Free Shopify Card Reader?

[gracieandrae]

I saw a few articles stating that if you had a Shopify account, you would get a free card reader for pop-up type events.  Was that a short promo or is it still a thing?

[Julie]

Hi, @gracieandrae!

Julie here from Shopify Support.

It's great to hear that you're wanting to start selling products in-person. What kind of pop-ups are you wanting to sell at?

While we do have card readers for sale in the Shopify Hardware Store, some merchants may qualify for a free card reader. To find out if you are eligible, you can simply request one here. If qualified, Shopify will ship the card reader to you free of charge.

Have you already installed the Shopify POS app on your mobile device or tablet? To process transactions using a card reader, you will need to use this app. For more information on how to get started with the Shopify POS app, feel free to check out our guide here. 

I hope this helps! If you have any more questions about selling in-person, please feel free to respond here and I'd be happy to further assist. 

[rme_wyf]

I went to the shared location and it stated my store is not an option. Is that because I purchased my own domain name or because the store is not active yet? I would need the reader before I open the store/launch the web site. I am very interested in the card reader but unsure how to proceed.

Thanks-Amanda

[Julie]

Hey, Amanda! 

Thanks for hopping into the conversation. 

The free card reader is currently only available to merchants based in the United States. To qualify, you must be using Shopify Payments and you must also be on a paid plan. If you are using a third-party payment gateway or if you're still in the 14-day trial period, this could be the reason why you are unable to claim the offer. Purchasing a custom domain wouldn't have any effect on being able to claim the free card reader. 

If you do not meet the above requirements, then you can purchase a card reader directly from the Shopify Hardware Store. Keep in mind that card readers can only be purchased by merchants located in the United States, Canada, Ireland, or the United Kingdom. 

I hope this clears things up! How do you plan on using the card reader? Are you going to be hosting a pop-up shop? I'd love to hear about your plans for selling in-person. 

[rme_wyf]

Hello.
I am in the US and using the lite program and monthly web page. I am still
not able to get this and could really use it ASAP. Can you be of more
assistance?

[rme_wyf]

Yes, I am all of the listed.

[Julie]

Thanks for following up, Amanda. 

Since you are having difficulties claiming the free card reader, I'd like to have our Support team take a look into this for you. As they'll have access to your Shopify account details, they'll be the best to assist. You can reach out directly from our Help Center. 

Thanks again!