Magtek Card Reader: Easy time and money saver
Pros:
Easy install and use
Cons:
none I can think of
The Bottom Line:
If you're running PC based credit cards, you need one.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
What for?
When I started my business, I ran the gambit from not using a POS system to manually running credit cards via the old knuckle cruncher machines, to a PC based POS system. The only logical choice in this day and age was the last choice. Integrating all of my book-keeping onto one simple platform was a no-brainer.
Running a mobile business, I had some out of the ordinary requirements though. For instance I use a laptop instead of a desktop. I also have a cellular connection to run the credit cards I swipe.
One major factor I had to consider was the speed of ringing customers up. I run a service intensive shop where people don’t want to wait too long in line. I try to turn customers around in five minutes or less. Manually typing in credit card information would make this nearly impossible. On a desktop I would be able to do it pretty quickly, but remember laptop computers don’t have a number pad.
The card swipe was the only solution.
Why the Magtek
Well, it was the swipe that came bundled with my Quickbooks POS system. Most importantly to me was the fact that it was a USB connectable device. Using a laptop, I don’t have a lot of connection options. I have 3 USB ports, a phone and network jack and a monitor jack. So with the choice of USB, USB or USB it seemed logical to pick USB.
The reader itself is among the easiest things that someone could ever install. You plug it into the USB port and the computer says, “Hey, I found and input device and it’s a card reader.” There are no drivers to install, nothing to download. No headaches.
How does it work
Well the information on the credit card is encoded in a series of magnetic impulses on the back of the . . . uh wait, that’s probably not what you’re looking for.
The swipe does an excellent job. I run dozens of cards weekly and in five months of use I only had one card that it didn’t like. This one had been through the laundry a time or two. The guy told me, “Sorry, that one doesn’t work.” Thus I got the impression that the issue was the card and not the swipe. (I could be wrong).
If you get the Quickbooks package, the entire system setup is very simply and straightforward. Everything works together nicely. However, they don’t always pack the same hardware apparently. The description I read when ordering stated they were using an Epson printer and I got a Star for instance.
Parting Thoughts
If you are running credit cards on a PC based system, a card reader is a must. It not only saves time, but with most credit card processing companies lowers the discount rate. The rate for cards that are manually entered is often twice that of cards manually swiped.
Installation is a snap and reliability is excellent. It will fit just about anywhere and can be installed with self adhesive Velcro if you chose. The Magtek is a great item that will pay for itself pretty quickly.
