415-375-3176
UPDATE 9-21-11: We have gotten MANY phone calls on our cell phones from customers needing support for their Square service. People somehow don’t realize that we are NOT Square, and they are truly desperate to contact them, so it seems they will call any number they think MIGHT get them to Square. Square stopped responding to my emails about this and about this post months ago. I hadn’t emailed them much, only a few times, trying to get some kind of official response or phone number from them… to no avail.
I called the number above, it was posted here by one of the commenters, and it is the general office number for Square. They said it would be in my best interest if I just took this blog post down and that they would not be making any official response on here. They also threatened to report you to their compliance department. Then they rudely told me not post this number AS their support number… so I’m not. If you are looking to call the offices of Square call 415-375-3176, it is NOT THEIR SUPPORT NUMBER, but when you call it does say to just hold for support.
Anyone can see below in the post AND in the comments that we have done nothing but say good things about and defend Square, because their service worked for us for the few times we used it. Unfortunately that’s where our support of them as a company ends, as all other experiences with their employees have not been good AT ALL.
415-375-3176
Square vs GoPayment
Getting Paid
Very often small business owners need to get paid from clients. Many times these clients forget to send the check… then forget to send the check, then think they sent the check, then try to send the check, then never send the check… then finally write you a check when you show up at their office after you overdrew your account and have to pay $333 in overdraft fees because some automatic payments to Dropbox, Netflix, Hulu and Evernote came out of your account along with the gas and snacks you bought the other day.
Well, how do you get paid then? Checks might never get to you, checks might bounce… and checks have no fees! PayPal is instant, PayPal has small fees… but some people don’t like Paypal. And any other merchant services, gateway terminal or credit card processor has some crazy monthly fee and/or some setup and rental and other stupid fees… so what is your best option?
How we take money
Here is a general breakdown of how we take money from clients… well.. better said… how we accept payment for our hard work.
Cash – If you pay cash, SWEET! We will take any amount. Cash is KING.
Check – Anything over $1000 I usually prefer a check, fees get too expensive for my taste when someone pays more than $1000 on a Credit Card. But when they book, I’ll likely ask the client to pay the deposit or retainer with something listed below.
PayPal – Anything under $1000, jobs for a few hundred dollars or even just retainers and deposits on bigger jobs are usually done with PayPal. I get the money right away, know it is good and can even get access to it with my PayPal Debit Mastercard.
Google Checkout – If someone does not like PayPal and I’m not going to be physically next to them… this is the next best option. Unlike PayPal, I won’t get the money for 3-5 days… but once I charge it I know it will be there.
Credit Card – Anyone that does not like PayPal or Google Checkout or does not want to pay with a check… or someone that has not paid for some reason or another… well… I’ll suck it up and just take the hit on the fees just to get paid. I’ve used various methods before and just a few months ago I got Square… That changed the way I look at taking credit cards.
Square
Square is a tiny divice that works with your iPhone and iPad to swipe and charge credit cards and debit cards. It is beautiful. The website is beautiful. People look at it when you whip it out in amazement and awe. I love it.
The receipts are gorgeous and the geo integration is perfect.
Square’s card processing fees are:
Ideal for less than $1,000 per week (but you can do as much as you want)
Monthly Service – $0 /month
Swipe Rate – 2.75%
Keyed Rate – 3.5%
Transaction Fee – $0.15
Square card reader – Free (Free replacement card readers too)
Monthly Minimum – None
Activation – None
Gateway – None
Early termination – None
Setup Fee – None
I was all happy with Square and then GoPayment just came out with a free option… so Square vs GoPayment? What will be better GoPayment or Square? Square vs GoPayment??? I listed below the comparison between Square vs GoPayment.
GoPayment
Something new to me is this GoPayment thing. I just ordered mine so I have no real life experience with it yet… but it looks great. Right now you can get the unit for free (not sure how long that will last) and it seems like a great solution. I really don’t expect Intuit to have a website as awesome and beautiful as Square, but I’m sure it will get the job done. The unit does not look as cool as the Square, but again I’m sure it will get the job done.
All in all I think it is a great option to look at if you are taking less than $1000 per month.
Intuit GoPayment Low-Volume Plan
For businesses processing less than $1,000 per month
Monthly Service – $0 /month
Swipe Rate – 2.7%
Keyed Rate – 3.7%
Transaction Fee – $0.153
Intuit Credit Card Reader – Free for limited time ($179.95 normally)
Monthly Minimum – None
Activation – None
Gateway – None
Early termination – None
Setup Fee – None
Which should you choose?
