Thursday, November 15, 2012

Cash Register Credit Card Interface

Datacap Systems who make the Datacap Twin Tran that is the most popular method of interfacing your cash register and credit card payments make several models. Datacap Products:
  • Datacap Dial Tran SL
  • Datacap Dial Tran ML
  • Datacap IP Tran SL
  • Datacap IP Tran ML
  • Datacap Twin Tran SL
  • Datacap Twin Tran ML
Also keep in mind each version listed about also can come with built in MSR in most cases. In order to interface SAM4s cash registers to credit card you must have a Datacap device, Almost all Sharp registers also require a Datacap as well with the exception of the ER-A247 and ER-A347 registers that can use a certain Hypercom terminal

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Sharp ER-A320 cash register

The Sharp ER-A320 won't be around much longer which is a real shame. this cash register was a work horse and easy to use. However there are still some available however if you need one you should act quickly as I don't think they will last long.


Sharp ER-A320 Cash Register
Sharp ER-A320 Cash Register

Friday, November 9, 2012

Programming more than one cash register

This topic comes up often whenever people are shopping for cash registers and are trying to get the cheapest one they can. OK none of us wants to spend more money than needed right? Well before doing that figure out what is needed!

Perfect example of how this affects a business happened this morning at my office. A customer had called a couple weeks a go looking for five registers. The customer was very sure of the make and model they wanted and just wanted a price. Nothing more just price, price, and price! The customer was really sure this was the best machine for them and there was not going to be an opportunity to discuss anything else.

They bought the 5 registers and took delivery of them. This week the customer called for support to get started programming the registers, no problem we do that all the time. In discussing programming and set up with the end-user I quickly determined it was going to take 3 to 4 hours to program each machine. It take a very long time to enter the names of hundreds of items, prices for hundreds of items, make the custom keyboard etc etc. That is a lot of time 3 to 4 hours times 5 registers so now looking at 15 to 20 hours of your time programming cash registers.

If the time had been taken to discuss the other options we would have steered them to a register that has an SD card port so after programming one register the data could be transferred to another register within a matter of minutes! So now it would still be 4 to 4 hours programming the first register and maybe 30 minutes each for the other 4 including taking them out of the box as you can quickly replicate them rather than re-doing all the work!

So when buying more than one register where the program will be the same make sure you buy one with and SD card port, or an IRC feature, or PC software all of these features would allow you to clone the first programmed register. Also if you decided to use a Datacap Twin Tran to accomplish credit card interface with your cash registers IRC would allow you to share one interface rather than needing one per register.

Very few Sharp cash registers come with a SD card port or PC interface. Many more SAM4s cash registers have free utility software for programming and SD card ports in almost all newer models.

So if you save $50.00 a register is it worth 20 hours of your time? I doubt it is. Consult with us before you pull the trigger on buying your cash register to make certain you are at least presented with your choices and make an informed decision. 1-800-863-2274

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Sharp Cash Register Website

Here is another resource for Sharp Cash Registers where you will find supplies for Sharp cash registers, keyboard covers, credit card interface and support for commercial grade Sharp cash registers. Please note Sharp register model numbers that begin with XE are consumer grade NOT commercial grade.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Sharp ER-A420 cash register

The Sharp ER-A420 cash register is a great choice for a quick service restaurant. Features a nice size flat keyboard to pre-program menu items on, thermal receipt and journal printers, ample cash drawer with 5 bill 5 coins, durable, easy enough to program (far as cash registers go) and priced very well.

The ER-A420 can interface with credit card and gift card and other interfaces include DVR, PC, Scale and a couple other items.

Does not have IRC but most places don't need that. Does not have an SD card port like the newer Sharp models. You can make you own keyboard with a free template. This register should serve you well like most Sharp commercial cash registers do.


Sharp ER-A420 Cash Register
Sharp ER-A420 cash register

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Electronic cash register comes complete with integrated credit card processing

Sharp makes several models of an electronic cash register that comes with integrated credit card processing. They even make two registers that interface with a Hypercom credit card terminal although most interface with a Datacap Twin Tran interface.

Some of the larger Sharp registers can share the Datacap between them while the smaller ones require one TwinTran per register much like the SAM4s cash registers.

When you interface the register and credit card payments you will have a more efficient check out at the register with fewer errors and much less fraud.

Right now The Cash Register Guys are offering a $200.00 rebate for purchasing a cash register and setting up merchant services with Mercury Payment Systems who will supply a no up front cost Datacap Twin Tran you can call them at 1-800-863-2274