Best Point of Sale Systems for Thrift Stores: 2017 Edition

Wow - I've had around 8 thrift stores contact me over the last couple of months based on an older post. Now seemed like a good time to update with more current information when it comes to the best point of sale systems for thrift stores. Note that this applies whether you have 1 location or 500 locations.  Below is a matrix that also notes costs and some other basic details.

Please note that that first steps in searching for a thrift store point of sale system are documenting processes, coming up with a budget, and interviewing staff and leadership to come up with a feature/function wish list. The matrix is only designed to give a high level view of whats on the market today and a few details about each system.

Here is the matrix:

Thrift Store Point of Sale Overview – 2017

Type	Examples	Strengths	Weaknesses	Costs	Kevin Antosh can demo or provide free trial
Cloud – low end	Shopkeep, Lavu, Silver, Clover, Revel	Super easy to learn and use	Weak for multi-location operations, limited reporting. Some systems lock you into contracts with specific credit card processing companies	$3000 - $4000 for typical 2 lane store for hardware + $120 - $200 a month per location for software subscription	Yes on Silver
Cloud – mid level	Bindo Lightspeed	Easy to use and better designed for multi-location operations	Mixed reviews – somewhat pricey	$3000 - $4000 for typical 2 lane store for hardware + $200 - $300 a month per location for software subscription	Yes on Bindo
Cloud/Windows – high end	Microsoft Dynamics 365	Complete ERP software for entire organization	Fairly new (2017) and expensive	Easily $1000000 to $2000000 across the organization or around $60,000/month just for licensing	Yes – can be arranged
Mixed	Cloud Retailer	Part cloud/part Windows, well designed for multi-location. Latest in payment processing security while still being processor agnostic.	Might need some minor adjustments to handle round ups if needed.	$5000 - $8000 up front for a single store with 2 check out lanes + $70/month per store for software subscription and support.	Yes + can provide your organization with a full access to Cloud Retailer for up to 60 days.
Windows – Low end	Retail Management Hero	Designed for all types of retail – fairly low cost – flexible	Multi-location version will not be available until Q1 2018	$8000 - $10000 for typical 2 lane store . No mandatory on-going fees	Yes – have full copy.
Windows – mid level	Retail Pro	Stable system	Not truly for thrift, fairly outdated	$12000 - $16000 for typical 2 lane store . No mandatory on-going fees	No
Windows – customized for thrift	NCR Counterpoint SQL	Lots of thrift store customizations – in use already at multiple thrift stores (of which many I have met with in person)	Amazingly expensive	$12000 - $18000 for typical 2 lane store . No mandatory on-going fees	Have full copy of the basic software – general information on thrift store enhancements
Windows – discontinued (but in use at a lot of chain thrift stores)	Microsoft RMS, Microsoft RMS HQ, Microsoft POS 2009, Microsoft POS 2.0, Microsoft Dynamics AX	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Software in bold means that it is use at thrift stores and/or well designed for thrift stores.

Contact me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com with any questions or if you have interest in the onsite consultancy services that I offer.

Why Bindo Point of Sale is so Popular

Over the years I have sold, supported or reviewed well over 40 different point of sale programs designed for retail stores, museums, and restaurants. Over the last year, a large percentage of folks who contact me for free and unbiased point of sale advice are already considering Bindo Point of Sale (POS) or go on to select Bindo POS as the point of sale program for their business or organization.

So, it made me wonder, why is Bindo POS so popular?  Here is what I uncovered:

1. Bindo "Gets It": from the leadership to sales staff to support and admin staff, they all understand retail and point of sale systems. You can see this in Bindo POS as well as when you are talking to anyone that works at Bindo.
2. Scale-able Solution: whether you have 1 location or 500 locations, Bindo POS can be sized accordingly with no need for expensive servers.
3. Right Mix of Features and Functions: Bindo has the best mix of features and functions that businesses and organizations want in a point of sale system. 
4. Merchant Services Agnostic: Unlike many point of sale programs, Bindo does not force you to use one company for merchant services which lets you avoid costly long term merchant services contracts.
5. Helpful but not Aggressive: I've found that the sales and marketing team at Bindo is focused on helping you choose the best point of sale program and are not the type of people who will be calling and emailing every 4 hours to see "if you are ready to sign up".
6. Steady Growth and not "Turn and Burn": Bindo has proven to be focused on building long term relationships and not quickly closing sales just for the sake of increasing the number of Bindo users.
7. Rock Star Support and Development: The customer service staff, support staff, and programmers all know they play a critical role in Bindo's success and the success of those using Bindo.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

Most Popular Point of Sale Systems for 2015 (so far)

Thanks to the 200+ businesses and organizations who have contacted me so far in 2015 for free and unbiased point of sale advice and information, I'm able to share what the most popular point of sale solutions are based on what folks have actually been selecting as a point of sale solution for their business or organization.

Most Popular Retail Point of Sale System: Bindo POS (www.bindopos.com). Bindo combines the cost effectiveness of a mobile point of sale system with features and functions normally only found in legacy point of sale systems than run primarily on computers with the Windows operating system.

Update: another point of sale news and information website has also selected Bindo as the best iPad Retail POS System: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/8067-best-ipad-pos-system.html

Most Popular Restaurant Point of Sale System: Sapphire from Khamu Solutions (http://www.khamu.com/). Sapphire from Khamu Solutions has quietly grown to to offer just about everything that MICROS, Digital Dining, Aloha, and Aldelo offer but at a much lower price point. The praise that I hear from Sapphire users related to the support and customer service offered by Khamu Solutions is second to none.

Most Popular Legacy Retail Point of Sale System: Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management Systems (RMS). I'm honestly surprised by how many businesses and organizations have selected RMS so far this year. While RMS is an awesome point of sale solution (I personally know around 700 stores in the US using RMS), RMS can't be sold to new customers starting in July of 2016 and mainstream support also ends in 2016 so it strikes me as odd that folks would invest in a point of sale solution whose life cycle is ending.

Most Popular Company to Use for Merchant Services: Gravity Payments (http://gravitypayments.com/). Honest, ethical and treats their employees well - not words normally associated with merchant services companies that offer credit and debit card processing services.

Retail Point of Sale System with the Most Potential: Retail Management Hero (http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2015/06/new-option-for-rmshq-users-retail.html) .  While this point of sale program will likely not be available until late 2015 or early 2016, as a direct replacement for RMS,  Retail Management Hero has huge potential given the 38,000+ retail stores currently using RMS.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

What Point of Sale Systems are the Most Popular

Since late 2013, I have provided free and unbiased advice to over 400 retail stores, restaurants, and museums. Many of you have been kind enough to let me know what you ended up purchasing.

On the retail side, Bindo Point of Sale (www.bindopos.com) has emerged as the clear winner. With advanced features that point of sale systems like NCR Silver and First Data Clover can't offer, Bindo combines what folks want in a POS system while keeping the affordability that cloud based systems offer.

On the food service side, Sapphire from Khamu (http://www.khamu.com/) has proven to be popular. With dedication to the restaurant market, personalized service, and a price much lower than other restaurant solutions like MICROS, Digital Dining, and Aloha, Sapphire offers a complete solution at a budget friendly price point.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.