using square for a rental business for daily kayak rentals

[cjasch93]

Looking for advice on if setting up a daily kayak rental thru square retail is the best option.  Vessels are for day rentals, and we work remotely, so am wanting to put something in our vacation rental with rental options.  Ideally they would place their order online, scan the qr code, make the payment etc., all on the retail aspect of square.  Anyone have any thoughts?

[letsrankseo]

Hopefully you figure this out. I would love to know the answer to this as I love travel stuff also. Conquer Las Vegas 

[Candlestore · Accepted solution]

@cjasch93 ;

You could setup Square to charge people as you mentioned but keeping track of the Item they Rented might be the problem.

Setup items 1 Person Kayak - Variations of Kayak numbers.   to track who gets which Kayak

                     2 Person Kayak - Variations of Kayak numbers.

 etc.

Now if you have the Kayaks numbered you might be able to 'Sell' Kayak 3 for the day and when Kayak 3 returns Receive inventory of Kayak 3.   

The problem I see with doing this online is multiple people may 'Buy' Kayak 3 for the day on Saturday. 

The reason I say this is because some people have reported that the Inventory levels are not always accurate online. 

Not saying it can or can't be done, just trying to have you test a few things or get answers to some ideas I came up with as I read your post.  

[cjasch93]

Thank you!  I am also just wondering if we just use the terminal in our purchases but not make it public....your response makes me think that could be best!

[Candlestore]

@cjasch93 ;

You are Welcome.  The Terminal from my understanding needs an internet connection like all devices Square sells.  The internet connection can be through a cell phone's hotspot.  I have never used the Terminal device, just Square Stands, Tablets, Cell phones and the Virtual Terminal on a computer.  So I am not sure of the Terminals capabilities, and not understanding "not making it public"?  Depending on what all you need the Terminal to do, it might be better getting an Ipad with a cell plan, run the app on the Ipad and connect right to cell towers.  This you would need to figure out what is best for you and your business.

[cjasch93]

Thanks!  We work from home and the rental business is at our cabins we manage.  So when we drop the vessels off, we would take the payment via square device then and there.  I was trying to find a way to make it public so our guests could scan a QR Code, book their # of vessels, and viola!  done!  But maybe that isn't workable.

[Candlestore]

@cjasch93 ;

You might be able to use Square Appointments to set up the rental:  

Appointments 

Then when the customers show up take the payment, Square Terminal does not work with Square for Retail tho but does work with Square POS.

Square for Retail :  square-for-retail-by-device 

Comparison of Square Pos and Square for Retails: compare-square-for-retail-and-square-point-of-sale 

I think your idea would work it is just finding the correct way to get the components to all work together.  Never give up and don't say it can't be done, find a way to make it work to be successful.

[cjasch93]

Thanks!  I've considered giving up honestly, google calendar and square reader may be easier 😉

[Candlestore]

@cjasch93 ;

Square readers work great, but for todays cards you need 2 types of readers minimum from Square.  

The Mag reader which plugs into head phone ports on Android devices, or Mag reader that plugs into the lightening port on Iphones and Ipads.  (WARNING - newer cell phones do not have a Head phone Port if on Android)

The 2nd reader you would need would be the Bluetooth reader for Chip and Tap payments. 

So if you go with Google Calendar and Square you could use Just the terminal connected to a Hotspot on a cell phone or tablet.  Terminal takes all 3 types of payments Swipe, Dip, and Tap.  You could use Square POS to process the Credit cards and just enter the amount yourself without barcode abilities. Or you could enter your items as the Boat numbers since you can track inventory.

Use Google Calendar to setup appointments and have limits to the number of Kayaks per day.

In Square POS not Retail.... Setup your ITEMS as

1 Kayak

2 Kayak

3 Kayak

.......

20 Kayak etc...

When a person shows up for the day, check to see they are on google calendar that they reserved a Kayak.... if NO.... check to see how many People reserved Kayaks.... if you have 1 Available Rent it out.... If none are available... do you have a set time when the person renting needs to show up by or could loose said reservation?  People do not always show up when they say they will.  Could you rent it to this person in 10 or 15 min if someone is a no show?

Ok now lets say the person is on the list or you had an extra Kayak to rent out.

Take your Square Terminal out that is connected to a Hotspot, in the search area type in 1, this should pull up item 1 Kayak and a list of all Kayaks from 10-19, 100-199 and 1000-1999 etc...  or you could keep typing to get the search down to what your looking for.  If you went Kayak 1, you would need to type in Kayak 1 for the above results.  This way you have the receipt payment tied to the Kayak # you rent out for the day.  Then when the Kayak comes back you can go into your Items and add 1 for the Quantity of # Kayak.

Does that make sense?  Like I said there are multiple ways to make something work, you just need to know what is best and easiest for you.