Pair and use a card reader

Part 1Pair a reader

A reader is optional. Without one, the box office still takes cards typed in on screen or paid on the customer's phone.

1. 1Switch the reader on and join it to your Wi-Fi.
2. 2Open the reader's settings and choose Generate pairing code. The reader shows a short code made of words.
3. 3Click Settings in the dashboard sidebar, then Card readers at the top of the page.
4. 4Type the code in Pairing code from the reader.
5. 5Type a name in Name for this reader, for example Box office 1. Sellers pick the reader by this name.
6. 6Fill in Where it will be used if it shows. Stripe asks for this address once, with your first reader. Your office or main venue is fine.
7. 7Click Pair reader.
8. 8Look for the message Reader paired. It now appears as a payment option in the box office.

Paired readers are listed with their model and an Online or Offline status.

Part 2Take a payment on the reader

1. 1Build the sale on the box office selling screen.
2. 2Choose your reader from the list under the reader button if you have more than one. The device remembers your choice, so each till keeps using the reader next to it.
3. 3Tap Card reader - tap, chip or swipe.
4. 4Ask the customer to tap, insert or swipe their card on the reader. The screen shows the amount, the reader name and Waiting for the card...
5. 5Wait for the screen to change to Sale complete. It moves on by itself.

Part 3Retry a declined card

1. 1Read the red box that starts That did not go through. It gives the reason.
2. 2Tap Try the card again to ask for a card on the same sale. The customer can use the same card or another one.
3. 3Tap Cancel this sale instead if the customer wants to pay with cash or another way, then build the sale again.

Part 4Clear a stuck reader

A reader is stuck when it still shows a payment nobody is going to make, for example when the customer walked away.

1. 1Go to the screen that started the payment. It still shows the amount and the reader name.
2. 2Tap Cancel this sale. This clears the reader's screen, cancels the payment and puts the tickets back on sale.
3. 3Start the next sale as normal.

If that screen was closed, the unpaid sale and its payment are cancelled by themselves about 20 minutes after it started.

Part 5Remove a reader

1. 1Click Settings in the sidebar, then Card readers.
2. 2Find the reader in the list.
3. 3Click Remove on its row.

Tips

• Pair and test the reader before event day, on the same Wi-Fi you will use at the venue.
• Name readers after where they sit, such as Window 1 or Merch table. A list of look-alike names slows sellers down.
• A reader adds tap, chip and swipe, which is faster in a line and costs you less per sale with Stripe than a typed card.

If something goes wrong