Small Business Advice: How to Choose the Best Price Scanner
If you are going to open a retail store, you will likely need to invest in a price scanner. But if you’ve never purchased a price scanner before, you may not know how to choose the right one.
If you are in this position, you’ll be happy to know that it’s not too hard to figure out which price scanner is best for your needs.
In fact, if you keep reading, you’ll learn exactly how to choose the best price scanner, even if you’ve never bought one before.
Let’s begin!
Which Kind of Price Scanner Do You Need?
There are many different kinds of price scanners you can choose from.
One kind of price scanner you can invest in is a handheld scanner.
These can be used to scan a lot of items quickly. If you are dealing with large items, these are quite useful. That is because they provide a lot of maneuverability.
This makes it easy to scan a barcode that is awkwardly located on a large item. This can really help improve productivity levels.
You will generally find that these scanners can be bought for under $100. There are more expensive models on offer, but that price point is normally what you will encounter.
You can also invest in ’embedded scanners.’
These scanners tend to cost more than the handheld scanners we’ve mentioned. They’re quite good at scanning a large number of items in a short period of time. You will generally find these scanners in grocery stores.
If you are opening a store where people generally buy a high volume of items, these scanners can come in handy.
There’s also the option of investing in ‘wand’ scanners.
These scanners need to be ‘run’ across the entire length of a barcode. It’s almost as if you are using a highlighter. These scanners are not designed to be used in situations where there are a lot of items that need to be scanned.
If you are not sure which model is right for you, try to find someone who already runs a retail store. They should be able to advise you on what is best for your needs.
Think About Durability
When you are buying scanners, you will want to put some thought into durability. There are some scanners on offer that have been specially designed so that they will last longer than usual.
Such scanners are designed so that they will not break if they are dropped. Some are also are also designed so that they have some level of water resistance.
If you are using your scanners outdoors or in a warehouse, you might want to think about investing in a scanner that is marketed as durable. You can often tell if a scanner is durable, by the ‘case’ that it has.
You will generally find that these scanners are more expensive than the normal scanners on offer. But it is worth thinking about the savings you will make, as a result of buying a durable scanner. After all, you will not have to invest in replacements as often.
Some scanners will come with a warranty. This warranty will ensure you are protected, just in case the scanner does not last as long as it was supposed to.
If you are adamant about buying something that has a warranty, think about buying from reputable companies. You can find such a company, by visiting this website.
Do You Need a Wired Scanner or a Wireless Scanner?
Earlier, we mentioned the different kinds of scanners you can invest in. It is worth mentioning that some of the versions described can be bought as wireless or wired.
The option you choose is going to depend on your needs. Wireless scanners can provide a lot in the way of flexibility. You are not going to be stuck in one position when you are using a wireless scanner. However, wired scanners are good, because they do not suffer from a loss in connection.
Wireless scanners are going to require batteries. Some will have rechargeable batteries built in.
But you will need to make sure that there are protocols in place to make sure the scanners are always charged. You might ask employees to charge the scanners overnight, for instance.
The problem, though, arises when someone has forgotten to charge the scanners. If this happens you will be in a situation where you are without scanners. Therefore, if you are using wireless scanners, think about having a backup option, just in case there is a problem with charging.
If you are using scanners in a situation where you can not afford any drops in connection, the wired option might be best.
If you are going to use a wired scanner, make sure you think about cable management. If something goes wrong with the scanner, the first thing you will want to check is the connection. But if you have poor cable management, it will be hard to find the right wire.
Time to Open up Shop?
Opening up a retail store can be really exciting, but also overwhelming. There’s a lot to think about and you need to make sure you pay attention to buying the right kinds of equipment. One thing you need to focus on purchasing is a price scanner.
In this post, we’ve taken a look at some of the considerations you need to make when investing in a price scanner. You need to think about whether you need something that is wired or wireless. You also need to think about if you are able to afford any sort of downtime with your scanners.
Durability is also something that matters a lot. If you are working in rough conditions, you might end up with a lot of broken scanners. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, invest in scanners that have been marketed as durable. In doing so, you will be able to save a lot of money in the long run.
Thinking about starting your own business? Check out our ‘start your own business’ section to see some of our latest posts on this topic!
