Hardware for Shops
800-775-6522
All hardware is shipped for free within the continental US and Canada. Prices shown are final prices including all CDs, cables, users' guides, guarantees and warranties.
Where to Buy Hardware
It is necessary to know which hardware works with software. One way to determine if hardware works with BCSS is to install the free BCSS demo, choose the hardware (in BCSS Program Setup) and test it. All scanners should work. If available hardware does not work, we can often configure the software (for a nominal fee).
The items listed below are known to work with BCSS and have been chosen for their dependability, warranties, fast free shipping, free support and affordability. Outstanding benefits of the manufacturer (POS-X) are direct phone access to their service department and next-day replacement (additional charge) or free '2-Day Rapid Replacement'.
There are no add-on fees for cables. Shipping is free within the continental U.S. and Canada. Only actual additional shipping charges (for expedited shipments and shipments to remote or international locations) apply. We don't mark up shipping charges and we don't tack them on at the end of the ordering process.
We confirm hardware orders to assure accuracy and to make sure you receive any special discounts. For example, purchased separately BCSS Diamond ($595), the cash drawer ($119), receipt printer ($284) and bar-code scanner ($99) would total $1,097. The Diamond Package includes all four items for $999 complete. (The Deluxe Package ($879) includes the same hardware.)
Hardware Packages include the Vline Bar-Code Scanner, the HDCD Cash Drawer, and the EVO Thermal Receipt Printer.
Scanner Upgrades
- The VLINE scanner included in the Special is intended for light use only and the trigger must be pulled to read a bar code. The XI3200 increases reading distance from 5" to 14" and has an optional scanner stand for hands-free scanning. It is only necessary to pass a bar code in front of the XI3200 to read the bar code - a handy feature at POS. Upgrade from VLINE to the 3200: Add $56
- The XI3200BT ($492) is a wireless Bluetooth scanner with a range to 328 feet. Upgrade from Vline to the 3200BT: Add $393
Bar Code Scanning
BCSS Deluxe, Diamond and Virtual read and write bar codes. Price, item number and item description are printed on sheets of labels, hang tags (or on adhesive or non-adhesive thermal labels using Diamond or Virtual and a thermal label printer). Bar Codes, Date In, Discount Schedules, User-Defined Groups and Disposal Codes are optional.
At POS scanning a bar code enters the item on a new-sale invoice. The entry includes the item's ID and description, price and the owner (consignor). BCSS auto enters a quantity of 1, taxes and 'buyer fee' (if applicable). Those entries may be edited.
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Vline Barcode Scanner ($99) The Vline is an inexpensive tethered scanner which connects to the PC with a 6.5' USB cable. It has a 5-inch read range, 4.7" read width and can read 200 bar codes per second. It reads all popular bar-code symbologies. This scanner is included in BCSS Special Offers. 3-Year Warranty |
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XI3200 Barcode Scanner ($149, Hand-Free Stand $20) The XI3200 is a shock-resistant tethered scanner with a reading distance of up to 14 inches. The hands-free stand is almost a must at POS. Also included are the configuration software, a manual and USB cable. This scanner is available as an upgrade in BCSS Special Offers for $56. 5-Year Warranty |
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XI3200BT Bluetooth Wireless Scanner ($492) The XI3200BT Bluetooth scanner is wireless with a range up to 328 feet and a reading distance up to 14 inches. It is shatter resistant. The scanner is rechargeable with a battery life up to 50,000 scans. This scanner is available as an upgrade in the BCSS Special Offers for $393. 3-Year Warranty |
Each scanner is shipped with a users guide, cable and power supply where applicable.
Cash Drawer and Receipt Printer
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A cash register is different from a cash drawer. All cash registers have a cash drawer (for storing money). A cash register records sales and provides a printout at the end of the day for balancing the cash drawer. BCSS, a receipt printer and a cash drawer act as a 'cash register'. A receipt printer prints (on 3-inch-wide roll paper) showing the details of the sale: date, items, quantity, price, subtotal, tax, total amount.
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XCHD Series Heavy-Duty Cash Drawer ($119 or $158) The Heavy Duty XCHD Series printer-driven cash drawer ($119) attaches to the receipt printer, or directly to the PC with a special cable (add $39, total $158). It opens when a sales receipt is printed or when the F12 key is pressed in BCSS. (F12 key does not work well with Acer and some HP PCs.) It has a locking drawer for storing money securely. A cash drawer makes a better impression on customers and provides better security. Support is free from the manufacturer (360-738-8433). (more) |
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EVO Thermal Receipt Printer ($284) This is a 'silent' jam-free thermal printer which prints 1 or more copies of 1-ply receipts. Font size and density can be changed. Messages and logos can be printed. Support is free from the manufacturer (360-738-8433). 3-Year Warranty |
Is a Dedicated Receipt Printer Necessary?
Patrons of consignment stores know they are purchasing used merchandise. They have the opportunity to inspect items before purchase and they understand that items are being sold 'as is'. They typically accept (if not expect) a 'no-return policy' so in many cases, it is not necessary to print a receipt. Moreover, many customers are satisfied with the credit-card transaction receipt. Of course hand-written receipts would also be acceptable for purchases with few items.
Every edition of BCSS has a built-in receipt that can be printed in the Excel Invoice format with any laser-style printer on a full sheet of paper, which may be sufficient for an occasional receipt, making a costly thermal receipt printer ($284) unnecessary.
In Diamond and Virtual Specials the thermal LABEL printer can be substituted for the thermal RECEIPT printer for $100 more, so money is being invested in a printer that will be used more frequently. The labels will be cheaper (about 1c each). They will be easier to produce and they will look more attractive. (Deluxe does support a thermal RECEIPT printer but not a thermal LABEL printer.)
