Hi all,
We have just switched from Lightspeed (LS) to Shopify.
My question is: if we go offsite, ie. a vendor show, or wherever we want to seel products, what do we need to take credit card payments? I want customers to be able to both tap and chip or swipe if thats even possible. Also, if there is such hardware, can it also be used at the pos location, saving using a credit card machine.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Hi there,
Welcome to Shopify! For offsite sales like vendor shows or pop-up events, many merchants use the Shopify POS app on a mobile device along with a compatible portable card reader. This setup typically allows customers to pay using tap or chip, and everything syncs directly with your Shopify store so inventory and orders stay updated.
In most cases, the same card reader can also be used at your main POS location, which means you don’t necessarily need a separate credit card terminal if your workflow supports it.
Swipe payments can depend on the specific reader model and payment configuration, so it’s a good idea to check which hardware options are supported in your region.
Hopefully other merchants who regularly sell at events can also share their experience with portable POS setups. It’s definitely a convenient way to keep sales consistent both in-store and on the go.
Firstly, welcome to Shopify! You made a great choice by moving to Shopify and adopting a connected, all-in-one solution.
In the UK, tap is common, and the Shopify Tap To Pay solution allows you to take payments when you are out and about, just with your phone Tap to Pay on Shopify POS - Shopify UK
If you do get a request to swipe, though, that would be an issue, so you may want to opt for the Wisepad for when you are selling at your external events, Shopify POS Card Readers – Shopify Hardware Store
In-store, it depends on whether you are a new business or an established one with a higher turnover. In the UK, Shopify rates for in-store transactions are a great option if you are just starting out, as they offer a quick and easy way to get started. But if you have a higher turnover, then you won’t find them competitive with other third-party payment providers. It’s a real shame that this is the case, as merchants would certainly prefer the convenience of a connected terminal, but third-party solutions can offer significant savings.
Hey there @Stevepie75
This is Aaron from the Retail Team here at Shopify!
Thank you so much for sharing your question with the Shopify Community! The question itself is great in the sense that we get an understanding of your selling environment and needs.
As @Shoplogy had mentioned, you can look into the “Tap to Pay” feature and accept payments using Shopify POS with Tap to Pay on iPhone or accept payments using Shopify POS with Tap to Pay on Android. With this feature, there are certain requirements (such as which mobile device you are using) and I would recommend referring to the applicable resource attached above to review those requirements. However, this feature will only allow you to accept tap payments and although it is a great feature with a simple setup process, the amount (or limit) that a customer can tap would depend on their bank or the card issuer. Generally, the limit in the UK is set to £100 for the most part, whilst Apple Pay doesn’t generally have a limit because it uses biometric authentication (Face ID/Touch ID).
In the case of where you were wanting customers to insert, tap, or swipe their card or payment methods, you would want to look into one of the following Shopify card readers.
The POS Terminal is more specific to act as a countertop payment device for physical locations, as it’s not one that I would personally consider as a portable card reader option. Additionally, there are network requirements for the POS Terminal and I understand that selling offsite, or at vendor shows, having a strong/stable network connection might not always be doable.
The WisePad 3 Reader, on the other hand, is a smaller card reader option that is portable, and relies on a Bluetooth connection to the Shopify POS app on your device.
Regarding your question pertaining to whether or not you can use the same card reader at both the vendor show and your store, you absolutely can. To use the Shopify POS app, you would need to be logged into your store and select a location through your device (for example, an iPad) and the card reader will connect to the device, regardless of which location is selected (given that the location selected is in the region of your business, for example, the United Kingdom).
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out to our Retail Team by visiting the Shopify Help Center or by calling us via phone through the following steps.
Thanks,
Aaron | Retail Support Specialist