What's your Point of Sale Preference?

[theRKF]

Some recent discussions with florists have raised some questions in my mind regarding florist POS systems. I'd like to get your input as the florists and end-users.

Are you happy with the current POS offerings on the market? Do we need new systems, newer features on the existing systems, or is the biggest priority interoperability between the existing systems?

 

[Missy]

I have only operated two POS systems, Daisy and Mercury. I would be curious to operate one that was not developed by a wire service. The FTD system is good, but the cost factor I think makes it out of reach for some people. Everyone can benefit from using a POS system, especially one man operations!
From the two I have used I think the marketing area is where the weaknesses lie. Templates and such.

 

[steve]

We been with one form or another of Advantage/ mercury for 11 years. The system bascily runs pretty well and there is no doubt that we are more effecient due to point of sale. But with wire orders declining so rapidly I doubt that when our contract is up in 2.5 years that we will continue with FTD system or any wire service system. We certainly will go with an independant and I will am not willing to pay the kind of money I have paid in the pass as I believe the system was and is over priced.

 

[RWK]

Going solely by personal experience......the only floral POS I have used is Floral Accounting Systems ( FAS ). I can say this about it......It made my job as a designer easier and more profitable.

I voted for communication between the systems.

There is one feature that I would love to see on a POS. A number of years ago FTD had a stand-alone program out on the market that printed out custom recipes based on what flowers you wanted used in a design. ( For the sake of illustration.....You have a 50.00 easel spray and you want to use white gladiola, yellow daisy, Emerald, Leatherleaf, and White #40 satin. )

You already had entered the wholecost of your inventory into the system. You put in the retail price and the materials you wanted to use.........and it would calculate the labor, amount of materials, and cost out of that spray........INDEPENDENT OF A PRE-PROGRAMED WIRE SPECIAL .

I would love a feature like that.......

 

[BOSS]

or is the biggest priority interoperability between the existing systems?

YES, yes ans YESSSSS~

Interoperatibility across platforms would make the wire services obsolete... more than they already are....

 

[Eric S]

We are still using our Eagle system and I'm happy with it.

But now it seems that Eagle is trying to offer more add on perks at an additional cost.

I think they have taken the PCI compliant issue too far and making us purchase XP professional in order to upgrade to the next versions. I'm fine with doing this however with the newer operating systems that have already come out it was not an option to use vista or windows 7. So now I will be faced with the same problem down the road once again.

They have made us use mcafee total protection and even though I was already running it for the last 2 years I was still forced into letting them provide it and maintain it at an additional charge.

I am under the unsumption that when we pay for monthly support that this money used for the next versions of the system. However when you have to pay additional monthly charges for email and now with a computer access portal which allows us to access our system from home the cost of having the POS is no longer cost effective.


It dosen't matter that the system is secure and bugs are fixed what matters is the increase cost of running these systems. Some of you may remember back in the day when you had a cash register and didn't have to worry about anything else.

Now we have expensive systems that can cost up to $20,000 and take up to 5 years to pay for. A monthly POS support cost that adds an additional $4,000 to $5,000 a year and credit card processing that take up to 3% of an order to give you the priveldge of reciving your funds from a credit card. Not to mention the fact that it takes 3 days to recive this money.

My sytems has cost our business over $65,000 in the last 7 years and that is just too much money to throw away into a system that continues to cosume more and more money.

 

[sandytf]

Since we are in a supermarket setting, our POS system is the one we use for the store...I believe it's NCR. It isn't meant for florists, it's meant for grocery stores. I don't see us getting off that system as the whole store is tied together. I hope we are able to get our system to "talk" to our website.

 

[BOSS]

They have made us use mcafee total protection and even though I was already running it for the last 2 years I was still forced into letting them provide it and maintain it at an additional charge.

Seems fair.... huh

 

[pdxdoug]

I'm probably one of the few florists that run a non-ws POS system. In the mid-90's when we were looking at POS systems, my priorities at the time were:

1. Non Wire Service - I did not want to depend on a continuing relationship with a WS to keep my POS current
2. Standardized Hardware/Software - I wanted POS software that would run on anything: Linux/Novell/Windows. I wanted off the shelf hardware, networking products and peripherals that could be purchased locally.
3. Inventory Control/Purchasing & Receiving/Barcode Support - We had just re-invented ourselves, adding gifts, personal care, apparel and such so we had probably 5000 SKU's to content with (we have close to 10000 now).
4. Loyalty Program
5. Kits

At that time we were already wired for ethernet and running a mixed Novell/WinNT network so I couldn't see buying anything the WS offered. Our choice was POS software called Counterpoint which did everything we needed, especially Inventory and barcoding that the WS POS couldn't do at the time. What heavily influenced our decision was there were nationwide chains using the same software so we knew it would be well supported.

Now 14 years and 28 upgrades (2 per year) later, I'm still satisfied with our system. In 2012 our current version will be sunsetted so we'll move to the SQL version next summer.