I really like the way we do things here… I’m going to try out the GoPayment system and see if it is a good fit, but likely I’ll just be sticking with Square. What are your opinions between Square vs GoPayment?
UPDATE
Jan 12, 2011 – I just got the account approved for the GoPayment account but unfortunately in the email they sent they did not provide the information they promised:
Once approved, you will be provided information in your approval email on how to redeem your card reader.
That was in the fine print on the website where I signed up. So I am on a live chat session with their support and they just told me it will automatically be sent to me… Hang on for updates… I’ll let you know how it goes.
Well, the chat went on.. here is the entire transcript:
Please wait for an Intuit Payments Solutions Chat Agent to respond. Your wait time will be approximately 0 minute(s) and 2 second(s).
All of our Intuit Payment Solutions Chat Agents are currently assisting others. Thanks for your patience. The estimated wait time is ‘0’.
Welcome to Intuit Payment Solutions. Your chat session is now live.
Ashley: Hello, thank you for chatting with us today. How may I help you?
Ashley: We have not heard from you. Do you wish to continue the chat?
Ashley: We are ending this chat session since we have not heard from you. If you have additional questions, please feel free to chat with us or call us at 1-866-492-3611.
Lan Bui: Hello, I just received my approval email for my account… the pricing page where it says I’ll get a free reader says in that email it will tell me how to redeem my free card reader… it did not.
Lan Bui: Once approved, you will be provided information in your approval email on how to redeem your card reader.
Lan Bui: That is what the website said.
Ashley: It will automatically be sent out to you after you application is approved.
Lan Bui: I’m confused…
Lan Bui: So there is no need to reddem the reader?
Ashley: Which merchant service did you sign up for?
Lan Bui: GoPayment.
Ashley: Which phone are you using with GoPayment?
Lan Bui: iphone 4
Ashley: Okay, sorry about that.
Lan Bui: So I will get the reader automatically?
Ashley: When you get the e-mail you will fill out a form and they will send you the free card reader.
Lan Bui: I received the email and there was no form.
Ashley: You will receive another e-mail after you application is approved, that e-mail will contain the form that you will need to gill out?
Lan Bui: The email I received was the application approval email.
Lan Bui: The account is approved and open.
Lan Bui: I can forward you the apporval email if you want.
Ashley: Unfortunately, we can send or receive e-mails.
Ashley: Give me just one moment to do some research for you.
Lan Bui: ok
Ashley: Thanks.
Ashley: What day did you apply for the service?
Lan Bui: Three days ago.
Ashley: And you have received the approval e-mail and the activation e-mail?
Lan Bui: yes
Ashley: Okay, you since your account is active you will need to speak with Customer Service 1-800-558-9558.
Lan Bui: Seriously??? That was the first thing I told you… I said “I just received my approval email for my account… the pricing page where it says I’ll get a free reader says in that email it will tell me how to redeem my free card reader… it did not.”
Lan Bui: Why did you not tell me to contact customer service then?
Ashley: This is a brand new promotion (started this week) and we have not been informed of all of the specifics.
Lan Bui: I’m even more confused… I was on the website and a LIVE help thing came up offering help on the page with the promotion… was I safe to assume that LIVE help would be able to help me?
Ashley: In this particular department we sell merchant services. For technical help and ordering card readers you have to contact customer service.
Lan Bui: Thanks for your time… I’m blogging about this and would like to give you the link so you can share it with your superiors. http://thebuibrothers.com/blog/2011/01/square-vs-gopayment-squareup-com-vs-gopayment-com/
415-375-3176
UPDATE 9-21-11: We have gotten MANY phone calls on our cell phones from customers needing support for their Square service. People somehow don’t realize that we are NOT Square, and they are truly desperate to contact them, so it seems they will call any number they think MIGHT get them to Square. Square stopped responding to my emails about this and about this post months ago. I hadn’t emailed them much, only a few times, trying to get some kind of official response or phone number from them… to no avail.
I called the number above, it was posted here by one of the commenters, and it is the general office number for Square. They said it would be in my best interest if I just took this blog post down and that they would not be making any official response on here. They also threatened to report you to their compliance department. Then they rudely told me not post this number AS their support number… so I’m not. If you are looking to call the offices of Square call 415-375-3176, it is NOT THEIR SUPPORT NUMBER, but when you call it does say to just hold for support.
Anyone can see below in the post AND in the comments that we have done nothing but say good things about and defend Square, because their service worked for us for the few times we used it. Unfortunately that’s where our support of them as a company ends, as all other experiences with their employees have not been good AT ALL.
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