iPad or iPhone for Square?

[Former_Member]

Does anyone use the Square card reader with their iPad/iPhone? I have an old junky cell (not smart phone) right now and I'm trying to decide whether I want an iPhone or iPad.

I'm specifically thinking about using the Square card reader at craft fairs and I'm not sure if the phone or tablet is better for this. Any experience this this specific task would be greatly appreciated. (My husband has an iPhone already and that's what I'll be using at an upcoming craft fair in order to accept credit card with the Square)

It's a big investment so I want to make sure I get it right!

I generally use my home desktop mac for making listings and other involved tasks. In addition to the desktop, we also have the mac mini upstairs as our main entertainment hub (Our TV is the "monitor" so although I CAN work on it, I don't really like too. It's too big).

Thank you all!

[CaseyHPerez]

I use square with my phone. I am told that there are a few more things you can do with square with an Ipad that you can not do with an Iphone. The mini Ipad is coming out soon and is not as expensive as the the latest Ipad. I guess a big part of it is how much you will get out of a new phone/ verse an ipad. Personally, I use my Iphone for a lot of the things I would probably use an Ipad for, so for me personally, its probably not worth the investment. My mom on the other hand, is constantly using her Ipad, more than her Iphone.

[Former_Member]

I use my iPhone. It works very well. If you already own an iPhone, that is the way I would go. It sure is handy for making sales outside of ETSY

[Former_Member]

Thanks Cassi and Casey! I'm drawn to the pad for it's display- I could actually show potential customers my shop, an invoice/receipt, pictures of my work for custom orders, etc. I also feel like the pad is more "professional" looking (like a register) and not like, "here! Let me swipe your credit card on my phone so I can keep all your data and scam you later!" But I have no idea what really runs through people's minds when they give someone their credit card to swipe through the square... lol!

[Former_Member]

Thanks Susan! Customers weren't nervous about you using your personal cell phone to swipe their credit card?

[LovgrenandDaughter]

Hey Nicole Square works for android too! I went to jump into the I-nonsense too. That was a year ago. It works just fine with an android. and it's not as expensive for i-land.

Sometimes ppl ask if their info is safe. I tell them I work with wood and technology hacking is waaayyy beyond me. But, I also give them a card and say"this is the address to my house". If anything goes wrong you know where I live.

But it hasn't gone wrong. No one had showed up and I live in the middle of no where - lol.

The only issue I was having was with the occasional Amex card but they've worked on that. I had to type in the numbers. not so hard. And wicked cheaper than bank cc machine.

If you hate it once you get it, you can choose not to continue. And I was really happy when my then laptop caught on fire (all by itself - sigh) and I wasn't left without the web. I can do everything on the phone.

I hope you make tons of sales and rock Hoilday 12! xK

[Former_Member]

I use the Square to take payments for our swim team. I use my phone. I love it, parents love it. It's a win/win. But of course these people are paying 100's & thousands of dollars for the kids dues so they kinda have to use the card. :) The best part, i ask them right there, do you want me to send the receipt to your phone or email? They type in whichever number & I never even write down the details from the card. Maybe I just have a trustworthy face but no one has ever questioned it.

[jryendesigns]

I have an iphone and used the Square recently at an art show. It was super simple with the customer signing on the phone display. I had at least five purchases this way and the customers had no issues with it whatsoever. The receipt can be emailed to them or sent as a text message. The Etsy mobile app is very nice and I could easily show my inventory from my phone to any customer / friend and have done so. Granted the ipad is going to provide you a larger screen for viewing.

I think phone or pad is a personal decision related to how you would use the device when not using the Square and that's how I would base my decision.

Most importantly you need to ensure your ipad has 3G/4G capability or you're out of luck - granted you can use WiFi but I don't think you can guarantee that every venue will have WiFi available. My art show was an outside show as an example so my phone worked great.

Julie