The telco is offering the $59 Square Reader for $5 when combined with certain phone plans.
Vodafone has started selling the Square Reader in more than 1,000 of its stores around Australia. Customers can purchase the device for $5 when signing up for one of the telco’s qualifying 24-month plans: Red (minimum $60 a month) or SIM Only Red (minimum $50 a month).
As a bonus for new Square customers, the processing fees on the first $1,000 of card payments will be waived. Those fees are usually 1.9 percent for “tap, insert or swipe” transactions, or 2.2 percent for others (typically ‘card not present’ transactions), so that's at least a $19 saving.
“In an increasingly cashless society, we want to arm small businesses with sophisticated tools so they're ready for anything – tools that are traditionally reserved for big businesses,” said Vodafone executive general manager for enterprise Stuart Kelly.
“We've put ease and convenience at the heart of this unique solution – from a market stall to the retail shop floor, collecting instant payments is both good for the customer and good for business.”
Square Australian country manager Ben Pfisterer added: “Our research shows up to 80 per cent of Square sellers had not accepted credit or debit cards before using Square, highlighting an existing gap in card payment solutions in the local market.
“With more than 2.1 million small businesses across the country, our partnership with Vodafone will allow more Australian businesses get access to affordable payment solutions that will help them run and grow more efficiently.”
