POS Systems

[INRI]

Hello All,

I've been on a POS search for the last three weeks ever since my Casio got water dumped on it, and now it is time to upgrade, so I hope you can help me, as this POS subculture is a very difficult one at times. I own a tea house in Canada and want to move to a computer POS system. We are still a young company so money is a big aspect of this all.

I'll describe the operation of the tea house; we sell tea in house, large or small pots, we also sell some snacks and deserts and lastly we sell some retail items. So it would be similar to a Second Cup or Starbucks. Currently we have one location but are getting ready to open our second location as well around summer time. I would like to run a VPN server between the two locations so only one central server is to be used. I am looking initially to build my own tills ELO touch LCD, basic small factor PC and such, to keep the cost around $1000CND per till. So now I'm having trouble with the software, as most POS companies have really poor websites and information. I'm not looking for a turn key solution, as I can't afford to do that, so I would like to do as much as possible myself, programming the menu and setting it up, so it has to be end user serviceable. (I also run a engineering company during the day and have years of high end computer experience, run a number of website and so on, so I'm not some shmuck who doesn't know what he is doing with computers)

Squirrel: PRO: SQL database, CON: very poor user interface, the demo I received to play with didn't work properly, just not very happy with it at all

Aloha: PRO: SQL database CON: poor website, no demo to try, poor sales channels (I'm in Calgary and there is one company here that I've been waiting to talk to 1.5 weeks)

Plexis POS: PRO: easy to setup CON: Access db, seemed expensive for what you get.

Maitre'd: PRO: Looks good, easy to setup and use CON: proprietary database, need to store your database on their server for multi-store application (I could be wrong)

Tina POS: PRO: Open source and free, SQL database CON: can't change the front end design and not mature over all

Micros: PRO: ummmmmmm none? CON: Proprietary, condescending sales rep.

AccuPOS: PRO: ? CON: Cost, Access database.


So far from what I have learned and played with I'm leaning to Aloha (I have a meeting Thursday to go over the features) or I'm thinking Maitre'd because it did seem to be very easy to use over all. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I feel like I'm spinning my wheels.

Thanks A Lot!

Henry

Oolong Tea House

 

[markphsd]

Try out ours at cafecartel.com it includes the Canadian Tax system. It's low cost and has been working in many cafe's and restaurants. It's easy to setup.

The architecture is smartly built on Access. It doesn't slow down over time with large recordsets. It has been designed so that the problems with corruption of the database are pretty much non-existent. We use several databases so that it's almost impossible to damage them even with power outages and broken networks.

There is very little need for service with the software, and we dial in with logmein for service needs. For reliability we always use new computers, you can see them on our website.

VPN solutions wouldn't be an option right now, but there is a tool to combine sales of different locations. You can also distribute the menu database easily to different sites.

Mark P.

http://www.cafecartel.com

Providing Low Cost Powerful Point of Sale Solutions.

 

[INRI]

Honestly, using a Access DB for mission critical applications, especially multi store database scares the crap out of me. You say VPN is not an option, so that seems to eliminate your software.

 

[DTSMAN]

INRI,

Why such a strong interest in an SQL based system?

What benefit are you looking for?

I work with a coffe house chain with 6 stores, and a fine dinning restaurant chain with 30 plus stores, and neither use the Aloha SQL database.



Bo

Kentucky phone support-
"Mash the Kentrol key and hit scape."

 

[Shift4SMS]

Henry,

I agree with your con's of MICROS but there is at least one pro for you or any merchant in Canada: Canadian PIN debit support. If you are a counter pay environment, I would think this is a must for any system you select.

Steve Sommers
Shift4 Corporation --

http://www.shift4.com

Creators of $$$ ON THE NET(tm) payment processing services

 

[INRI]

Bospruell,

I've been working with databses for some time, and using a SQL gives me a good feeling because the large number of tools available to me. As well, I will be wanting to display stock levels online in my admin section of my e-com site from each store, and grabbing information out of a SQL db is very easy... so that's the main reason I guess. What software do you use at your stores?

 

[INRI]

OK time to add more:

PLEXIS POS: PRO: Well priced, pretty easy to setup CONS: designed for a 800x600 screen, so the software will not take advantage of a 15" screen at 1024x768. only a 5x5 button matrix, which can ONLY be products and not other catagories (so eachs creen can have 25 buttons, but on a 15" screen you could fit over 49). Cannot edit any of the other buttons on the till screen, ex you always ahve a PACK/CARTON button and yuo can't change it to something useful. Reporting is very poor and not realistic to use a touch screen as it's too small text/buttons. Tech support was rather terse and non-helpful.

