Global supply chain problems, especially microchip shortages, are resulting in limited supplies of some of the most popular payment processing devices. If your business is in need of new processing terminals, this could affect you.
Understanding the Supply Problem
If you’re having trouble getting new processing terminals for your business, blame COVID-19. During the height of the COVID crisis, the supply of chips decreased due to plant closings and cutbacks as workers isolated during the pandemic. While demand for new chips—for everything from computers and smartphones to automobiles and credit card terminals—remained low, that wasn’t an issue. But as the pandemic eased and demand increased to or exceeded pre-COVID levels, a shortage ensued.
Put simply, there’s currently more demand for microchips than there is supply. This resulted in both increased prices and a shortage of those products that use microchips—such as card processing terminals. Just as consumers are waiting months to get the cars and computers they want, merchants now have to wait for the terminals they need.
What Terminals Are Affected?
The supply shortage affects all different types of terminals, from all suppliers. The shortage is somewhat of a moving target, as some terminals may become available for a period of time while other terminals remain backordered, only to have the situation flip as some shipments arrive and other inventories are depleted.
The bottom line, for some merchants, is that the terminals you want may not be available for several months—no matter where you look. It’s not just a problem for Higher Standards; all processors are in the same situation.
What Can You Do?
The question remains, what can you do if you need new terminals?
First, check with your Higher Standards Expert Advisor. Our Advisors have more information about the availability of specific terminals and may be able to steer you towards a model that is available now or will be soon.
Second, you can try shopping around to other sources, but you’re likely to be disappointed. If we can’t get a specific terminal, no one case can, either.
Third, if you can delay your purchase, you may need to do so. You may need to hold onto that old terminal just a little bit longer until replacement models become available. If you have an issue with an existing terminal, repairing it may be quicker than replacing it at this point in time.
If you can’t delay your purchase—if you’re opening up a new location and need new terminals, for example—you may just have to wait. Unless you can substitute an available model for the model you wanted but is currently out of stock, there may not be other options. The entire industry is suffering from these supply shortages, and sometimes the only solution available is to wait.
Contact Us
If you are in need of new or replacement terminals, contact your Higher Standards Expert Advisor or the Higher Standards office. We’ll have the latest information as to what’s available and hopefully be able to guide you to an alternative solution. Rest assured, the equipment manufacturers are working as hard as they can to get supplies back to normal—and new terminals in your hands.
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