Help needed to find POS soft / harware

[MyDraadloos]

Wondering if anyone can help me with find the right combination of software & hardware for a small wholesale / retail setup.

Idealy trying to find some freeware or cheap software to run on old Windows box for POS (Point of Sale).

Must be able to set up multiple departments and product codes.

No credit sales are expected at present.

Would like to be able to integrate a barcode scanner later.

Print invoices to Impact or Thermal printer.

Design and print own bar codes.

Is this possible at little or no cost, I am trying to minimise spending on this.

 

[jabulani]

Never run it myself, but Turbocash does POS I believe:

http://www.turbocashuk.com/accounting-software-pointofsale.html

TurboCASH .7 is an open source accounting package that is free for everyone to download and distribute under the terms of the General Public Licence (GPL). It is one of the world's first fully-featured open source accounts packages for small business.

TurboCASH .7 comes complete with an integrated Point-of-Sale invoicing system. It allows the user to connect a cash till and barcode scanner directly to the accounting system. It is aimed at users that sell to end users and want to produce invoices or till slips quickly.

 

[MyDraadloos]

Thanks I will download a new version.

Anyone know where I can find a receipt printer ?

 

[neio]

Thanks I will download a new version.

Anyone know where I can find a receipt printer ?

Waltons?

 

[Moederloos]

Thanks I will download a new version.

Anyone know where I can find a receipt printer ?

Just ensure it is compatible with TurboCash - not that I am knocking TurboCash, (I hear it has gone Open Source?), but different programs = different hardware.

 

[jabulani]

Looks like hardware ( cash drawer, printers ) also available locally : http://www.turbocash.co.za/PriceList.html

 

[MyDraadloos]

Been doing some digging around and it looks like a good solution. If set up correctly it should take care of the POS and Accounting functions.

The hardware looks pretty standard, gonna go do some dumpster diving to find some 2nd hand stuff.

The printer, scanner and drawer looks like it will cost about R 3 500.00 .... all the bits seem to come from Pinnacle.

Pity they don't have some screen shots of the POS functionality.

 

[jabulani]

Pity they don't have some screen shots of the POS functionality.

Look at:
http://www.turbocashuk.com/Help/POSInvoiceEntryScreen.htm

There is a drop-down at the top right of screen that takes you to other functionality. Looks like plenty screenshots.

 

[MyDraadloos]

Look at:
http://www.turbocashuk.com/Help/POSInvoiceEntryScreen.htm

There is a drop-down at the top right of screen that takes you to other functionality. Looks like plenty screenshots.

Thanks Doc

 

[jabulani]

Thanks Doc

NP. I'd be interested to know what you end up using, as I have been asked to look for a cheap setup for a school's new/2nd hand uniform shop whose owner has about zero control over anything from what I can make out!

 

[0x0000000e]

I can't help you with free or cheap software, but since I work for a company specialising in this sort of software (the expensive, high quality kind), I know about the hardware.

A cash drawer will cost you about R600 - either get the Epson/Posiflex or Hero brand.

The best printer you can get (thermal) is the Epson TM-T88II, but it's going to cost you at least R2500. A cheaper option is the Hero TM-80.

When you get a scanner, make sure you get a keyboard wedge scanner (either USB wedge or PS2). The USB one must emulate a normal keyboard and the PS2 one plugs into your keyboard port with a passthrough for your normal keyboard. Do not get a serial or other type of USB under any circuimstances - you will be sorry (horrifically bad driver support).

If you want an excellent scanner, you can get just about anything branded either "Welch Allen" or "HHP". For a high quality budget scanner, look at the Metrologic Voyager scanner. The Voyager will cost you about R1000-R1500.

Now, on to stockists:

You should be able to get the Epson, Welch Allen/HHP equipment from anybody that sells Mecer computers. The same distributer sells both. The the company doesn't have it on their shelves, they will be able to order it.

Both the Hero and the Metrologic equipment is available from anybody selling the "Emerald" brand computers. Again, same distributer. I doubt most people will stock it, but they will be able to order.

In both cases, if the company says they can't order it, it just means they are too lazy.

 

[ettubrute]

If you need to order from Mecer, just shout! Still have a dealership with them... (I think!)

 

[MyDraadloos]

revve, thanks for the great info and the industry insight.

jabulani, think most likely I'm gonna go with TurboCash and some peripherals sold by Mecer. (seems this is where they got the equipment in their "bundle" from) Should take care of front- and backoffice requirements.

I did however find 4 other applications as well:

Dale Harris POS - Will need some registry changes to function on XP
Easy POS Gold - No. 1 POS software download, not sure how free it is .....
Retail 2.0 - Need to check further
UPOSS 2.0 - freeware

 

[MyDraadloos]

If you need to order from Mecer, just shout! Still have a dealership with them... (I think!)

Thanks for the offer, will give you a shout if required. Should not be to difficult to get a COD account using via my current setup. They are the only guys I don't have an account with ...........

 

[sakura]

I have started my own company designing and manufacturing low-cost POS systems... R2500 for a thermal printer is expensive. I have one in the advanced stage of development (almost ready for production) and my selling price will be R990-00, the printer does barcodes aswell internally via ESC commands. I am doing the POS hardware platform aswell for those who are interested.. companies/people willing to be beta testers please PM me

 

[MyDraadloos]

I have started my own company designing and manufacturing low-cost POS systems... R2500 for a thermal printer is expensive. I have one in the advanced stage of development (almost ready for production) and my selling price will be R990-00, the printer does barcodes aswell internally via ESC commands. I am doing the POS hardware platform aswell for those who are interested.. companies/people willing to be beta testers please PM me

If it is good unit I will support you, do you have pre-production unit we can stress test ?

 

[MyDraadloos]

NP. I'd be interested to know what you end up using, as I have been asked to look for a cheap setup for a school's new/2nd hand uniform shop whose owner has about zero control over anything from what I can make out!

Hi Jabulani, having now implemented TurboCash I can recommend it. Very easy to set up if you plan correctly.

I have created 480 stock items and the POS is working fine updating the stock inventory, books etc. For the moment I have hooked up a thermal receipt printer and cash drawer. After a final stock take I print the bar codes and implement the scanning.

If you plan your stock items you can get great reporting.

Final step will be the webshop and the link up to OC Commerce.