Val,
There has been some great advice in this thread. A lot of folks are offering similar info:
I can tell you that getting the demo cds from these companies is a must.
Val, get a free trial demo of the program(s) and try it out and see for yourself.
Nothing beats running the demos and testing them for 1-2 weeks. Then you'll be able to see which one is the right one for you.
this is just my opinion, and you'll get many other flag wavers on a discussion here, endorsing the brand they use. Your best opportunity would be to play with each first hand and find out what it is you like and don't like
Bingo! I couldn't agree more. It's not what WE use that matters, it's what YOU are comfortable with. After evaluating, asking questions, and consulting your staff - you'll be armed with the tools to make the right decision for your business.
All of the top POS systems have reasonable annual fees for maintenance, toll free support, pricing and program upgrades. Some include it in a grouped fee, while others charge different fees for each component. When comparing, be sure to consider all the components - so you are comparing apples to apples. (for example company 1 might charge $225 for phone and price updates and $299 for optional software updates, company 2 might charge $500 for both combined, etc) Some charge extra yearly fees per workstation, while others for the whole account. Some have different fees each year, depending on the complexity of their upgrades. It can get confusing, and i'm hoping that the neutral list eliminates some of this confusion. If you have any constructive criticism for improvement, please email me.
In other industries we would be paying 15k or more for something similar. They're ALL a bargain. The important thing is to have a product that does what you want it to do, supplies timely price updates for the vendors you carry, and will be there if you need help in the future. It should also be able to grow with your business, should the need for additional workstation/terminals become necessary.
I hate to wave a flag, but I will anyways... Four years ago we chose LifeSaver, and it has been one of the best business decisions to date. The service, improvements, ease of use, and responsiveness have been stellar. The payback in efficiency and saved time was likely less than 6 months, which I suspect you will find with any of the top products.
Please keep us posted on your journey to find the one that works best for your shop.
Best regards
Mike