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Cheapest phone to use with the Square

Posted by Melanie Moore on March 21, 2012 at 10:23am

Well, here I go again comparing costs to use the Square vs. my old machine.   Does anyone have info for the cheapest phone to use with the Square?  I see that I only need 2GB to use the Square but I'm having a problem with $80 a month for data and internet access ($30 + $39.95 + 15% taxes, etc.).  Can't find anything much cheaper.  Anyone have an idea?

Thanks so much. 

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Replies

  • Karin Platt October 9, 2012 at 12:23pm

    This may be too late, but you may also want to try the Intuit GoPayment option. Depending on how many charges you use per month, the per swipe rate is really good. I do a lot of music shows too - and many times there is no

    reception for your phone, so you have to key it in later. Intuit has a cheaper key in rate than the square.

    It works great, and I use it with my Ipad. Also, it integrates with Quick Books if you use that software for your sales tracking, etc.

     

  • Ronald Brethauer October 7, 2012 at 1:24pm

    I use the StraightTalk phone from WalMart. They offered 2 different phones to purchase, one was around $100 and the other was $170. I chose the more expensive as I thought the quality was better. My monthly fee is only $45 a month unlimited everything. I is an Android phone that runs on the Sprint Network and I have had little if no issues with it. The battery does not last long if you are using it to browse but works great with it's 3G capability. I live in the Savannah area and have used it from Sarasota, FL to Kent Island, Maryland. Before purchasing make sure that the Sprint Network is good in your area. All I can say is I could not afford a plan with all the data, texting and talk for going to shows. This was a great find now that WalMart sells Smart Phones with the StraightTalk Plan.

    Good luck.

    RL

  • Richard L. Sherer October 3, 2012 at 9:46am
    I'm coming up on one full year of using an iPad2 ($750) with Aprivapay from my bank for processing cards. Couldn't be happier with it for swiping at shows and manually entering cards for studio orders. Only thing I don't like about it is there no record of what actually sold, only dollar amount. More important is that the iPad got me on Facebook which allowed me to connect with trick riders world wide. This has resulted in over $18K in saddle sales and another $2K in straps just from posting pictures of progress on saddles bring built. The other big use is taking a picture of clients' old billfold etc. that they want a new custom one made. It may be a month after a show before I get this stuff made and it is good to have a picture with my sketch. I also have pictures of recent custom orders that can be shown to clients at shows, i.e. latest holster or gun belt. Great ROI.
  • Paul Flack October 3, 2012 at 9:07am

    I don't know what your media is but the resolution on the new IPad is incredible. You can put your portfolio on there and really have something to show people. Another plus is that customers feel a sense of confidence when you pull that sucker out...like you are legit or something...lol.

  • Darron J Chadwick September 28, 2012 at 5:08pm

    One more thing if you get the IPAD you can use it as a phone Just download the skype app or goggle voice app and voila you have a 30$ a month phone  

    • Dow Mathis > Darron J Chadwick October 1, 2012 at 3:09pm

      Well, yeah, but you'll look pretty goofy holding an Ipad up to your ear, lol.

      Sorry, couldn't help it. :)

  • Sharon Jones August 23, 2012 at 8:53am

    You guys are the greatest!  I've spend considerable time doing web research, then several minutes on a chat with T-Mobile (not terribly beneficial, I might add....even though I've been very pleased with their services thus far), but you guys have provided the best, most thorough answers to my questions!!!  Can't thank you guys enough for taking time out of your schedules to help this novice!!!  Blessings fellow artists!

  • greta anthony August 22, 2012 at 5:41pm
    You could get an original droid or lg ally from ebay for as little as $50, just make sure it's been updated to at least android 2.1. Activate it on page plus cellular which is a prepaid service so no contract and they use the verzion network and have a byod (bring your own device) policy. For $30 a month you get 1200 min 2000 text and 100 mb of data. There are other plans which give you more if you'd like. I've been with them for a while now a great company. There's a forum at kittyforums.net that can answer any questions you might have about page plus. It's a pretty good deal for $30 a month and the verizon network.
  • Sharon Jones August 21, 2012 at 10:24pm

    thanks for this post.  I've just done my first once-a-month-hometown show selling jewelry I've created and everybody kept saying I really needed to accept credit cards.  I use the cheapest no-contract with T-Mobile and have been trying to figure out the cheapest phone I could use for Square.  My current phone is Bluetooth enabled, but that's about it, so I knew I needed to upgrade my phone to do it.  But I don't understand the issues about data plans, so I don't know what features the plans need to have for me to use Square????  Any ideas there? Besides the 2G are there any other features I need to insure the phone has to be effective???   I'm really a novice at this because I've been doing cell phones on the cheap for a few years now.

    • Lisa Foster > Sharon Jones August 22, 2012 at 5:51pm

      I think square requires the phone have GPS at least for swiping... not sure about for keyed entry.

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