Card reader or QR payment for a market or festival stall?
A card reader suits stalls where customers expect to tap a card, and a QR payment suits stalls with reliable mobile signal and customers happy to pay from a phone. Many traders carry both. Test each at a quiet event before relying on it at a busy one.
How a card reader works
A card reader takes contactless cards, phones and watches, and usually chip and PIN as well. The customer taps or inserts a card and the reader confirms the payment. Readers connect to the internet through Bluetooth to a phone, a mobile data connection or wifi, so signal still matters.
How QR payment works
With a QR payment the customer scans a code on your stall sign or screen, confirms the amount in their own banking or payment app and pays. You need no hardware beyond a printed or displayed code, which keeps set-up simple. The customer needs a smartphone with signal and a suitable app.
What each needs on site
- Card reader: a charged device, a data connection, the reader's own charge and somewhere dry to keep it.
- QR payment: a clear, well-lit code at customer height, a phone or screen to confirm payment and signal for both you and the customer.
- Both: a plan for rain, glare and a flat battery.
Which suits which stall
Stalls with quick, low-value sales and long queues benefit from the speed of a tap. Stalls with higher-value items, where customers pause to decide, often suit either method. Festivals with patchy coverage reward traders who carry a second option. Our guide to what to do when the signal drops covers backup plans.
- How does the reader connect, and what happens if the connection drops?
- How long does a payment take to reach my account?
- What are the full charges, and where are they published?
- What support is available on a weekend, when most events happen?
Write the answers down and keep them with your trading records so you can compare options again when your business grows.
Look at who buys from you. Older customers and tourists often carry cards, while younger customers may prefer paying from a phone. Watch what people try to do at your stall in the first few events and adjust your set-up to match.
Comparing the costs
Providers charge in different ways, such as a percentage per sale, a fixed amount per sale, a hardware cost or a monthly fee. Read the provider's current published terms and work out the cost on your typical sale. The guide to payment fees for market traders explains what to look for.
A sensible set-up for most traders
- Start with one card reader that takes contactless payments.
- Add a QR code on your signage as a second route.
- Keep some cash for small sales and for times when both fail.
- Check the organiser's trader pack, because some events set rules on payment methods.
Before you rely on either
Run a few test payments at home and again at a quiet pitch. Check how long money takes to reach your account, and keep records of every sale for your accounts. The payments hub has the other guides in this series.
Frequently asked questions
Is QR payment safe for customers?
Customers confirm the amount in their own app before they pay, which lets them check what they are approving. Display your code where it cannot be covered or swapped, and check it regularly.
Do I need signal for a card reader?
Most readers need an internet connection to approve a payment. Some can store payments briefly when offline, but the rules vary by provider, so check the terms before you depend on that.
Can I use both a card reader and a QR code?
Yes. Many stall holders carry both, along with some cash, so a customer can always pay.
Which is quicker at a busy stall?
Contactless card payments are usually quick because the customer taps and goes. QR payments depend on the customer opening an app and having signal.
Marquees for larger events
Race meetings and large shows often call for more cover than a single gazebo. Gala Tent makes modular marquees for festivals and events.
Useful pages on our sister sites
Event Industry Trader is published by Gala Tent. These pages from Gala Tent and the wider Gala group go further on the kit, branding and payments covered here.
Where to check the rules
Rules vary by council and by event. Confirm requirements with the organiser and the relevant authority before you act.