Best Consignment POS Systems

POS ('at the point of sale') systems are usually comprised of a computer, a software program and hardware which are specifically designed for processing sales at checkout stations.

The Computer

The 'computer' can be a desktop or hand-held device, Windows or Mac, but the deciding factor is 'the software' which must be written for either Windows or Mac. Apple does say that Windows programs will run on Macs if Windows and their Basecamp programs are installed. Some shops who have done that report that there's difficulty sometimes with printing.

POS computers are usually connected through a local network (Local Area Network (LAN)) to a host computer (main computer, server). The most common mistake is to use something other than a dual-band router to connect the computers (with Ethernet cables, preferably cat6 or cat7).

Thermal Receipt Printers

Thermal receipt printers print receipts (not labels) on 3" receipt paper. Consignment stores with 'no-return policies' may not need this expense because the receipts have no purchase (as far as returns are concerned). Regardless you'll find most software vendors more than willing to sell a receipt printer to a consignment store owner without first having this discussion.

Cash Drawers

Cash drawers with locks safely store money and reduce the temptation of theft (by anyone having access to the POS area). The drawer connects to the receipt printer. With Best Consignment Shop Software, if there is no receipt printer, the drawer uses a special adapter (which replaces the printer) to connect to the computer, allowing the drawer to open with a key press or when a receipt is printed for cash and check sales. As a convenience, the drawer will not open for other payment methods like credit cards, PayPal, gift certificate, etc.

Barcode Scanners

Barcodes at POS are a must for any store that checks out many items daily. The alternatives (enter an unlisted item, chose from a pick list, enter the Item ID) are more labor intensive that just scanning a barcode to populate the invoice line with item information. With BCSS an inventory record can be found by scanning the barcode.

Label Printers

Labels can be printed in a variety of ways and formats. With Best Consignment Shop Software labels may be printer on plain paper, sheets of labels or rolls of thermal labels.

Small shops on thin budgets opt for the minimal-cost method of printing labels and tags with ink printers on slightly-heavier stock paper and cutting them out. This method can include barcodes.

For a bit more sophistication ink printers can be used to print labels and tags with ink printers on sheets of labels (office supply store) or hang tags (online providers). Labels are adhesive, can be removed from the sheet and attached to items. Hang tags are perforated and can be torn from sheets.

Any methods using ink printer involve the additional costs of higher per-label cost and high ink costs. There are also inherent risks of paper jams, out-on-ink runs and time spent trying to print on partially-used sheets.

Thermal labels are the preferred method when the initial cost of the thermal-label printer isn't an issue ($300+ or at Resaleworld $400+). There is a wider variety of sizes and types of labels ranging from jewelry barbell labels to four by four shipping labels. The printed labels and tags give a much greater professional appearance.

Protect Your Computer from Hackers, Employees and ?

The main cause of poor computer performance is lack of adequate protection and maintenance.

Protection from The Bad Guys

All those people who hate 'us' have computers too, and they have nothing better to do than to use their computer knowledge (far above the average user) to attack the average user's computer, so their intentions and capabilities should be recognized, respected and repelled.

Naturally free anti-virus programs aren't as effective as commercial-grade anti-virus programs which are not free, so expect to have problems with viruses, spyware and all kinds of 'malware' if your computer is connected to the Internet with inadequate guard against attack.

The level of viral sophistication has reached new heights. In the past we have said, "If you must have free anti-virus protection, use Microsoft's Security Essentials (now built into Windows 8). These days we say that we will not be responsible for anything that happens on a computer running our software and free anti-virus.

In our estimation, the only reasonable hope against defending successfully against malware is ESET Smart Security with phishing detection and a social-media scanner protecting Facebook walls from malicious content.

Protection from Your Employees

Anyone who sits down at your store computer should have a working knowledge of computers, hardware and Windows. There are plenty of free sites found searching Google for 'basic computer instruction'.

Use a password for Windows login.

Lock employees out of sections of BCSS (Diamond and Virtual editions) and learn how to hide folders on the computer that aren't to be accessed by employees.

Employees who have time to play games and surf the Internet surely have better things to do, and keeping them off of the Internet reduces your risk of viral infection.

Protection from You

Make daily backups of data, or make backups right after a substantial amount of data has been entered. 'Substantial' can be defined as the amount of data you wouldn't want to have to reenter if the unexpected happens.

Don't place backups on the hard drive. They will be lost if the drive crashes. Put backups on external storage devices and take them home with you every night. Use the 'Send-Data' function in BCSS to place data backups on the BCSS server for 'last-resort' backups. (Make sure 69 or 72 files upload.)

Don't assign responsibility for backup to an employee.

Avoid a wireless network for your business. Anyone in the area can 'sniff' the signal and hack in, and wireless networks are less reliable. Signals get dropped. Data gets corrupted more easily. Wireless is for coffees shops. Get a wired network for your business with cat6 cables, a good Cisco router and a strong main computer (host, server).

Disconnect the PC from the power supply at the end of the day (to protect against electrical surges and lightning).

Disconnect the PC from the Internet when the connection is not needed. Hackers can't hack if they can't access.

---

If the computer is not running like it once did, take a look at computer maintenance for consignment shops.