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Education

StreetSmarts SM

Steve Feldshuh

“Talk To Steve”

Better POS system options for MLSs

By Steven Feldshuh salespeople (MLSs) I work with are already selling two
Merchants' Choice Payment Solutions East of these systems, and the third is expected to become
available shortly. I am reporting on these solutions based
or those of you who may not be technically on feedback from our sales offices and individuals out in
gifted regarding programming, installing and the field.
training on POS systems, the solutions appear Clover by First Data
F to have arrived. Many ISOs have tended not
to engage in full-fledged POS systems unless they have First Data Corp.'s Clover POS system is extremely
developed relationships with various software vendors. attractive, comes with numerous applications, and has
But they have been largely at the mercy of those software both mobile and mini versions – all good things. But
dealers. the system also comes with expensive setup costs and a
sizable monthly service fee.
Most such dealers have been inclined to include their ISO
partners' processing in their deals, but the tide has been Also, the fact that First Data operates the Clover program
changing: they are now offering little or no money on the is a problem. Like First Data terminals, Clover systems
sale, and they are looking for a cut in the diminishing only work on the First Data platform. For my sales group,
residuals. this is limiting. Additionally, according to First Data, if
a merchant buys a merchant location that is already
If you have strong relationships with software dealers, set up with the Clover system, the system cannot be
they will continue to work with you. But if your deal is a reprogrammed. This renders it useless. To me, this is a
one-off, the dealer might move the account to a processor huge mistake, but who am I to criticize First Data?
with which it has an ongoing relationship, leaving you
out of the mix. This is a real phenomenon; I have seen it My team has had mixed results with customer service
happen. So, short of working for a software company that issues, as well. Training is mostly a YouTube endeavor,
has transformed into a POS dealer, the options have been and for some merchants, the software isn't as intuitive as
limiting at best. they would like. Nevertheless, we are selling the system,
Good news has arrived and we are advising our group to be sure to inform their
clients that the system must remain on the First Data
The good news is that new POS solutions for ISOs have platform, and if they are planning to change ownership,
been coming, and coming fast. If you have attended any First Data does not currently permit reprogramming.
recent regional acquirers meetings, you have likely seen Poynt by Poynt Co.
several of these systems.
Poynt Co.'s Poynt Smart Terminal is an excellent choice for
The best news is that they are getting better and easier MLSs to cut their teeth on. The Poynt system isn't much
to use, and it appears that the companies producing bigger than a countertop system and is very easy to use.
these systems are listening. Since space is limited for this Poynt has combined hardware, software and third-party
article, let me give a review of three of the most popular applications in an attractive, functional package. The
units, all of which are Android-based. Merchant level price on the Poynt system currently falls under $400, so
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