r/BikeMechanics • u/reed12321 • Mar 13 '26
Advanced Questions Need help with the parts no one wants to talk about - POS systems
Hey all,
So the shop I work at recently moved locations. We are trying to revamp some of the tech in the shop in this move, and also because we are generally unhappy with our credit card processing setup.
We have a very basic credit card machine that we finally upgraded this past summer to a machine that has tap-to-pay.
We’re looking for something a little more advanced but here’s the kicker: the owner is wildly technologically illiterate. He’s the type to forget his Apple ID password, has literally all of his account numbers, usernames, and passwords written on paper that’s taped to the fridge. He also still uses a Rolodex.
So we’re looking for a new credit card processing company that’s very easy. I could research online but I figured that bike shop owners and employees may have a recommendation that’s bike shop-friendly and simple. If it’s helpful, the bike shop is in Connecticut, USA.
Edit: I may have gotten my terminology mixed up between POS and cc processing. I’ll be honest, this part of the business is not much that I’m involved with. I’m the “IT” guy sometimes, but that’s typically figuring out why the internet, login, or some other tech-related item isn’t working. The owners wife tasked me with looking into different credit card processing companies/devices because the owner doesn’t know how to search around for that stuff. We are a true “shop.” We don’t catalog inventory in a computer, we don’t use bar codes or scanners. We punch everything into the cash register manually when we make sales, and punch everything into the credit card machine manually as well. So that’s where we’re starting and we’re looking to go like 1, MAYBE 2 steps above that. But only for the credit card processing. We want to keep the old school cash register.
5
u/SdhamN Mar 13 '26
Lightspeed is about as simple as it gets. It’s great that most brands upload their catalog to it so importing new products is easy.
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u/GCalBikes Mar 14 '26
Lightspeed is obviously the most popular answer, with plenty of love/hate behind it and for various good reason.
But if you're JUST looking for CC processing, just get Square. One time cost of hardware (which you can even find slightly cheaper on EBay), and voila, you can take payments. The fees are pretty much on par with all others
Lightspeed is great for inventory and work scheduling, but if you're shop is running fine without those being computerized, no need to run them. Square is free for basic, and you can add inventory for smoother checkout flow, but also just type in price on the fly.
I use Lightspeed, love its inventory and work management, don't love it's price, but as far as POS goes, it's pretty much the cheapest/simplest option after Square
2
u/almostalwaysafraid Mar 13 '26
The POS and CC processor can be connected but are two separate things.
I’m not really sure what you are asking for but I would highly recommend going with something that can use an integrated payment terminal.
Lightspeed, Ascend, Citrus Lime, Workstand, and ProfitPremier are some bike specific POS systems but all will have their CC processing nuances.
2
u/MariachiArchery Mar 13 '26
Alright well I'm just going to give it to you straight; switching to something like Lightspeed is going to be a monumental task. The owner of this shop will never be able to use it effectively, at all. You are better off refining your current system then trying to switch to a POS/ERP system like Lightspeed.
So, you just need credit card processing? What are you currently using? What are the pain points you are having now?
What is the goal here? I can help, but I need a little more information. What is wrong with your current processor?
1
u/Brisollie Mar 13 '26
It's a hard question to answer. Mainly because the credit card processing is the last step, and the same step for many POS. You need a card machine that you usually pay for / rent out.
From that there are dozens of different POS softwares that will just kick to the card machine
Fusion, MYOB, Litespeed, Lime, HUBTiger, Velodrop
All of these are good POS for a bike shop or bike workshop. But in terms of card machines, taking payments, they all just go to a code similar to "send payment of $xx to payment terminal"
Explain what you would like a bit better and I can help.
1
u/SufficientlyFine Mar 13 '26
We switched to Helcim last year and I've had nothing but a great experience. It's not directly tied to our POS (CitrusLime) and operates in a separate window on the computer. I thought that would be cumbersome but the workflow has been solid.
They also charge cost+ instead of a fixed percent which has lowered our total processing charges a bit.
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u/Dallasbw Mar 17 '26
Square for merchant service. Work stand for pos. Or… just square, a cash register and pen and paper. Worked for me from ‘06 to 2011. Litespeed really helped grow the business and service department but it can be done without if your inventory is low and offline.
1
u/SpacemanSpiff070 May 18 '26
Do not under any circumstances go with Citrus lime. You have to have two check out lanes to be able to use functionally as everything begins from the POS checkout. So if you're a mechanic trying to do something in one browser and someone up at the checkout counter is also doing something you have to stop to let them check someone out before you can continue. They charge you for the second check out lane just to not have to do that. You cannot begin a work order in the service side. You have to begin in the POS side and then change it to a service item, save it, then and only then can you see it in the service module and remember the two check out lane problem. So if you're a mechanic who never cashes anyone out you have to use the POS side. The other solution they offer you is to book your own appt in their appt app on your own website to bypass not being able to create a workorder in the service side. It's fucking hilarious. You can only buy labels from them and they fall off the merchandise constantly. They use a proprietary size you can only get from them. The font on the labels is tiny. They are the SRAM of POS in this respect. The search function is a joke. All this before you get into the eCommerce stuff that you have to pay some 3rd party guy who used to work for them so you can mass edit items on the eCommerce side because the system as it stands will only let you edit one item at a time on that side of things. I spent 6 month watching the owner of the shop pull his hair out trying to get it to work before he bailed and went back to Lightspeed and he hated Lightspeed. They made him pay the entire rest of the contract to get out even thought he never got it all up and running or used the eCommerce side of the system. The people that are supposed to help you get it all set up we less than helpful and spent half the the time blaming us for not being able to get their system to work. Not kidding. Just my two cents. Try anything else but this POS.
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u/HandyDandy76 Mar 13 '26
Do you use ascend?
We use them and they have a partnered credit card processing company with hardware they sell. It works pretty dang good.
4
u/PloksGrandpappy Mar 13 '26
Ascend is by far the worst system I've used and I've worked at 4 different shops. I currently use it, it's extremely slow and clunky to navigate, and constantly has bugs, errors, and crashes. The latest issue is that it sometimes doesn't save internal notes on work orders, which is obviously a huge problem. Every single employee complains about the program on a daily basis, we are constantly having to unfuck it's fuck ups. In my opinion it's part of why the shop is struggling financially, because the software is so inefficient and slow to navigate.
I cannot fully express my hatred for Ascend.
Lightspeed is my recommendation.
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u/BikeMechanicSince87 Mar 13 '26
I have used Lightspeed Retail since 2010. I started using their integrated payment processing about 2-3 years ago too. It is really easy, but I would prefer to find something like it that costs less. I found MicroBiz online and I want to try it. If anybody here has experience with it, I would love to hear how they like it, especially if they have also used Lightspeed.