Point of sale system repair: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What point of sale system repair is

A technician diagnoses and fixes registers, card readers, receipt printers, scanners and cash drawers so a store can keep taking payments. You need it when a checkout stops working, which can cost sales in a busy hour.

Signs you need it

  • The register will not turn on or freezes during a sale
  • The card reader does not accept cards or fails to read chips
  • The receipt printer prints blank or faded receipts, or jams
  • The barcode scanner does not read codes or reads them slowly
  • The cash drawer does not open or the drawer is stuck

What the pro does

  • Checks the power, the connections and the software state at the register
  • Tests the card reader, the printer, the scanner and the cash drawer one at a time
  • Confirms the cause with test results and tells you what needs replacing
  • Replaces or repairs the failed part, such as a printer head, a reader or a cable
  • Tests the full checkout with a sample sale and returns the system to service

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The register and peripheral models, and whether parts are common
  • The part needed, such as a reader, printer, scanner or drawer
  • Whether the fault is in the software, the hardware or the connection
  • Whether the work is done on site or the equipment is taken away
  • How urgent the repair is, since a down register costs sales
  • Whether the equipment is under warranty or a service plan

What a written quote should spell out

  • The diagnosis and the test used to confirm it
  • The part used, with model and whether it is new or refurbished
  • Labor and any on site visit
  • Whether the card payment system is certified and tested after the repair
  • Warranty for the parts and the repair

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can you fix the register on site, or do I need to send it away?
  • Is the card reader still supported for payment processing?
  • What is the response time for an urgent call?
  • Do you test a sample sale after the repair?
  • Will the repair affect my payment processor's terms?
  • What warranty do you give on the repair?

Red flags

  • Opens the card reader without checking the payment terms
  • Says the card system is fine without testing a card sale
  • Will not give a response time for an urgent outage
  • Replaces a reader or register without a clear test

What you can do yourself

Restart the register, check the cables and power, and test the card reader with a known card, keeping a backup payment method for outages. Do not open a card reader, since opening it can break the security protection. Call a technician for any payment fault, any register that will not start, or any drawer or printer fault.

Licenses and permits

A license is usually not required for point of sale repair. Card payment equipment often has security rules set by the payment processor, so check those terms, and check with your state or local licensing agency about any business registration that applies.

Point of sale system repair questions

Why did the card reader stop working after an update?

A software update or a reader setting can cause this. A technician can check the settings and the reader's connection to the payment system.

Can I repair the card reader myself?

No. Opening a card reader can break its security protection and may breach your payment terms. Ask a technician to repair or replace it.

How do I keep the register working during an outage?

Set up a backup method for taking payments, such as a mobile reader, and keep the payment processor's support number handy.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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