Which till hardware can you keep?
| Device | What to confirm | What to test in the demo |
|---|---|---|
| Till terminal or touchscreen | Exact model, operating system version, support for security updates, and the ports needed for your other devices. If the screen and computer are separate, check each one. | Open the EPOS app, scan a basket and complete a sale. Restart the till and check the connected devices come back online. |
| Barcode scanner | Model, connection and supported barcode formats. If you need 2D barcodes, check that both the scanner and the till software can process the codes you use. | Scan everyday products, two versions of a price-marked pack and a sample 2D code if relevant. Check that the right product and price appear. |
| Receipt printer | Exact printer variant, connection and driver support. Record whether it plugs into the till or connects over the shop network. | Print a sale receipt and a refund receipt. If the printer controls the cash drawer, test them as a pair. |
| Cash drawer | Where it plugs in and whether the new printer or till supports that specific drawer connection. | Check the drawer opens on a cash sale and follows your shop’s permissions for manual opening. |
| Weighing scales | Whether the scale sends weight to the till or prints a barcode the till reads. Confirm that equipment used to price goods by weight is suitable for trade use. | Run one weighed sale, check the displayed weight and price, and verify the receipt. |
| Card terminal | The exact terminal model, payment provider, and whether the device is owned, leased or supplied as part of a payment agreement. | Send the basket total from the till, run a test payment and refund, and check how you match the transaction to your payment report. |
If you need to look up a model before your demo, start with the MHouse guides to retail barcode scanners and thermal receipt printers. For scales you use to price goods by weight, check the government guidance on weighing equipment for trade.
Check card payments separately
A standalone card terminal may let staff key in the amount by hand. An integrated setup passes the amount from the EPOS till to the terminal. If you want that integration, ask the EPOS supplier and your payment provider to confirm whether your current terminal, provider and agreement support it.
If you’re offered a replacement terminal, check the current agreement for rental charges, notice periods and any return requirements. Ask how staff will handle refunds for payments taken before the switch. Compare the payment arrangement alongside the hardware quote. See MPOS Pay for MHouse’s integrated payments option.
What to send before you request a quote
- List devices by till. Take a photo of the model label and the ports on each till, scanner, printer and other device. Include the operating system version for each till terminal.
- Show how they connect. Note which devices use USB, Ethernet, serial or Bluetooth, and where the cash drawer cable goes. Include any customer display, label printer or stockroom handheld your team relies on.
- Describe what you need the checkout to do. Tell the supplier if you sell goods by weight, scan loyalty codes or want the till to send amounts to the card terminal.
- Ask for a decision on each device. Have the supplier mark it as reusable as-is, reusable with changes, or due for replacement. Ask for the cost of any adapters, drivers, setup work and ongoing support.
When comparing quotes, check who supports reused hardware and what happens if it fails. A printer you can keep with a supported driver may save you money. A terminal that needs paid configuration and has limited support can cost more to keep than you expect. Compare those costs using the UK EPOS cost guide.
Test one complete checkout before you switch
Use a sample basket from your shop. Scan the items, apply a promotion, pay by card, print a receipt, refund an item and run a cash sale. If you have several tills, start with one lane and check the other lanes for hardware differences. If you have one till, agree a changeover time and a fallback with your installer so you can keep serving customers if a device needs replacing.
Ask for a written list of the hardware that passed the test, any devices you still need to replace and who’ll support the finished setup. Keep it with your quote so you know what the supplier has agreed to install and support.
Bring your hardware list to an MHouse demo
If you’re upgrading a UK convenience store, tell us how many tills you run and send the model numbers of the devices you’d like to keep. We can discuss how your checkout would work with MPOS Retail and which devices need a compatibility test before installation.