One of the biggest lessons we've learned after years of selling at farmers markets and art festivals is this: Never assume your payment system will work just because it worked last week.
Cell service changes.
Software updates happen.
Technology has a mind of its own.
About a month ago, we suddenly started having problems processing Square transactions at the Yachats Farmers Market.
At first, we thought it was just a random outage.
Then it happened again.
And again.
It turned out the main AT&T cell tower serving the area had been taken down after the private property it sat on changed ownership. Suddenly, AT&T coverage that had always worked...didn't. It wasn't anyone's fault—it was simply one of those unexpected changes that can catch vendors completely off guard.
Thankfully, we only lost a couple of sales.
Even better, our market neighbor, Nathan, came to the rescue.
He graciously let me tether to his phone whenever I needed to process a payment. It worked, and I was incredibly thankful, but I knew I couldn't rely on my neighbor's phone forever.
I needed a permanent solution.
Finding A Solution
My first stop was Verizon.
Since Verizon had the best signal in Yachats, I figured it would be an easy fix.
Not quite.
To get a Wi-Fi hotspot, I'd need to open a phone line with them. By the time everything was added up, it was far more expensive than I wanted for something I'd only use at markets.
Next stop: T-Mobile.
Same story.
I visited a couple of other stores hoping someone had a simple hotspot plan, but every option seemed to require an expensive monthly phone plan.
The Solution I Wasn't Expecting
My last stop of the day was Xfinity.
Since they're already our home internet provider, I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.
That's when I learned something I didn't know:
In our area, Xfinity Mobile uses Verizon's network. That meant I could get the coverage I needed without paying Verizon's prices.
Exactly what I needed.
For about half of what it would have cost through Verizon or T-Mobile, I was able to pick up an inexpensive phone with service that runs on Verizon's towers.
The only downside?
Learning how to use an Android phone after years of using an iPhone.
Let's just say there was a little bit of a learning curve. 😂
Test Your Payment System Before Customers Arrive
One thing Will and I do before every single market is test our Square setup.
Not after the first customer walks up.
Not when someone has a line of people waiting to pay.
Before the market even opens.
It only takes a minute, but it can save you from an embarrassing (and potentially expensive) situation.
Sometimes your Square Reader needs a firmware update.
Sometimes the Square app has an update waiting.
Sometimes your phone decides it's the perfect time to install a software update.
Sometimes Square is experiencing an outage.
And sometimes...technology just decides to be technology.
We'd much rather discover a problem while we're still setting up than while a customer is standing at the checkout ready to buy.
If Your Square Reader Isn't Connecting...
Before you panic, try these quick troubleshooting steps:
- Turn Bluetooth off and back on on your phone or tablet.
- Restart the Square Reader (and your phone if needed). A simple reboot fixes more problems than you'd think.
- Open the Square app before customers arrive to make sure you're logged in and everything is connected. (And for goodness' sake...write down your password somewhere! 🤣)
- Check for app and reader updates while you're on a reliable Wi-Fi connection at home—not five minutes before the market opens.
- Confirm your internet connection by opening a webpage or running a quick speed test. Sometimes it's your cellular connection—not the reader—that's causing the issue.
- Keep your reader charged. A low battery can cause disconnects and other strange behavior.
Always Have a Backup Plan
Technology is wonderful...
Until it isn't.
One thing we always carry is a Square Magstripe Reader that plugs directly into a phone. If our Bluetooth Square Reader ever refuses to connect, we have another way to process a payment.
Offline payments aren't ideal. Square has a $100 default limit for transactions offline; however, that can be changed in settings—but there is risk involved. I don't feel comfortable parting with a $150 ring that may or may not process properly after the customer has left my tent. Even with their contact information on file, the risk just isn't worth it.
We've also found that Tap to Pay isn't always foolproof. Sometimes it's the customer's phone. Sometimes it's the customer's card. Sometimes it's your phone. And sometimes...
Technology is just being technology. 🤷
Having multiple ways to accept a payment—Tap to Pay, a Bluetooth reader, and a plug-in swiper—can save a sale when one method decides not to cooperate.
Success!
This past Sunday at the Yachats Farmers Market, every single Square transaction processed almost instantly.
Every time that green approval screen popped up, my heart skipped a beat—in a good way.
No waiting.
No spinning wheel.
No hoping the payment would eventually go through.
And best of all...
Nathan didn't have to rescue me with phone tethering even once.
The experience reminded me that one of the most important pieces of equipment in our booth isn't our jewelry displays—it's the equipment that lets customers pay for what they've chosen.
What I'd Recommend to Other Vendors
If you're relying on your phone to process credit cards, don't assume your current carrier will work everywhere you sell.
Before committing to a new market:
- Test your payment system during setup.
- Ask neighboring vendors which carrier they use.
- Have a backup plan before you need one.
- Keep your payment equipment and your phone updated at home while you're on reliable WiFi.
- If you sell regularly in an area with weak service, a second phone or hotspot on a different network can be worth every penny.
Losing even a few sales because customers can't pay gets expensive quickly.
A reliable payment connection isn't glamorous, but it's one of the most important pieces of equipment in your booth.
Your payment system is just as important as your inventory. Customers can only buy your handmade work if they can actually pay for it. Spending a little money on backup equipment—and taking a few minutes to test everything before the market opens—is far less expensive than losing sales during your busiest hours.
Sometimes the best investment isn't a new display or another piece of inventory...
It's making sure your customers can actually check out.