The benefits that I see using a non-WS retail POS software are that with a large, diverse clientele there is a greater demand for a wider variety of features to be included or added for various market segments. WS POS software is currently being sold to a ever-shrinking market segment.

There are many in the retail industry that feel the POS will become a internet app, basically running off your website. One very interesting example is OpenBravo (which I think has been adapted and used by 1-800Flowers). But I have to admit that I'm not that thrilled to have my data, especially customer credit cards, even though encrypted, out on a server somewhere managed by someone else.

The single most important factor in any POS system is the ability to extract the data in a usable format - be it using a data connector to Excel, SQL Queries or Crystal Reports. The toughest part for those a bit less 'database inclined' is understanding how the data is stored and how to get meaningful reports.

@Eric:

A monthly POS support cost that adds an additional $4,000 to $5,000 a year and credit card processing that take up to 3% of an order to give you the priveldge of reciving your funds from a credit card. Not to mention the fact that it takes 3 days to recive this money.

Your example is why I choose not to go with a WS solution. Sounds like you're getting hosed!

​

I pay $250/year for the Software Subscription service that gives me twice yearly feature updates. Software is supported by a nationwide dealer network. In the 14 years I've had the dealer in my store once - to install an undocumented data connector to Excel. Cost-$65.00. There is a forum like this one that I've been able to get my questions answered by IT guys that support large national chains.

Credit Cards - I pay $.035 per transaction as a gateway fee to clear CC through the internet. I am free to clear my cards through most large banks/processors so I can shop around for the best discount rate. We get next day AM funding if we settle before 5pm, but because we close at 6pm we get next day PM funding. My current effective discount rate for all transactions (debit, card not present, etc) is .021% and is suppose to drop to .0185% next month after I asked for or a review. I tend to get real cranky with CC processors and am not shy about asking for discount rate reductions.

PCI-DSS - We are charged $125/year for certification, which includes mandatory quarterly intrusion protection scans of our websites and internal networks. This is a pain, I must admit.

POS Version upgrade: It'll cost me about $3500 to move to the new SQL software plus I'll need a new server, so I've budgeted $5000 total for everything, including data conversion. This is the first big POS capital outlay since purchasing other than replacement hardware/OS software which averages less than $800 year.

McAfee - It's interesting, FTD tried charging me because I refused to run their
mandatory (bloated) Norton security software but after providing them with a letter stating that we already had server based anti-virus/email protection for all our desk-top clients they waived the charge.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

BTW, can you run Win7 in XP compatibility mode and fool Eagle?

If you do decide to switch POS systems, the biggest cost and the biggest headache will be trying to move the data from Eagle to whatever new system you choose, but at some point like you've said, you've got to cut the noose they've got around your wallet.

Doug

 

[Sprout]

Pretty sure I'd be out of business if I had a POS at the prices you all are talking about...

 

[RWK]

Cathy - There are expensive POS systems and lesser expensive POS systems. Most POS systems offered have their own terminals, keyboards, Screens, printers, You are not just buying the programming, you are buying the hardware to go with it. This is why a lot of them are super expensive.

Floristware is one.........and I think there are a few more........POS systems that are designed to work with hardware that you have already.....for instance, I am using an HP laptop.......and I love the convience of my laptop........and my wireless printer. If I had a business, I wold look for the POS that works with what I have already.

 

[pdxdoug]

There are expensive POS systems and lesser expensive POS systems.

Remember though that you get what you pay for.

and I love the convience of my laptop........and my wireless printer.

Retailers that use wireless have huge PCI issues. I'd avoid wireless like the plague for any POS application. That's not to say you can't have wireless access in your business, just 'outside' of your firewall and on a different subnet than your POS users.

 

[pdxdoug]

Pretty sure I'd be out of business if I had a POS at the prices you all are talking about...

If someone would have told me that the small florist shop my family bought in 1970 would have changed so much, I would have thought them crazy. I mean we had a cash register, two phone lines, and a typewriter/ledger card system to do our accounts receivable. What more could we need?

If you average the costs over the life of the POS, and consider all that a really good POS system can do for your business, it's really not that much per year.

 

[lil_goldie]

If you average the costs over the life of the POS, and consider all that a really good POS system can do for your business, it's really not that much per year.

I've been trying to tell my parents this for three years.
When I come back from Mat leave in June 2011 they have promised me they will go full tilt. That gives them 13 months to save up, I'm not cutting corners on this one!

 

[RWK]

My point was simply this........Most of the more expensive POS system have their own terminals, keyboards, CRT, Servers, Processors, Printers, Drives, etc.

You are not only buying the program.....you are buying the machinery as well. There are POS systems out there where you do NOT have to buy the machinery to use the program. That alone can make a huge difference in cost.

 

[pdxdoug]

My point was simply this........Most of the more expensive POS system have their own terminals, keyboards, CRT, Servers, Processors, Printers, Drives, etc.

