With the growing use and sales of cell phones, the pressure on cell towers is also growing. Now, concentrate thousands of art fair customers into a small area served by one, maybe two cell towers and that pressure increases dramatically. The customers cell phones don’t even need to be turned on, although most of them are, to create traffic for the nearest cell tower. When cell phones are turned off, they still receive app update notices, stock updates, message notices, etc..
Now, add art fair exhibitors to the mix. During peak cell traffic times, exhibitors are making sales and processing those sales through already burdened local cell towers.
Art fair customers wait patiently, usually, while the artist attempts to process a sale transaction using one of the multitude of mobile POS apps such as GoPayment, Square, First National and many others. Most sale transactions do get processed although repeat credit card “swipes” are not uncommon. In those situations where getting a successful electronic sale transaction completed just isn’t working, an artist can ask the customer to write a check, embarrassing. Or, if the checkbook has been left at home, the artist can ask the customer if it would be ok to transcribe the credit card data to be processed later, very embarrassing and illegal.
Mobile POS devices and apps all, I think, have the ability to use either cell service or wireless/modem (WM) for internet connectivity.
Over the last two years, I have participated in three art fairs that made WM internet access available. One of them did not charge exhibitors, the other two charged about $50 for two days of access.
A properly configured WM network is faster and more reliable than cell service for POS transactions. Properly configured means having the “reach” to be available to all exhibitors and both backup redundancy and sufficient bandwidth capacity.
Finally, to the argument of this post!
Art fair promoters should look seriously and with pace at making WM internet access available to their exhibitors. WM access could be offered at no charge open to all or in the same way as electricity, as an option, for a fee. Access to subscribing artists could be password controlled.
Why would a show promoter offer WM at not charge? For the same reasons they offer complementary meals, booth sitters, booth awards, art awards, coffee/water/snacks, segregated parking, easy load-in/out, etc., its good for the show patrons, the exhibitors and therefore good for the promoter.
Thanks to all that engage in this discussion.
Replies
Add me to the list of those with no problem with connectivity. I get the card read on the first swipe about 90% of the time and after a couple of swipes the other 10% of the time. Square now has a feature that is called Offline Transactions that will retain charge info for a certain period of time if a signal cannot be reached, and will process it as soon as a signal is available...
I also have a knuckle buster as a last resort but have never had to use it. I don't see the comparison between your comment of "the artist can ask the customer if it would be ok to transcribe the credit card data to be processed later, very embarrassing and illegal" and a legal knuckle buster.
I'm not finding any information about the offline transactions on the Square website. Where did you hear about this?
Hello Allison,
I updated my square software app recently after finding about the new scanners replacing the old ones. The new app had a message about the Offline Mode. I also received a email from Square explaining it in detail.
I use the square app on my IPad and also have it on my Samsung phone as a backup. The Offline Mode shows up on both devices now
In the "Settings" on Square the is a feature called "Offline Mode". You can select yes and it will store the transaction if these is no signal and then process the transaction when a signal is available. I just recently learned about it when I ordered a new card reader after finding out that the old readers will no longer work after June 1st
Greg......WHAT? I did not know that square has a store and forward option. Can you tell me how to access that.
I read somewhere that the old square swiper is going to be obsolete in June of this year and that you need to order a new one.
Laurie, In the "Settings" on Square the is a feature called "Offline Mode". You can select yes and it will store the transaction if these is no signal and then process the transaction when a signal is available. I just recently learned about it when I ordered a new card reader after finding out that the old readers will no longer work after June 1st.
You might have to update your square app to see it. I am not sure why they are not communicating this more than they have been.
I also learned that under the contacts section of their website there is a feature that will actually have someone from customer support call you after you enter a code they provide.
I agree with Robert. I have never had a problem with cell service in the two years that I have had the square.
I've not had problems with cellular service for transactions since I dumped my old analog Motorola bag phone and that was years ago.
You had one too? It worked great with the old Tranz 420.
But ask any young exhibitor today and they'll say "What's a bag phone?"
I still have a wireless terminal, and rarely have a signal problem. Then its store and forward.
But I still see a lot of exhibitors at shows walking around with their smart phones in the air searching for a signal.