Good point of sale software?

[Zr240]

Hi all

I have rcently purchased a small business (car spare parts) and need to updae the sales process to a computer system

We curently use carbon copy for out reciets and invoicing which can be quite slow. I would also like to have inventory on this sytem.

I have looked at myob and quickbooks POS but dont really like them (i like quickbooks but i want a stand alone system seperate to my accounting software)

If anyone could give advice on some to look at and what they use?

Thanks
Ashley

[v2Media]

Unfortunately the POS solutions that the clients I look after use, is the bane of their existence (MYOB and a few obscure ones). The all have one thing in common though; you'll need a bank loan to buy a license. One client, who runs 2 fashion shops, paid $20 000 for their POS software and required hardware.

What's your budget?

[Zr240]

My budget is only 2k so maybe myob and co are the only ones i can afford

Ash

[ITAdvocate]

I agree with v2 Media, the POS systems I have seen are very expensive. Not only are they costly, some can be very difficult to use. And their use has to be 100% explicit. You can't half use one, either you go all in or nothing.
I've known a business manager to deploy very expensive POS/Accounting software, only to have the warehouse staff make it a complete waste of money. If you don't scan every single item into and out of the system, it quickly renders itself useless as none of the numbers can be trusted.

I'm not sure your 2K budget will cut it. By the time you purchase barcode printers, scanners, a good server to run it on, set up backups PLUS the training & setup component, you will be way over the 2k.

[v2Media]

2K would only cover the software. POS systems usually need a computer, bcode scanner docket printer and eftpos machine as well.

MYOB POS doesn't support much hardware; about 20 docket printers and 4-5 eftpos machines. I've wrangled with MYOB tech support for over 6 hours trying to get it to use a USB barcode scanner. Tech support advised sourcing an old serial/parallel model!

Unfortunately, being a support technician, I only get involved with systems that fail, not ones that work well. MYOB have been good for the IT support industry; it's very problematic.

[Zr240]

Sorry forgot to mention i got a barcode scanner and printer and pc to run it already (got it for free with my accounting package)

Will check and see if they work with the myob demo. I got them working with quickbooks pos so will see.

There has to be somthing out there alll the little shops are using? Or do they just all have a cash reg? Or carbon copy pads like me?

Ash

[v2Media]

I seriously doubt most single shop owners have POS systems with inventory tracking. In my neighbourhood, most (non-franchise) shops don't do eftpos.

You have to understand that there's no such thing as a 'little' POS system. These systems take 10's of 1000's of hours to develop and require a lot of resources to keep up to date and to support end users.

There are some free POS and very cheap systems with inventory tracking such as PHP POS and it's open-source sibling as sourceforge. However if you want to keep it cheap, use the hosted solution and test your hardware at the demo store. The download version would require you to hire a php developer

$99 download and DIY install: http://www.phppointofsale.com/buy.php
GPL/Opensource (you're 100% on your own): http://sourceforge.net/projects/phppointofsale/

I haven't used this system, but I have developed software for some of the hardware supported by PHP POS.

[ITAdvocate]

Check this out: http://www.microtrade.com.au/product...ail-Basic.html

POS Hardware Pack with MYOB Retail Basic Version 3.0 (latest version) $724



This package includes:

MPOS410A heavy duty printer driven cash drawer
MPOS TP220I thermal USB/serial receipt printer
MPOS Z3010 USB CCD barcode scanner and
it is supplied with MYOB Retail Basic Ver 3.0 (latest version).

[Dardee]

Take a look at www.vendhq.com. It is a cloud POS system. Easy to use and heaps cheaper than all the others.

[v2Media]

Dardee, those prices are per month, making it the most expensive suggestion in this thread.