Bar/Restaurant: Printed Receipts vs. Square Terminal

[Apt9F]

Hello, 

We are a small bar/bites place that currently has one square iPad/terminal.  We print out, have the customer tip (hopefully!), and sign receipts.  Think traditional restaurant/bar.  We adjust tips at the end of the night, etc. 

I was thinking of moving to a Square Terminal Tableside Handheld - where the customer tips (again, hopefully) and signs on the terminal and only prints a receipt if the customer asks.

Obviously, from a cost (paper) and storage (keeping signed receipts) perspective, the Terminal sounds like a winner.  

BUT - I have a few questions: 

1.   For anyone that has moved from a more traditional restaurant to a terminal scenario notice if the tip rate has been the same, less, or more?

2.  Have you had more disputes because there is no paper trail? 

3.  Are you maybe using a hybrid?  Is that working?

Appreciate any help that someone with more experience in this arena can offer!

Thanks, 

Apt 9F

[Donnie-M]

2. Signatures are really going away-  With active tipping using chip/tap (card present transaction) there won't be the dispute you are used to due to EMV shift.  I haven't had any issues as I use a square connected terminal and the traditional spinning the tablet around.  (As a note, I found that the customer facing screen increased tips for me versus spinning the tablet around, I think people like technology and the personal approach).  I am seeing people leave the terminal at tables too while they get to go boxes etc.  With the square connected, the screen goes black afterwards and is very easy.  ymmv

My suggestions, get a terminal and try it out.  If you don't like it, it is easily a reversible decision.  I would get one at sam's club, where the return policy is generous.  The worst case is you drop $300 and you have a nice handy terminal to use on site or as a backup if a tablet/register goes down, as you can take full orders on one.  It acts like a phone app basically.

My 2c...Donnie-M

[Apt9F]

Thanks Donnie!  I appreciate the feedback.  

The main thing I don't want to do is reduce my server's tips - we still do table service - so it's tricky. 

BUT - your suggestion is a good one

✌️