6 ms·

Connect from Square

104 points by wodow 11y ago

wodow 11y ago
Here's TechCrunch on the announcement: http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/30/square-copies-stripe-with-new-online-checkout-api/ http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/30/square-copies-stripe-with-n...
brianjking 11y ago
With this release it looks like this may bring Square as a viable gateway/CC processor for 3rd party ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce. Any confirmation? Thanks!
- hartard 11y ago
  Yes, this can be used as a payment gateway option for ECommerce platforms (including Woocommmerce). It's already available through both Bigcommerce and Weebly.
  - brianjking 11y ago
    Yes, these two options were already available, however, anything else was off the table until this release.
pbreit 11y ago
Finally. I have no idea why Square didn't do is years ago before Stripe came to dominate. Square has tremendous advantage with large existing merchant base, most of whom need online processing.
- dwightgunning 11y ago
  I'm not sure if most of their large merchant base do have an immediate need for online processing. I always thought they targeted mainly bricks-and-mortar retail, cafes, small chains, etc. I havent thought about this a whole lot by my initial guess was that in the past they just had their hands full capturing that large bricks-and-mortar merchant base. It seems easier to move from that position of strength into the adjacent online payment market than in the other direction. Timing into the market(s) would also be a factor. Square and Stripe have been at it for quite a while.
  - pbreit 11y ago
    Even cafes, indie retail and food trucks have online commerce. I think they've had her hands full with a lot of non-core activities like food delivery and payroll.
- hacknat 11y ago
  Umm, this has been around for a while. Notice the v2 tag? Source: I developed an application with this API over a year ago. Also, it's not a given that most of Square's customers need online processing. Probably most of them don't.
  - pbreit 11y ago
    My guess would be 50-90%. The v1 was either hidden or private, hence the current announcement.
    - hacknat 11y ago
      I developed on v1 over a year ago. Read before you respond.
derwiki 11y ago
Exciting to see them enter the space. Can anyone find the pricing on this? We're using Stripe, and without the ability to initiate an ACH transfer, it looks like we won't be able to use Connect from Square. If they do support it some day, I would seriously look into switching. Instant transfers are amazing and that's why I've switched back to Square Cash from Venmo. [edit] The Techcrunch article answered my question: "Like Stripe, online checkout costs 2.9 percent + 30 cents per transaction."
- jawspeak 11y ago
  Hi! I'm the engineering manager for the team. Thanks for the feedback. eCommerce pricing is 2.9 + 30c as you said, while the Register API pricing is the same as if you used Square Register. That plus more are in our FAQ https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/faq/ https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/faq/. Also glad to hear you like Square Cash! - Jonathan Wolter, Engineering Manager Square Developer Platform (we are hiring Product, Engineering, and Dev Evangelism roles)
the-dude 11y ago
Does anybody know if there any advantages to Square over Stripe? For us, Stripe charges 1.4% for European cards ( we are based in Europe ). That is significant.
- derwiki 11y ago
  Stripe only charges 1.4% for European cards? I've been paying 2.9% for all cards, even if they're based in Europe.
  - the-dude 11y ago
    Are you based in Europe?
    - derwiki 11y ago
      No, US. So if based in Europe charging European cards it's 1.4%? Wish US-based charging US-cards was as favorable.
      - the-dude 11y ago
        EU: https://stripe.com/nl/pricing https://stripe.com/nl/pricing https://stripe.com/de/pricing https://stripe.com/de/pricing https://stripe.com/gb/pricing https://stripe.com/gb/pricing etc. US and Japan for example: https://stripe.com/us/pricing https://stripe.com/us/pricing https://stripe.com/jp/pricing https://stripe.com/jp/pricing ( no fixed ) Must have something to do with: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-4585_en.htm http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-4585_en.htm
      - reviseddamage 11y ago
        Visa and MC are responsible for that, and Visa and MC will say that the regulatory frameworks in these countries dictate that level of pricing.
      - pbarnes_1 11y ago
        The interchange rate is capped in the EU, but not cross-border.
leothekim 11y ago
I skimmed the documentation so I could be wrong, but it looks like there's no ACH support, which Stripe has. Stripe's ACH pricing is pretty high though, so it would be a pretty big coup for Square to provide a cheaper alternative.
- brianjking 11y ago
  You think the pricing is high for ACH with Stripe?! What pricing is better than theirs? The low barrier to entry is a definite perk of using ACH with Stripe, at least IMHO.
- uptown 11y ago
  Have you looked into Dwolla?
  - pbnjay 11y ago
    +1 for Dwolla suggestion. I use it for client payments, although the customer UX is not as clean as stripe/square here for web applications.
euroclydon 11y ago
What about Square's Online Store? It's free? The same thing from Weebly is $25/mo. Does Stripe have a store builder? https://squareup.com/online-store https://squareup.com/online-store http://www.weebly.com/pricing http://www.weebly.com/pricing
- supster 11y ago
  Yeah the Online Store that comes with their POS is free and pretty great - I know a lot of small merchants using it and they love it. Looks like this goes one step further and allows you to build a web store without using their hardware POS. Unlike Weebly, Square makes money by the fees on processing credit cards so they can offer the online store for free. Stripe is a only a payments processor so you need to use Weebly or Squarespace to build your store and then use Stripe to accept payments. The thing is most merchants end up using a website builder like Weebly/Squarespace anyways to establish their web presence.
  - euroclydon 11y ago
    (Square + SquareStore - POS) == (Stripe + 'StripeStore' - POS) -> Stripe should make a store.
    - supster 11y ago
      by that logic Stripe should make a POS also
      - euroclydon 11y ago
        Well, I wish they would make an online store, so I only had to deal with one payment vender. Plus, it's arguably easier to write the store software than the POS software and deal with the hardware.
      - rch 11y ago
        Instead of starting with a POS, Stripe could work on managing inventory and fulfillment.
taylorzane 11y ago
I'm disappointed that they didn't include invoicing through the Connect API. This is my primary method of billing, and it would be great to be able to integrate this into other services.
- jawspeak 11y ago
  Hi - I'm the engineering manager of the team and thanks for the suggestion and feedback. We appreciate it because feedback guides our roadmap (and hiring, p.s. we are hiring!) - keep it coming (-: - Jonathan Wolter, Engineering Manager Square Developer Platform
supster 11y ago
Does anyone know if you can now connect to the Square payments processing hardware through the API? I would like to process in person payments through Square but keep the user experience in my application.
- hartard 11y ago
  Yes, this functionality is now available through the Register API (announced alongside the ECommerce API) https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/register-api-overview/ https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/register-api-over...
  - supster 11y ago
    Unfortunately that kicks the user out of your app and into Square's temporarily. And according to the TOS, the customer needs to be supervised by a merchant employee during the transaction. Ideally you would be able to handle the customer's payment seamlessly and unsupervised within your own app.
    - brazzledazzle 11y ago
      If it's unsupervised and in another app wouldn't that just be ecommerce? Or are you talking about something like a kiosk?
      - supster 11y ago
        Yeah something like a kiosk. I want to be able to process card swipes instead of making users enter their card number (as in the Ecommerce api). The additional benefit is that you get charged the 2.75% card present fee instead of the 2.9% + $0.30 card not present fee.
pbnjay 11y ago
I see "Subscription APIs" in the e-commerce section of the marketing page, but can't find any mention of it skimming through the developer docs. Anyone have experience doing subscriptions/recurring charges with this?
showtimes 11y ago
This is really interesting. Took way too long though. Im curious though how this works for a market place similar to what stripe connect does if anyone has any insight before I dig into the docs.

