What is the difference between the card reader and a terminal?
A card reader is an optional device that can be used with QuickBooks Merchant Service for PCs accounts. It plugs into your computer and allows you to run, or swipe, credit cards whenever you have a physical credit card present at the time of the transaction (also called a “card-present” transaction). Unlike terminals, card readers contain no information about the merchant, so they don’t have to be programmed. All the necessary information is built into the QuickBooks software. A terminal also allows you to swipe credit cards. It also lets you accept PIN-debit cards. Each terminal is programmed with information about the merchant (Merchant ID), as well as information about the terminal itself (Terminal ID). A terminal plugs into a phone line (or wireless technology) and does not require a PC, so it can offer greater flexibility in terms of the location of your sales. Whether you use a card reader or a terminal, swiping credit cards lets you qualify for lower, card-present rates.