SelbySoft: PRO? CONS: very poor website with no real information or demo


UPDATE:

ALOHA:

I got a demo from their local sales rep... it took him 45min of messing with the software to get it running, as it was continuesly crashing on load. After that the screens did not work properly and he could not show me how to add a catagory to the main screen. Still no demo copy to try and had to plead with him to get a manual so I could read it. I really do not feel like paying $825CND no faith that the software fill work...

 

[markphsd]

Most of the applications will meet your needs, but you might have to rethink what your actual needs are. The specifics of technology are sometimes a difficult trapping to overecome, especially when you know a lot.

I agree that connectivty between stores and overall awareness of your chain is important. However I would suggest looking at each system for what it is, and trying to communicate with the service/sales rep for each kind of system. Service quickly becomes almost a # 1 issue if there's any problem with the software.

For example: Aloha wasn't designed to be a user friendly system to setup, but if you have a good service rep it's argueably the best choice. It sounds like you don't have a good service rep. But Aloha will have all the features you need, and if not there are a lot of additional modules. You metioned Starbucks, hey they use Radiant...

If reporting is sparse on the applications, such as inventory, then it makes sense to have access to something like a SQL database. But then you have to learn how the database works. Also if you'd like connect it to another application, it makes sense, but the same issue. But see what they offer in the way of additional modules and support. They may be costly, but you don't have to buy everything at once.

Also, the company should look like it's trying to grow with technology, and generally improve itself. As soon as prices came down on the 15" screens, we turned over to a 1024 X 768 resolution. I can't imagine a 800 X 600 resolution; but hey, I've seen a lot of great restaurants use them efficiently.

Also, just so if anyone reads this, in response to the Access DB statement. We have quite a few customers, and have never had a db corruption. There's been all of the problems most people consider are related to corrupt dbs, power outages, disconected networks... but never a problem. NextPOS, and some of the other POS applications you mentioned also use Access. It's not the fastest product, and you wouldn't use it to pass all sales info in a vpn, but it does work efficiently if designed properly.

As far as building equipment, I find that the warranties, excellent service offered by most manufactures, the stability, and the drop in price in computers and touch screens would warrant a reconsideration from that. We charge about 20 % markup on our hardware, so average our cost is about 1200 to 1500 per till, include cash drawer and credit card processor. For uptime buying a pre-built system with a warranty and service agreement is probably the most important investment; and problems with hardware go well beyond problems with software. Hence your Casio going down.



Mark P.

http://www.cafecartel.com

Providing Low Cost Powerful Point of Sale Solutions.

 

[AkamaiAloha]

Henry,

Not trying to be a smart a$$ here--but sometimes knowing to much can be bad thing. As I think Mark was saying, you might want to reconsider at least a few of the things your asking for, and decide if you really need them--no one system is going to have everything you need, and some do things better than others.


When buying a new car, it's a great idea look at all the options available within your budget that could potentially fufill your needs. But looking at which engines are the easiest to take apart, etc, just seems like a recipe to drive yourself crazy, with what is already inherently complicated situation.

Obviously, it's up to you to decide how much work you want to spend doing the grunt work of the POS yourself. To me, it's just not worth it. Back to the car analogy-- years ago, I used to replace my own alternators and brake shoes. Now, I'd rather concentrate on building my business... I know I could do it cheaper than what a mechanic is going to charge me, but it will cost me my Saturday

I agree with Mark--buy on service, and let the people do what they do best. In time, you'll pick things up, and will eventually be able to do it yourself with the experience you have, learning gradually, instead of having to learn it all upfront.


Just my two cents.

 

[DTSMAN]

You will probably leave your sales rep for Aloha in the dark if you start talking data base manipulation. Aloha's basic version runs on flat files and is easily imported from muliple stores into spread sheets. Setting it up for SQL doesn't cost anymore, but it is reccommened by most deales that an end user utilizing this have an IT person to maintain it. If that is you, go for it. Have fun. But as the previous two post mentioned, is that you may end up over complicating this.

Bo

Kentucky phone support-
"Mash the Kentrol key and hit scape."

 

[Keyservicesmw]

My company repairs POS equipment and I want to communicate my services to others, is this a good source ??

 

[Shift4SMS]

RE: ...is this a good source?

Yes and no. Yes it is a good source -- No your methods are wrong.

Many would consider your posting SPAM because you were off topic and self promoting. A rule of thumb is only post if you have info specifically addressing the topic and do your best to not promote yourself in your message. Instead, rely on your signature for the self promotion. If you answer with valuable info and come across as someone who knows what they are talking about, the signature will be enough.

Hope that helps. Sorry all for the off topic posting...

 

[jbarn02]

Hey guys I just wanted to let you know. I called KeyservicesMW and they were a very polite and professional company, but you were right there should be a way for vendors to post their links on here also.

 

[Keyservicesmw]

Appreciate the feedback guys and I totally understand..I will keep on topic..thanks for the feedback..