Pay once for a brand-new POS system with warranties and no after-purchase fees. Includes free support, shipping and no sales tax (except TX). Big discounts are available on complete POS systems and volume purchases.
A 'consignment POS system' generally refers to the software and hardware (computers and peripherals like cash drawers, barcode scanners, receipt printers, display poles) required to process and record POS sales, store valuables and print receipts. The software-hardware combination can be a great value if all costs are disclosed prior to purchase - but often they are not. At Best Consignment Shop Software there is one payment with no ongoing fees. If there's a better deal elsewhere, it's likely that all fees and adverse policies are not being disclosed up front.
Read the section on Consignment POS Systems for useful tips regarding money-saving purchases, problem-avoiding decisions and smart POS choices.
Software and hardware will determine buyers' experiences at checkout and make or break a POS station. For every software vendor pushing a program, there's 20 biased opinions, misleading statements, hidden fees, really bad ownership/use provisions and unforeseen risks. At first it would seem logical to assume that all programs pretty much do the same things and price might be the only consideration, so if you're looking for POS software (for consignment, resale, retail, rental, buy outright or auction) take a look first at consignment POS software.
"What you don't know will cost you plenty."
Many things can take place at POS when checking out customers:
Take a look at consignment pos options for details.
Sadly employees often cannot be left to their own to run a POS station. Safeguards must be in place to avoid forms of theft like voiding cash sales and pocketing the money or granting discounts on the invoice while listing full price on the invoice and pilfering the difference. A software program should have provisions for logging employees in and out and auditing each employee's cash drawer in real time. Every invoice should be tagged with the clerk's ID for historical reference.
Every pair of hands added to the shop's roster increases risks and costs, hopefully to the betterment of net profit.
The concept of 'consignment' is noble - used belongings at discount so the subject of POS discounts warrants close scrutiny. A good software program has provisions for the most common types of discounts (by dollar amount or percentage, by item, by invoice) and Best Consignment Shop Software uniquely displays 'item cost' and 'lowest price' on the sales invoice. Here's more information on discounting.
Layaways are intended to increase sales and they probably do, but they also add more work for the same amount of profit. A software program should have features which minimize the extra effort and keep accurate accounting buyers, items on hold, payments made, scheduled payment dates and amounts, and finalized transactions.
Another unique feature of Best Consignment Shop Software is that a consignor can be paid in full for the sale with the collection of the first payment, or, more commonly, the consignor will be paid with receipt of the final payment. See POS Layaways for more information.
The people who shop at the store are a gold mine. Without constant contact they may lose interest or just fade away so keeping in touch is important. Buyers have different attitudes at POS. Some don't want to provide their personal information while others gladly offer it in hopes of receiving things like pre-sale notices, items in and special discounts. Names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses can be collect at POS with BCSS to build a client list. See other ways to gather and use client data.
Fifty states in the union and two hundred variations of tax rates and their applications. POS software must provide the flexibility required in every jurisdiction and Best Consignment Shop Software delivers. Merchandise can be tax free by category, by item and for resellers. In some areas clothing is non-taxable below some amount and taxable above. Sometimes more than one tax applies (like state and local) so it's helpful to have software that applies the total at POS and splits the tax amounts in reports.
We haven't met a tax wrinkle that we couldn't iron out so take a look at how BCSS handles POS Taxation.
Most software vendors will gladly sell a receipt printer without asking the money-saving question: "Is a dedicated thermal receipt printer really necessary?"
Consignment-store shoppers are aware of no-return policies at 2nd-hand shops so there's little risk of alienating shoppers with "no returns", so is a $284 printer (and all the paper that will be wasted) really necessary?
See how BCSS provides free alternatives to POS receipts.
A cash drawer is nearly a necessity in a consignment shop. It puts valuables under lock and key while providing a convenient platform for collecting non-credit-card payment at POS.
The drawer typically sits under the POS monitor or it's mounted under the counter where it doesn't invite attention. With BCSS there are 'secret ways' of opening the drawer with the keyboard or mouse.
A drawer connects to the receipt printer. The cash drawer provided by BCSS can connect to the computer with a special adapter (that substitutes for the printer).
The drawer opens when a receipt prints. That can be a bit annoying for credit-card sales so BCSS only opens the drawer for non-credit-card payments.