104 points by wodow 11y ago

wodow 11y ago

Here's TechCrunch on the announcement: http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/30/square-copies-stripe-with-new-online-checkout-api/ http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/30/square-copies-stripe-with-n...

brianjking 11y ago

With this release it looks like this may bring Square as a viable gateway/CC processor for 3rd party ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce. Any confirmation? Thanks!

hartard 11y ago
Yes, this can be used as a payment gateway option for ECommerce platforms (including Woocommmerce). It's already available through both Bigcommerce and Weebly.
- brianjking 11y ago
  Yes, these two options were already available, however, anything else was off the table until this release.

pbreit 11y ago

Finally. I have no idea why Square didn't do is years ago before Stripe came to dominate. Square has tremendous advantage with large existing merchant base, most of whom need online processing.

dwightgunning 11y ago
I'm not sure if most of their large merchant base do have an immediate need for online processing. I always thought they targeted mainly bricks-and-mortar retail, cafes, small chains, etc. I havent thought about this a whole lot by my initial guess was that in the past they just had their hands full capturing that large bricks-and-mortar merchant base. It seems easier to move from that position of strength into the adjacent online payment market than in the other direction. Timing into the market(s) would also be a factor. Square and Stripe have been at it for quite a while.
- pbreit 11y ago
  Even cafes, indie retail and food trucks have online commerce. I think they've had her hands full with a lot of non-core activities like food delivery and payroll.
hacknat 11y ago
Umm, this has been around for a while. Notice the v2 tag? Source: I developed an application with this API over a year ago. Also, it's not a given that most of Square's customers need online processing. Probably most of them don't.
- pbreit 11y ago
  My guess would be 50-90%. The v1 was either hidden or private, hence the current announcement.
  - hacknat 11y ago
    I developed on v1 over a year ago. Read before you respond.

derwiki 11y ago

Exciting to see them enter the space. Can anyone find the pricing on this? We're using Stripe, and without the ability to initiate an ACH transfer, it looks like we won't be able to use Connect from Square. If they do support it some day, I would seriously look into switching. Instant transfers are amazing and that's why I've switched back to Square Cash from Venmo. [edit] The Techcrunch article answered my question: "Like Stripe, online checkout costs 2.9 percent + 30 cents per transaction."