To substitute the LABEL printer for the RECEIPT printer on the order page, place a 1 in the box named 'Special/Label Printer'.
Touchscreen Monitor 15" ($429) or 17" ($489)
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The BCSS Sales Screen supports the use of a 15" (EVO-TM2) or 17" (EVO-TM2) touchscreen monitor. (3-Year Warranty. 2-Day Advance Replacement Protection. Overnight Replacement Service (fee based).) A better option for computer and monitor might be Dell's Vostro 330 23" flatscreen all-in-one computer (~$800, Win7 Pro, 64-bit w/XP mode) |
New Computers (~$500 from Dell Computers)
Hardware - Computer Components (Hard Drive, Processor, Memory)
Get a Dell (888-782-3355) Desktop Optiplex Minitower - $15/month lease (48 months) or about $500 (no monitor).
Here's why you would love this machine:
- Fast Shipping
- Fast Hard Drive (7200RPM)
- Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E7500 RPMs with VT (2.93GHz, 3M, 1066MHz FSB)
- 2GB3 DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz
- USB Keyboard, Optical Mouse, DVD-ROM Drive
- Windows 7 Professional 32-Bit
- 1066GHz Front Side Bus (A 'bus' connects components to the motherboard. 1066GHz is fast.)
- 3 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 3 Year NBD On-Site Service
These are options: (Prices change frequently.)
- Option: $9 - Internal Audio Speaker
- Option: $79 - 3 Year ProSupport and 3 Year Next-Business-Day On-Site Service - A technician will be at your place of business the next business day to fix any problem.
- Option: $70 - Cordless Mouse, Keyboard, Flash Drive
- Option: $49 - Dell V305 All-In-One Printer
- Option: $17 - Belkin 8-Outlet Slimline Surge Protector (protection from power surges/spikes - handy for plugging in peripherals)
- Option: $100 - 3-Year Hard Drive Data Recovery and Certified Data Destruction Service
Reasons to Love Dell:
- 30-Day Getting-Started Assistance for installation optimization, configuration and limited usage questions
- 24/7 Comprehensive On-Line Support
- Telephone Technical Support
- 1 Year Next-Business-Day On-Site Service
- 1-Year Basic Limited Warranty and13-Year Next-Business-Day On-Site Service
- Free Shipping, Including Peripherals (Like Printers) on orders over $600
- Next-Business-Day On-Site Service
- 1 Year Hard Drive Data Recovery
- Financing - There's no reason not to have a brand new trouble-free computer under warranty - $16/month lease, no payment for 90 days. (Offers vary.)
Please note that Dell's special offers change frequently. The above information is an example of their pricing structure as of 6/4/2010.
Windows Software - The Operating System
Microsoft Windows is an 'operating system' (OS). Every computer must have an operating system to run other programs and hardware. Operating systems perform basic tasks such as installing other software, recognizing input from the keyboard and scanners, sending output to the monitor, keeping track of files and directories on the hard disk, and controlling devices such as optical drives and printers.
Windows 7
The following are the minimum requirements for Windows 7:
- Processor = 2 GHz or faster
- RAM = 2-4 GB
- Disc Space = 16 GB 32 bit; 20 GB 64 bit
- Video = DirectX 9 capable device with WDDM 1.0 or higher
- Clean installation suggested with no bloatware.
Laser Printers
Together BCSS (and any laser/inkjet/bubblejet or dot matrix printer) can print consignment agreements, checks, reports, sales invoices, address labels, price labels and hang tags (with or without bar codes) - on 8.5 x 11 sheets.
Disadvantages of printing invoices and labels this way are inconvenience, ink usage and labels wasted from paper jams and out-of-ink runs.
Similarly, price labels and hang tags can be printed at lesser cost over the long run using a thermal label printer and BCSS Diamond or Virtual.
 Laser Printers |
If color printing is not necessary, purchase any Hewlett Packard low-end black and white printer with a paper feed. For a few dollars more, purchase their All-In-One copier-fax-printer-scanner. If you are purchasing a new computer, consider ordering from Dell for added support and for possible savings on printers and shipping. |
Thermal Label Printers
BCSS prints 2" to 4"-wide horizontal thermal labels (adhesive and non-adhesive hang tags) - from 1" to 4" high using the TSC TDP-247, the Zebra 2844 Thermal Printer, or 2" horizontal labels with the Zebra 2824. Bar codes may be printed on labels that are 2" wide or wider, and greater than 1" in height.
Direct thermal printers use a thermal printhead that applies heat to a chemically-treated paper, creating lines, text and graphics. A black line (adhesive) or gap (non-adhesive) across the back forces the printer to print before moving forward, so there is no waste.
A black line (on adhesive labels) or gap (on non-adhesive labels) across the back forces the printer to print before moving forward, so there are no wasted labels.
Refer to the label chart in the BCSS Manual for label types and sizes. (Buy tags from MarkAT or Barcode Warehouse.)
The TSC printer is $349 and the 4" x 1" labels are $8 for 2100 labels. The printing cost per label is less than printing sheet labels in the long run because no ink or ribbon is required. It is also easier to print one or several labels using a thermal printer.
Flash Drives - External Storage Devices
 USB Flash Drive |
A flash drive (edge memory, pen drive, memory stick) is a data storage device that plugs into the PC's USB (universal serial bus) port. They are commonly used in consignment shops for storing data backups and for transferring data between PCs. |
Flash drives are faster than floppies, hold more data and are more reliable because they do not have moving parts. They are preferable to CDs because they can be updated whereas CDs cannot. For most consignment shops, capacity of 2GB is sufficient. Sticks may be purchased online for about $10.