@Ricky,

You are partially correct. Unless you purchase very proprietary systems, most POS systems use individual components - cash drawers ($140), receipt printers ($250), barcode scanners ($160) and credit card readers ($85). All are driven off a standard desktop computer with the appropriate connectors. This is exactly what we've used to configure our system.

You can buy expensive, integrated terminals like you mention but unless you have limited space it isn't worth the added cost.

Software for single user POS systems can cost as little as nothing if all you want is a plain-vanilla POS system. It's the full featured POS software, the 3,5,10 user and up systems that cost quite a bit more.

You are correct in this regard - All multi-user systems have to have a server, server software, and database software in addition to the actual POS software. So depending on your store this is a good portion of the initial cost is.

I haven't priced POS software/systems in awhile, but for a three user (2 registers and a back office box) with a server, I'd bet you're going to spend at least $10K if you have someone do it for you. If you've already got a computer or two and/or you're a bit more technically inclined you could shave some off that.

Doug

 

[theRKF]

@Ricky,

You are partially correct. Unless you purchase very proprietary systems, most POS systems use individual components - cash drawers ($140), receipt printers ($250), barcode scanners ($160) and credit card readers ($85). All are driven off a standard desktop computer with the appropriate connectors. This is exactly what we've used to configure our system.

You can buy expensive, integrated terminals like you mention but unless you have limited space it isn't worth the added cost.

Doug, I think you and Ricky are actually saying the same thing. The WS POS systems operate just as you've described - a basic PC with peripherals - but when buying from the WS (and some of the independent vendors) you have to buy the hardware from them. They've tested certain makes / models / configurations, and they ship you pre-configured PCs with the approved cash drawer, swipe, etc. Few if any floral POS systems use the integrated machines unless the florist specifically requests it.

I haven't priced POS software/systems in awhile, but for a three user (2 registers and a back office box) with a server, I'd bet you're going to spend at least $10K if you have someone do it for you. If you've already got a computer or two and/or you're a bit more technically inclined you could shave some off that.

Doug

You can get a SaaS-type floral POS for $100/mo (FloristWare and MAS both have this option), or you can spend more up front and buy the license from MAS, FAS, etc.

 

[theRKF]

@Ricky,

You are partially correct. Unless you purchase very proprietary systems, most POS systems use individual components - cash drawers ($140), receipt printers ($250), barcode scanners ($160) and credit card readers ($85). All are driven off a standard desktop computer with the appropriate connectors. This is exactly what we've used to configure our system.

You can buy expensive, integrated terminals like you mention but unless you have limited space it isn't worth the added cost.

Doug, I think you and Ricky are actually saying the same thing. The WS POS systems operate just as you've described - a basic PC with peripherals - but when buying from the WS (and some of the independent vendors) you have to buy the hardware from them. They've tested certain makes / models / configurations, and they ship you pre-configured PCs with the approved cash drawer, swipe, etc. Few if any floral POS systems use the integrated machines unless the florist specifically requests it.

I haven't priced POS software/systems in awhile, but for a three user (2 registers and a back office box) with a server, I'd bet you're going to spend at least $10K if you have someone do it for you. If you've already got a computer or two and/or you're a bit more technically inclined you could shave some off that.

Doug

You can get a SaaS-type floral POS for $100/mo (FloristWare and MAS both have this option), or you can spend more up front and buy the license from MAS, FAS, etc.

 

[steve]

When we upgraded to Mercury we had 4 of our own PC's between the 3 shops all other terminals we had to buy from FTD. they ended up being HP terminals but they were stripped down terminals . They hated installing their software on my PC's and I could have bought far better pC's locally then the stripped down machines they sent me for less money. Who ever I buy from in the future will have to let me acquire my owon equipment no more getting hosed for me.

 

[theRKF]

@Ricky,

You are partially correct. Unless you purchase very proprietary systems, most POS systems use individual components - cash drawers ($140), receipt printers ($250), barcode scanners ($160) and credit card readers ($85). All are driven off a standard desktop computer with the appropriate connectors. This is exactly what we've used to configure our system.

You can buy expensive, integrated terminals like you mention but unless you have limited space it isn't worth the added cost.

Doug, I think you and Ricky are actually saying the same thing. The WS POS systems operate just as you've described - a basic PC with peripherals - but when buying from the WS (and some of the independent vendors) you have to buy the hardware from them. They've tested certain makes / models / configurations, and they ship you pre-configured PCs with the approved cash drawer, swipe, etc. Few if any floral POS systems use the integrated machines unless the florist specifically requests it.

I haven't priced POS software/systems in awhile, but for a three user (2 registers and a back office box) with a server, I'd bet you're going to spend at least $10K if you have someone do it for you. If you've already got a computer or two and/or you're a bit more technically inclined you could shave some off that.

Doug

You can get a SaaS-type floral POS for $100/mo (FloristWare and MAS both have this option), or you can spend more up front and buy the license from MAS, FAS, etc.