Sharp ER-A347 cash register review

Sharp ER-A347

The Sharp ER-A347 cash register is a fresh new design for Sharp. At first glance it is very sleek looking and has a beautiful operator display.

Looking further the first thing that I became a little worried over is the fact it does not have a key or a mode lock (it does for cash drawer). After digging into how it works my fears we resolved and the model button works great and you can still have a level of security.

Some things I really like about the ER-A347 that you won't find in other low cost registers

• The multi line LCD display make programming and reporting much better compared to other registers. Also make the cashier's job easier because they can see the sale and subtotal on the display as they ring items in.
• This register has an SD card port allowing for back up and saving program
• You can use the SD card to take the register data to a PC and even interface into Quick  Books
• Department shift keys are nice to allow so many departments on the keyboard
• Features traditional receipt and journal
• Optional Credit Card interface (also see notes in the CON list too)

OK here is the CON list

• Although it has a credit card interface it is not the traditional credit card interface cash registers have been using for 5+ years using the Datacap. This register interfaces with a standard style credit card terminal and still requires using both the register and the terminal.
• The PC interface is only through the use of the SD card instead of a direct connection. Keep in mind in most small machines people don't use this feature anyhow but if you do you may not like it.

Overall I like this machine, it is easy to program, lots of useful features and great price. If you would like to order this register call us at 1-800-863-2274

Cash register that interfaces to quickbooks and credit card

Sharp has the ER-A347 cash register that interfaces to Quick Books accounting software and a credit card terminal. The Quick Books interface is called the Quick Books Transfer Tool and interfaces to your computer through a SD card and PC link software.

The ER-A347 is very affordable. Features a two station thermal printer, large multi-line display and serial ports to accomplish the interfaces. Unlike other cash registers that interface to credit card through the use of a Data Cap Twin Tran this register interfaces to a traditional credit card terminal.

You will like how this register programs as it will lead you through the program when you first turn it on. Great register at a great price! Call us at 1-800-863-2274 to order or for more information

Sharp ER-A347 cash register

If you need a cost effective cash register for a retail business you should take a hard look at the Sharp ER-A347 cash register. This is one of the newest released from Sharp and it has some very unique features.

• Two station thermal printer with receipt and journal
• credit card terminal interface
• 3.7" LCD display
• 7000 standard UPC/PLU capacity
• 2 serial ports
• SD card port
• PC Link software
• QuickBooks transfer tool

All this for under $340.00 and commercial grade. There is one important feature you will not find on any cash register other than the ER-A247 and ER-A347 and that is they can interface to s Hypercom Credit Card terminal (specific model, not every Hypercom) which to the best of my knowledge is the first time this has been done by anyone.

Part 8 of 10 from our series what to look for when buying a cash register

When you buy a cash register you need to ask yourself this very important question "Do I want to program on my own or have it done?"

Well do you? Regardless of whether you buy a SAM4s or Sharp Cash Register it is going to need some level of programming. Some registers require a great deal of programming depending on what application you will be using it in. Restaurants require more programming in most cases however a retail store that wants to bar code scan can also require many hours of work.

In my humble opinion if you are cost conscience as most of us are than you should do as much of the programming as possible. Doing your own programming will save you money now as well as in the long run. However keep in mind we cash register guys charge for programming because it can take a lot of time! Do you have the time to program the register yourself? Here are a couple of estimates based on my experience for an average end user to program a cash register.

• Simple 10 department machine with alpha, 2 tax rates, discount and text logo = 2 to 3 hours
• 20 departments with alpha, 2 tax rates, 2 discount keys, 4 payment keys, graphic logo, macro key and a few misc items = 4 to 5 hours
• 20 departments with alpha, 300 PLU / UPC's (without software and import file), 2 tax rates, 2 discount keys, 4 payment keys, graphic logo, macro key and a few misc items = 7 to 9 hours
• 20 departments with alpha, 3000 PLU / UPC's, (with software and import file) 2 tax rates, 2 discount keys, 4 payment keys, graphic logo, macro key and a few misc items = 5 to 6 hours
• 100 menu item fast food register with no kitchen printer = 3 to 5 hours
• 300 menu item fast food register with no kitchen printer = 5 to 7 hours
• 100 menu item fast food register with with kitchen printer requiring modifiers  = 8 to 10 hours
• 100 menu item table service register with kitchen printer requiring modifiers = 12 to 15 hours

You get the picture, it takes lots of time to get a cash register ready. Some of the items being programmed are specific to cash registers and you would probably never have encountered any of these items before but a lot of it is just the time consuming work of plugging in hundreds of names, prices, status, etc.

A cash register with a large multi-line display is almost always faster to program. You can accomplish more line of data in one program job opposed to a register with a one or two line display it is one program for name, another for price, another for status, another for link, etc etc.

So one way or another you are going to pay for programming either with your time or with you money! Cash register dealers have to charge for their time or they won't be around long. No one would expect a professional CPA to install Quick Books for a couple hundred bucks just because quick books is cheap!

Who makes the best cash register?

Are you looking for a cash register? Wondering who makes the best one? There are really only two good cash register makes in the United States now in the commercial grade category. They are the following

1. SAM4s Cash Registers
2. Sharp Cash Registers

Sharp can be a bit confusing because they offer both commercial grade registers and consumer grade models. I'm only talking about the commercial grade so please don't mistake my endorsement as favoring the XE models that Sharp makes. And consumer grade machine should be avoided unless you are a tiny store with very little volume and always owner operated!

Both SAM4s and Sharp make models that interface to credit card payments and gift cards. Both make bar code scanning machines and models with kitchen printers and touch screens.

Right now for the entry level cash register I think Sharp has a clear advantage with the ER-A247 and the ER-A347 models. Both have a unique PC interface as well as an interface tool to Quick Books that is included in the price.

New Sharp Models now available



Sharp ER-A347 Cash Register

Sharp has now released the Sharp ER-A247 Cash Register as well as their other new entry the Sharp ER-A347 register both of these cash registers are packed with features like free programming software, SD Card port, multi-line LCD display and the ER-A347 also has a Quick Books interface tool

The Powerfull Sharp ER-A347 Cash Register now available

Sharp has hit a homerun with the new Sharp ER-A347 cash register. This new machine features some exciting new features and functions like; QuickBooks Transfer Tool, PC Link, Credit Card Interface and much much more! We have never seen a commercial grade register with this many features and an affordable price.