If you have existing equipment you wish to use with Acme inquire about a Capability Test. This will tell you if it will work and what (if any) features may be missing.
Acme works with 90% of the POS equipment that has ever been built, but using "our" equipment streamlines installation and support while giving you an optimal feature set and value. |
Computers / Mobile Devices
For Acme Desktop: Windows 10 or 11 computer with regular or touch screen. Mouse and keyboard are optional. Windows laptops and tablets work for going mobile, inquire for details.
For Acme Mobile App: Windows 10 or 11, as well as latest Android and iOS Apple devices. You can put the app on smart-phones, desktops and dedicated devices, it is licensed per store and allows for unlimited users. It is productivity app for your staff.
Printing
Tickets (Transactions)
Acme can print tickets to a Receipt (paper tape) or Invoice (8.5x11) Printer. A single POS terminal can print to both.
Receipt printers should be Epson or Star compatible and ideally configured with serial or parallel port. USB is an option, but they require a driver which is another potential point of failure and cords that are less secure, since they have no clips or screws built in. Before ordering serial or parallel printers you should ensure your computer has compatible ports.
Invoice Printing can be done with any standard Windows printer (laser or ink jet) or DOT Matrix Printer.
Reports
All reports with the exception of the Cash Tray Reconciliation Worksheet require a standard Windows laser, ink jet or PDF (to print to file) printer.
The Cash Tray Reconciliation Worksheet can be printed on either a standard printer or receipt printer.
Labels and Signs
Any of the Dymo LabelWriter printers up to version 4.x will work. Dymo made drastic changes in their V5 printers and rendered them incompatible.
Any Windows rolled label printer with a Windows driver will work. Tech support will help you configure custom label layouts and sizes.
Any Windows page printer will work. These are mainly used for sign printing but also work well for intial store labeling as the cost per label is generally less. Sheets of paper or adhesive labels may be used as you see fit. If we print labels to sheets cut lines are printed to make separation easy.
Bar Code Scanners
In many environments USB bar code scanners are fine. They offer the advantage of working like your keyboard so they allow you to scan bar codes into any place you can type data. This is a mixed blessing...
In high volume lanes use bar code scanners that plug into serial port instead of USB. Acme only opens the port at appropriate times. This helps avoid the possibility of having data scanned into the wrong fields.
Card Swipes (MSR) -Gift Card, Loyalty Card, Age verification from Driver's License and ID cards.
Most Magnetic Stripe Readers (MSR's) are compatible but requirements vary by platform and card printer. inquire for assistance.
We also offer phone number based loyalty programs that are more convenient and less costly to maintain.
Cash Drawer
Cash drawers are most commonly plugged into receipt printers, but can also be designed for use with serial or parallel port.
Note that some drawers require different cables for different receipt printer emulations. Voltage of drawer and the port on the printer must be matched.
Customer Display (pole display)
Use serial, parallel or USB port with serial emulator. Many have pass through capability so they can share a port with a receipt printer. Acme supports 2 line LED and multi-line LCD displays.
Processing Electronic Payments
Processors
Acme works with all processors in USA and Canada, but we do have our favorites. When processors compete YOU win. Some shops save more on card processing that they spend on Acme by switching to one of our preferred processors reps. Note this does not mean you have to switch processors, just reps. Say yes to a no cost, no obligation, no pressure quote.
Payment Terminals
We work with hundreds of models of payment terminals. Some include signature capture for electronic payments and House Charge invoices. Most include tap to pay. Some features are processor dependent, inquire for availability and details.
Weigh Scales (connected to point of sale)
Acme works with most scales that are POS compatible, this includes on counter and in counter scanner/scales. Reply with make and model for specifics.
Battery Backup (UPS) Surge Protection
As with all computers, POS systems require "clean juice". We highly recommend a battery backup with good surge protection line conditioning. Good units actually condition the line voltage full time and make the transition to "brown outs" and black outs a non-issue. These are often referred to as Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS).
Brown outs are often said to to be harder on modern equipment than black outs. Line conditioning is sometimes referred to as "voltage regulation".
CHECK SPECIFIC DEVICE, THESE ARE APPROXIMATIONS ONLY
Integrated touch screen PC with receipt printer 240W
On counter and on counter scales 10W
Stand alone thermal receipt printers 60W
Keyboards and Mice
We do not sell keyboards and mice, even when you order new computers. Acme works with them all and we recommend you purchase locally.
Acme transaction entry is finger friendly, to work well with touch screens but some things are just easier to do with keyboard and mouse.
Multi-Store
In a multi-store environment a Central (non-selling) Acme is used to gather transactions and customer lists from all of the satellite stores.
