Cheap Cash Drawer
Know Your POS Systems, Hardware and Software Befor Buying
The basic POS systems you may see on a typical retail establishment consists of a cash register (with or without a built in cash drawer), monitor, receipt printers, and an input device. It can also be a touch screen monitors, programmable keyboards, or scanners and handheld devices for inputting data into the POS system.
Touch Screens: Many restaurants find touch screen monitors as more intuitive to use than keyboards, as it can reduce mistypes and can easily cancel orders within a second, and because it provides flexible user interfaces and programming. Touch screens also uses less electricity and much easier to position on the counter table, but they are more prone to breakdowns.
Handheld devices: Restaurant POS equipment like PDAs, which are commonly wireless devices that transmits data back to its base station and into the POS system. You can use the newer version, which is the write-on handhelds that allows you to write detail such as the orders and sends them directly to the kitchen! These types of handheld devices are perfect for your staff who interacts with your customers, when up-selling desserts and drinks roaming around table per table.
POS keyboards: Most grocery stores prefer to use this type of POS systems, since they can program individual keys for specific item codes and prices. The standard POS keyboard is a 101-key, like what you will find with any computer. Others are small and flat, which we commonly see in fast food chains. POS keyboards often has a built-in magnetic stripe readers for processing credit cards.
Scanners: A very useful piece of electronic device that reads bar codes, convert it and inputs its details to a POS system computer. Generally, it fastens a sales transaction as well as accurately inputs product or service payment of a customer. POS scanners connects through Y-connectors called wedges that make them function as an extension of the keyboard.
Volume of customers: When it comes to serving different volumes of customers, using this restaruant hardware could be very useful. If your counter line holds several customers, your staff can easily use a CCD scanner or entry-level laser scanner. If the line is loaded with customers, then an autosensing laser scanners would be better. This type of scanner turns on when an item is placed in front of it, scans its code, and then turn off again. But if the counter line is overflowing with customers, you could sure use the help of an omnidirectional scanner, where it can scan a bar code from any angle with its 15 or 20 lasers simultaneously!
Additional POS hardware to consider
Cash drawers: Where you store cash, credit card slips, gift certificates, and other imporatant things. When looking to buy for a POS cash register, look for sturdy construction of at least 18-gauge steel. And since the usable life of a cash drawer is measured, make sure you can replace rollers, bearings, and other parts, because most cash drawers opens when a signal is released from the receipt printer.
POS printers: An addition to your restaurant POS system is a receipt printer, every retail business needs one to complete a sales transaction. A POS printer is needed in order to print a receipt and create credit card slips. There are two types of POS printers, the dot matrix printer and the thermal printer. The dot matrix printer uses ribbons and regular paper to print. On the other hand, Thermal printers are slighly expensive than the dot matrix printers because they are more realiable, they have less moving parts, faster and quieter when printing.
Customer displays: Also called the pole display. This restaurant hardware lets your customer view their item and its price, and sometimes used to support advertising. When buying a customer display, make sure that you check for the right height and width, which will perfectly fit your counter table, and its compatibility with your POS software.
Check readers: If you don't have one, I suggest getting one now. This device helps you be preventing check fraud by verifying essential account information, saving you tons of profit.
Magnetic stripe readers: This piece of hardware is used to read credit cards. You can also purchase keyboards and touch screens has a built-in magnetic strip readers for convenience.
Fingerprint readers: If you want to limit which POS terminal can a staff use, then this type of restaurant hardware can be handy. You can also use this for employee logins thus preventing any of your employees from logging in inplace of somebody.
Always rememeber when purchasing a restaurant POS system, hardawre or software, you have to make sure that you review their details first. It doesn't matter how expensive or cheap a POS equipment is, consider the environment where you're going to use it. Regular cleaning keeps your keyboards and touch screens in top shape, vacuuming dust and lubing your receipt printer can extend its life and maintaining an over all clean workstation can help protect your POS terminal from dust and spills. You can always request for a FREE POS system quote online where local suppliers will provide you competitive price lists on any type of POS terminal your business needs.
About the Author
With over 20 years of experience in restaurant point of sale the author of this article is the Customer Relations Vice-President at POS-for-Restaurants.com -- where the experts help you use your Restaurant POS technology to help you make your restaurant more efficient and more profitable.
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MMF Industries 225106001 Model 1060 Touch-Button Large Steel Cash Drawer (Gray) $81.05 The MMF Industries 225106001 Model 1060 Touch-Button Large Steel Cash Drawer automatically springs open when the release button is pushed (the key must be in unlocked position). An alarm bell sounds each time drawer is opened. (The alarm can be easily deactivated if desired). Included mounting brackets enable you to mount under counter. The included tough, high-impact plastic removable cash tray h... |
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MMF Industries 217701292 Echelont Premier Steel Security Case, Silver, Key/Lock ( Includes 2 Keys) $39.95 Durable steel construction. Coin containment feature prevents coins from mixing during transport. Check slot for easy placement of checks and receipts. Latch mechanism secures lid when case is not locked. Contemporary design engineered for safe storage of currency and valuable items. Removable standard cash tray with five coin and one currency compartment. Divider in bottom storage compartment to ... |
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MMF Industries 217700492 Echelont Slim Steel Security Case, Silver, Key Lock (2 Keys Included) $26.50 Durable steel construction. Coin containment feature prevents coins from mixing during transport. Check slot for easy placement of checks and receipts. Latch mechanism secures lid when case is not locked. Slim design offers safe storage of currency and valuable items. Ideal for transport and storage. Removable standard cash tray with five coin and one currency compartment. Storage under lid with f... |
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 POS Cash Drawer with Phone Cable CHEAP US $16.99 |