Much of credit card processing is done electronically with little to no effort on the part of the business owner or their staff. For businesses that manually swipe credit cards at the point of sale, credit card terminal care is vital to ensure you are able to process credit card transactions. Heavily used and often subject to much abuse, credit card terminals often do not last as long as they could if they were cared for properly. Fortunately it is not that difficult to preserve this piece of equipment if you consider the following tips.
Keep it dry- Murphy’s law states “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”. Think of this anytime you place a soda, water or coffee in the vicinity of a credit card terminal. Enforce a policy that prohibits staff from drinking or placing drinks anywhere credit card terminals or other electronics are used. It only takes a second for an accident to happen and the next thing you know, your terminal is soaked and any damage resulting is usually not covered by standard terminal warranties.
Pay attention to temperature- Extreme heat and cold can damage electrical equipment. Changes in temperature from one extreme to next will have the same damaging affect. Credit card terminals should be placed in an open, well ventilated area that isn’t subject to extreme temperatures. A common mistake is placing the credit card terminal too close or in the pathway of a cash register exhaust vent. If your credit card terminal is in an area that gets very cold (as in freezing) it is recommended that you leave the terminal running versus turning it off when not in use. A frozen terminal is vulnerable to damage when it heats up after being turned on. This can result in the loss of information or damage to internal electronic components.
Secure terminal- Depending on the age of your credit card terminal, falling to the floor or other contact with a hard surface can be the end of the road. Newer models are especially susceptible to damage if dropped. Regardless of external fortitude, a credit card terminal that has been knocked over or dropped is subject to internal damage or screen damage that can render the equipment unusable. To avoid this you can place the terminal in a location that is far from the edge of a counter or attach the terminal with wall mounts. Non-skid rubber tape is also an inexpensive yet efficient way to prevent a terminal from getting knocked around.
The tips mentioned here apply to credit card terminals that are permanently placed as well as wireless devices that are mobile. Protecting your equipment from damage is one of the easiest ways to ensure your credit card processing continues uninterrupted while at the same time saving money. Replacing one credit card terminal will not break the bank, but many businesses have hundreds of terminals with which to contend. Regardless of the price of replacement, any money spent that could be used elsewhere in the budget is a waste of money. Avoid this and the inconvenience and possible downtime resulting from a damaged terminal by preventing damage in the first place.
Photo via BBQ Junkie
