed. As there is the facility to be able to put in a description of the sale, which makes it simple to reconcile the day’s trading with existing stock levels.
So would you recommend SumUp Air?
Yes, especially to other traders who work in a similar fashion to Seres Gifts. There are so many payment options out there and it is always worth looking into a few before you make any decisions. However, personally speaking, I can say that I have been extremely pleased with the system so far and not a little relieved that it has been so simple to adopt.
I was lucky enough to be able to get the terminal at a discounted rate because it was recommended by an existing user. If this opportunity still exists and others would like to use my recommendation, then get in touch with me at sophie.davis@seresgifts.com
For more information on SumUp payment solutions, contact SumUp here!
Still not sure you need to bother with a card payment system at all? READ THIS and then decide!
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