IT Managers: Are you Asking the Right Questions about POS Hardware?

Retail Hardware Buying Guide for IT Managers

Whether your business is looking to upgrade to a new POS (point of sale) hardware platform or you’re in the process of finding a reliable reseller or retail device supplier, it’s important to ask the right questions as an IT manager. In this blog, we’ll cover the top 10 questions to ask when finding a POS and retail tech provider.

Throughout this retail tech hardware buying guide, we’ll cover:

• POS hardware integration and compatibility questions
• Retail technology services and support
• Vendor reliability and expertise
• Cost, warranties, lead times, etc.

10 Questions to Ask About Point of Sale (POS) Hardware

1. How do you support POS hardware integration and system compatibility?

One of the top questions an IT manager should ask a potential POS hardware and retail technology partner or vendor is regarding their system compatibility. More often than not, your retail store will have a mix of old and new hardware that needs to merge for a successful tech experience. If your hardware is too outdated, there’s a chance you might have to switch out some of the incompatible hardware when you upgrade your devices.

2. What POS hardware services do you offer?

Some POS hardware vendors only offer the point of sale system itself while others offer a more comprehensive line of products and services. If you don’t have the capacity or expert knowledge to do the store setup yourself, finding a provider who can do it for you is essential.

Here at Retail Tech Inc., we offer a comprehensive service offering, including procurement and planning, deploying retail devices on your store floor, waste disposal for old equipment, and ongoing maintenance support if you need it.

3. What can you tell me about your company and expertise?

While this may seem obvious, a lot of people forget to ask this question. You can learn a lot by hearing how a salesperson speaks about their company.

• Do they have a lot to say about their services or are they only interested in talking about their prices compared to competitors?
• Are they upfront and honest about who they are and what they do?
• Do they leave some questions unanswered or make you feel uncomfortable asking them?
• Do you feel confident in your POS partner and the services they provide?

Remember, you are going to have a relationship with this person. Feeling comfortable with the salesperson and company is crucial as you will be communicating with them frequently. If there’s any hesitation with your current or soon-to-be vendor, you might want to look for a new one.

Related Content: Why Choose an All-in-One POS Provider

4. Do you have testimonials or case studies of past retail tech work?

Asking for customer testimonials or case studies to support your POS hardware company’s experience is a huge way to gain trust with your potential vendor. If the vendor doesn’t have anything to show for their work, it can signal a lack of experience or poor past experiences with clients.

For example, with an unknown brand, it can be pretty tough for retail stores to promote their products—especially while competing with brands like “Nike” and “Lululemon.” When Nike sells a set of shoes or top, every buyer becomes a walking billboard and referral. When it comes to products that are less visible, it is important to seek these examples or referrals out.

Many POS hardware providers have case studies or customer testimonials to send to you. If you don’t see them on their website, request them, but most importantly, read them.

5. What brands of POS hardware and technology do you sell?

While you might already have an idea of the type and brand of POS hardware you are looking for as an IT manager, it never hurts to explore your options. One of the most important aspects when purchasing POS hardware is reliability.

Although the brand name might not matter to you as much as the price, certain brands have a better reputation than others. While some of the top brands might be priced higher, it’s generally worth it to invest in a more credible, better-made brand for the most longevity and future-proofing hardware.

Ask your POS provider about the different equipment available, and search for any extra information on the manufacturers or reach out directly. Just be sure to do your research. While you may have been an NCR person all the way, technology changes, and maybe another point of sale manufacturer would be a better fit for what you are looking for.

6. Do you sell new or used point of sale hardware?

Finding a retail technology vendor that sells more budget-friendly, used hardware is hard to find. A lot of resellers only sell new equipment. While this is great when you want to spend a lot of money to upgrade your retail store, but it’s not so great when you have a set budget.

Used and refurbished equipment can fly under the radar or receive a bad rap, but you might be pleasantly surprised to find that used hardware can also come with a “certified pre-owned equipment” badge, which may include a 90 day warranty.

Finding a POS and retail technology partner could be another option for companies who are looking to satisfy restrictive budgets, yet still hoping to purchase up-to-date POS hardware. Here at RTI, we can help you find used POS hardware that matches your exact needs and your company budget.

7. What are my POS maintenance, service, and repair options?

Although you may not want to believe it, POS systems can break. Maybe not the entire system, but main boards, monitors, touch screens, printers, etc. can all slow down or start freezing eventually if they need some TLC.

When the day comes that you need point of sale maintenance options, you’ll want to have a reliable repair service or plan in place if it happens. Comprehensive retail technology and POS companies, like Retail Tech, may offer depot repair plans. IT managers comparing systems should consider time savings from additional support, if available. They have extensive parts, the proper knowledge, and the time available to service your equipment while people on your team might not.

8. What is the standard warranty of POS hardware? Any extension options?

This may seem minuscule at first, but what if 50 of your printers stop working? Asking whether or not the reseller offers a warranty should be one of the more important questions. If the warranty isn’t very long or it doesn’t exist with your purchase, that could speak volumes about their quality.

Some of the best point of sale system warranties often cover faulty technical aspects for the first 30-90 days all the way up to the first year or longer. If you’re wondering what the standard warranty is for your selected POS product, ask your retail tech partner for more information.

9. How much will upgrading POS equipment cost me?

Upgrading point of sale equipment isn’t cheap if you buy it brand new, but you can upgrade your retail store on a budget with used POS options.

Cost is obviously very important to most buyers and IT managers. This may seem obvious, but remember, “You get what you pay for.” Does the reseller offer any free services such as check-stand ready installation? A helpdesk? Reasonable prices are important, but so is quality. Another thing to think about is where the POS reseller is located. Unless the POS reseller is going to pay for shipping, you will have to add the freight charges into the total cost.

Here at RTI, we offer more budget-friendly pricing with used and certified pre-owned retail technology options. If you’d like to get started, contact us today.

10. What is the lead time for POS hardware installations?

There are so many options that come into play when it comes to lead time for POS hardware solutions. Timing depends on the size of your company, your specific technology needs, the complexity of the order, and how much time it takes for installation. However, whether the POS reseller is reliable and has stock available determines timing, too. It’s important to realize the magnitude of your project but also understand how much can happen in a realistic time frame.

If you have questions about what products you’ll need for your project procurement or deployment, our reps at RTI can help you get started.

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This is an updated blog that was originally published in 2011.