jawspeak 11y ago
Hi! I'm the engineering manager for the team. Thanks for the feedback. eCommerce pricing is 2.9 + 30c as you said, while the Register API pricing is the same as if you used Square Register. That plus more are in our FAQ https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/faq/ https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/faq/. Also glad to hear you like Square Cash! - Jonathan Wolter, Engineering Manager Square Developer Platform (we are hiring Product, Engineering, and Dev Evangelism roles)

the-dude 11y ago

Does anybody know if there any advantages to Square over Stripe? For us, Stripe charges 1.4% for European cards ( we are based in Europe ). That is significant.

derwiki 11y ago
Stripe only charges 1.4% for European cards? I've been paying 2.9% for all cards, even if they're based in Europe.
- the-dude 11y ago
  Are you based in Europe?
  - derwiki 11y ago
    No, US. So if based in Europe charging European cards it's 1.4%? Wish US-based charging US-cards was as favorable.
    - the-dude 11y ago
      EU: https://stripe.com/nl/pricing https://stripe.com/nl/pricing https://stripe.com/de/pricing https://stripe.com/de/pricing https://stripe.com/gb/pricing https://stripe.com/gb/pricing etc. US and Japan for example: https://stripe.com/us/pricing https://stripe.com/us/pricing https://stripe.com/jp/pricing https://stripe.com/jp/pricing ( no fixed ) Must have something to do with: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-4585_en.htm http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-4585_en.htm
    - reviseddamage 11y ago
      Visa and MC are responsible for that, and Visa and MC will say that the regulatory frameworks in these countries dictate that level of pricing.
    - pbarnes_1 11y ago
      The interchange rate is capped in the EU, but not cross-border.

leothekim 11y ago

I skimmed the documentation so I could be wrong, but it looks like there's no ACH support, which Stripe has. Stripe's ACH pricing is pretty high though, so it would be a pretty big coup for Square to provide a cheaper alternative.

brianjking 11y ago
You think the pricing is high for ACH with Stripe?! What pricing is better than theirs? The low barrier to entry is a definite perk of using ACH with Stripe, at least IMHO.
uptown 11y ago
Have you looked into Dwolla?
- pbnjay 11y ago
  +1 for Dwolla suggestion. I use it for client payments, although the customer UX is not as clean as stripe/square here for web applications.

euroclydon 11y ago

What about Square's Online Store? It's free? The same thing from Weebly is $25/mo. Does Stripe have a store builder? https://squareup.com/online-store https://squareup.com/online-store http://www.weebly.com/pricing http://www.weebly.com/pricing

supster 11y ago
Yeah the Online Store that comes with their POS is free and pretty great - I know a lot of small merchants using it and they love it. Looks like this goes one step further and allows you to build a web store without using their hardware POS. Unlike Weebly, Square makes money by the fees on processing credit cards so they can offer the online store for free. Stripe is a only a payments processor so you need to use Weebly or Squarespace to build your store and then use Stripe to accept payments. The thing is most merchants end up using a website builder like Weebly/Squarespace anyways to establish their web presence.
- euroclydon 11y ago
  (Square + SquareStore - POS) == (Stripe + 'StripeStore' - POS) -> Stripe should make a store.
  - supster 11y ago
    by that logic Stripe should make a POS also
    - euroclydon 11y ago
      Well, I wish they would make an online store, so I only had to deal with one payment vender. Plus, it's arguably easier to write the store software than the POS software and deal with the hardware.
    - rch 11y ago
      Instead of starting with a POS, Stripe could work on managing inventory and fulfillment.

taylorzane 11y ago

I'm disappointed that they didn't include invoicing through the Connect API. This is my primary method of billing, and it would be great to be able to integrate this into other services.

jawspeak 11y ago
Hi - I'm the engineering manager of the team and thanks for the suggestion and feedback. We appreciate it because feedback guides our roadmap (and hiring, p.s. we are hiring!) - keep it coming (-: - Jonathan Wolter, Engineering Manager Square Developer Platform

supster 11y ago

Does anyone know if you can now connect to the Square payments processing hardware through the API? I would like to process in person payments through Square but keep the user experience in my application.

hartard 11y ago
Yes, this functionality is now available through the Register API (announced alongside the ECommerce API) https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/register-api-overview/ https://docs.connect.squareup.com/articles/register-api-over...
- supster 11y ago
  Unfortunately that kicks the user out of your app and into Square's temporarily. And according to the TOS, the customer needs to be supervised by a merchant employee during the transaction. Ideally you would be able to handle the customer's payment seamlessly and unsupervised within your own app.
  - brazzledazzle 11y ago
    If it's unsupervised and in another app wouldn't that just be ecommerce? Or are you talking about something like a kiosk?
    - supster 11y ago
      Yeah something like a kiosk. I want to be able to process card swipes instead of making users enter their card number (as in the Ecommerce api). The additional benefit is that you get charged the 2.75% card present fee instead of the 2.9% + $0.30 card not present fee.

pbnjay 11y ago

I see "Subscription APIs" in the e-commerce section of the marketing page, but can't find any mention of it skimming through the developer docs. Anyone have experience doing subscriptions/recurring charges with this?

showtimes 11y ago

This is really interesting. Took way too long though. Im curious though how this works for a market place similar to what stripe connect does if anyone has any insight before I dig into the docs.