Square Reader is a small, mobile credit and debit card reader that plugs directly into the headphone jack of your smartphone or tablet — and it is finally available in Australia.
Image: Square Reader
It costs $19 for the device, and a further 1.9 per cent transaction fee no matter the card. Square Reader accepts Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit or debit card payments, which are then deposited into an Australian bank account.
“With the launch of Square Reader in Australia, we’re empowering local sellers with the tools they need to start, run, and grow their businesses,” said Jack Dorsey, CEO and Co-Founder of Square. “Our launch in Australia is an important step for our company and an exciting moment for a market so committed to innovation and an entrepreneurial small business community.”
Square’s Australian Country Manager Ben Pfisterer said, “Operating locally for the past year has allowed us to develop active partnerships with a wide range of businesses that have in turn helped us test and refine a range of exciting payment solutions designed specifically for the Australian market.”
Pfisterer continued, “In Australia, the rate paid by businesses to accept card payments can be incredibly confusing and vary greatly, depending on the size of your business, card type and length of your contract, and almost always involves hidden fees. Sellers using Square Reader pay only 1.9 per cent per card transaction, and this is the first time Australia is seeing one low, single rate for a powerful ecosystem of tools — from integrated card payments to a powerful point of sale, analytics and reporting tools, inventory management, online invoices and digital receipts.”
You can pick up a Square Reader online from today, with availability at Bunnings, Apple and Officeworks “in the near future”. If you do decide to use one, tell us your thoughts!