Retail Point of Sale System Overview

Due to the in depth nature of retail POS systems, choosing a POS dealer is a huge decision – greater in many ways than your decisions when it comes to POS software and hardware. Price will be an issue, but in many cases you get what you pay for, so it’s very important to do your research before committing to a POS dealer. Here are some ways to make sure that your retail POS dealer is dedicated to and capable of supporting your business with any problems that might occur.

POS Support

As every retail business owners know, customer support is vital for the installtion success of your POS. So, you better make sure you know exactly what your POS dealer provides in terms of response times, product replacements, and telephone support. This is the single most important aspect when deciding to purchase a POS system.

 

Installing POS

having a quality POS installation can have lasting effects on your business. Qualified installers will not take a standardized approach to installation: they analyze your needs, test your existing infrastructure, including power lines, and make sure you get a system that exactly matches your needs. Within the first week or two of using a POS system will determine whether it fits your needs or not, so a well-tested installation is very important. You may want to ask how often the POS dealer will be on site during and after your launch – only until the system is running, or will they come back to check in and answer possible problems that arises?

 

Experience

As with any major business purchase, potential vendors’ experience in the industry is also important. However with POS systems you can go at a greater extent: research the experience of the retail vendor has in installing systems to other companies similar with your business. candy shops have different needs than convenient stores, and a self-service cafeteria varies considerably from a high class bar restaurant. Good POS salespeople will ask you about your business, what you need, then provides solution that exactly fits.

 

Facilities

Visiting POS dealers’ facilities can be a great way for you to know how they operate. You will be able to check out their repair shop and get a sense of how busy they are. You may want to ask for an organizational chart or a simple tour of their help desk. When it comes to your support needs, distance may or may not be important to you – if you want to rely on phone support and shipping components back for repair, it will not matter, but if you plan to have field technicians to come visit you, distance from your vendor can be a hassle.

 

System Demonstrations

To make sure that the system is easy to navigate, try it out for yourself. Some vendors allow on-site demos, which gives you an advantage of being able to see how the hardware is set up and how will it look in your location. Others will invite you to try the system at their place, which gives you that quick tour at their facilities we’ve discussed earlier. Either way, an in-person demo is strongly recommended if you are not knowledgeable with POS systems.

 

References

Another familiar way to investigate POS dealers for your business is to ask for references to other customers – just make sure you’re asking for references that are in business similar to yours. As expected, you will be referred to the vendor’s most satisfied customers, but you can still learn a little more from them. Below are a list of questions you may want to ask them:

• How has the POS system affected your business?

• What would you want to be done differently with your POS systems?

• Any support or repairs you’ve made? How did the vendor respond?

• Do you know of other people who uses the same system? This can get you additional references to call, and some may be more honest about the abilities of the system.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a reference that dislikes the dealer, as well. Every business has unsatisfied customers from time to time, and you could also learn from them.

 

Return policies

Most manufacturers have warranties that enables you to get repairs and/or replacements for any equipment malfunctions, but returning equipment is harder. Many POS dealers charge very expensive restocking fees, 0 and up, for returns on complete systems; some vendors only allows you to exchange equipment for others, but some may not accept returns at all. Again, make sure you review policies before you sign a contract.

 

How can you find the right retail POS system provider for your business?

A convenient way to receive multiple quotes for retail POS systems though the web at: Retail-POS-Solutions.com

The author of this article is a has over 20 years of experience in retail POS systems serving the needs of businesses just like yours.