Supplies for the SAM4s ER-5200M

The SAM4s ER5200M uses thermal paper rolls in both the receipt and journal printers. Even if you don't issue a receipt you should have the paper installed and you wuill be able to use the receipt copy feature in case a customer does ask for one. I think it is law in most states that a customer must be given a receipt of some type if they request one.

Bond paper rolls WILL NOT work in the SAM 4s ER-5200M. This register also does not need an ink ribbon as it uses thermal paper. This machine also will use the large roll of paper, don't wast time with the 80' or 150' foot rolls, get a 200' to 230' foot roll.

Click here for supplies for the ER5200M like the paper and keyboard covers or click here for another source of supplies and service for the SAM4s ER-5200M

The SAM4s ER-180 and 180T are they the same?

At first glance you would think the ER-180 and the ER-180T are the same with the exception that the 180T has a thermal printer. We though so for sure but while looking closer we saw several more important differances.

Here are the differances

Feature                          180                           180T
Departments                  Same                         Same
PLU's                            100                           500
Clerks                           4 Max                       10 Max
Receipt Messages     NO                           Programmable
EJ                                 NO                           2500 lines

So no they are not the same other then the printer. Granted most people buying little machines like this will most likely never use the features but it does surprise me! Maybe it is a typo on the printed material from SAM4s? 

SAM4s Cash Registers and DVR Text Interfaces

SAM4s Cash Registers

We get this question all the time, can my DVR interface to my SAM4s cash register? The simple answer is maybe! Here is the problem there are hundreds of DVR systems on the market today. I can only speak for one of the hundred plus systems and that is the Talon DVR system for which the answer is YES for most models. The other part of the question I can answer is that all most all SAM4s Cash Registers can interface to DVR systems however keep in mind I did not say all DVR systems or your DVR system! YES the SAM4s can export the required information via a serial port now the question is can my DVR system use it?

So now that you know almost every SAM4s can get the data out it is up to your DVR company to tell you not the cash register dealer. We have people call every week and we try to explain this and they ask us to come out and connect their cash register to their Brand X DVR system. Most cash register dealers like us can not do this and that is a question for your DVR people not us. The SAM4s registers that I know can export teh data needed are.

• ER-650
• ER-650R
• ER-5215M
• ER-5240M
• ER-5240M
• ER5200M
• SPS-520R
• SPS-520F
• SPS-530R
• SPS-530F
• SER-7000
• SER-7040
• SPS-2000

You will have to have an available serial port on your register in order to connect it to a DVR system.

So before you buy your DVR system ask them is your SAM4s register on their list of approved registers? If not don't call a register dealer they won't know! If your DVR dealer can't tell you then find another DVR dealer. I have worked with many that have a list of registers by model number that they work with and the required cable and the setting! Those are the DVR dealers you want to work with!

Hope that helps and remember to do your homework before you buy!

What Happened to Samsung Cash Registers

We do not get this question as often as we used to but a few people still remember and or use Samsung Cash Registers. So here is the story as related to me. Samsung marketed cash registers all over the world for years. Samsung never made the cash registers they sold however few people knew that or probably cared. Sometime ago for what ever reason Samsung decided to get out of the Cash Register Business. The company that had always made the Samsung Cash Registers I guess was given the option of purchasing the rights or maybe they did not have to buy anything not sure but anyhow they started marketing the Cash Registers they always made for Samsung on their own and came up with the name SAM4s. Yes the name SAM4s has a meaning however I have forgotten it but I blogged about it several years ago and a person from SAM4s commented and educated me on the meaning. I know it is like Strong, Silent, etc etc It was nice and strong sounding sorry I can't remember.

This was a great move because SAM4s has taken the line and made it GREAT. I think SAM4s is running away from the pack and setting new standards for Cash Registers in Functions, Features, Options and pricing. The only distributor for SAM4s Cash Registers is CRS who also opertates a small retail dealers ship as well.

Even though SAM4s is really running over everyone else in the industry I hope some competition remains and stages a come back. As great as SAM4s has been I think history has proved nothing good comes out of a monoply of the market!

Keyboard Covers for SAM4s Cash Registers

There are three sites I know of that sell the silicone or plastic keyboard cover for SAM4s Cash Registers. Keeping a cover on your machine can protect it and prolong the life of your machine. Some machines require a cover such as the restaurant style machines with flat micro motion keyboards. Most keyboard covers seem top range in price from around $20.00 to upwards of $40.00 or so. Here are the top sites on the internet for Keyboard Covers

• SAM4s Cash Register Keyboard Covers
• Keyboard Covers for SAM4s Cash Registers
• Plastic Keyboard Covers for Cash Registers

Don't wait until you can no longer see through your cover or worse you are using the machine without one and someone spills a soda of coffee right on you machine! We see it everyday where a low cost keyboard cover would have saved you the cost of a replacment machine. It is almost not if you will spill something on your register more like when and how much!

Changing Sales Tax on a SAM4s Cash Register

Well it is that time of year again when the sales taxes across the country are often raised! Here are a couple good SELF HELP resources for SAM4s Cash Registers. These sites have some manuals posted and even some tips on programming sales tax

• Programming SAM4s Cash Registers
• SAM4s Manuals and Programming Help
• Help with SAM4s Cash Registers

These sites offer some free items as well as they might be able to help over the phone for a fee. (don't expect them to help you for free unless maybe you bought your cash register from them and even then it may not be free)

Credit Card Interface with SAM4s Cash Registers

Cash Register to Credit Card Interface with Datacap

Datacap makes devices that connect your cash register to your credit card processor and takes the old manual entry credit card machine out of the loop. When you intergrate your cash register directly to credit card processing you will be able to speed up transactions, greatly reduce errors, reduce fraud and make you more money. Here are a couple places that have the Datcap devices. The first one offer the Datacap Twin Tran with SAM4s and Sharp cash registers and the second one also offers Datacap Modems that interface with credit card sand gift cards