Square Reader (Photo: squareup.com)
Square Payment Processing, which provides mobile credit card readers and processing services, recently updated their seller agreement to now prohibit their services from being used in transactions involving guns, gun parts and ammunition.
According to the updated Square Seller Agreement, if you create a Square account you agree to not engage in the “(23) sales of (i) firearms, firearm parts or hardware, and ammunition; or (ii) weapons and other devices designed to cause physical injury” with the service.
The way the company works is they provide what’s called a Square Reader, a device that can be attached to a smart phone to accept credit card payments from anyone, anywhere. According to their website, the device is free, and you only pay 2.75 percent from each transaction. Obviously, this is a very convenient and savvy option for small business owners and others that demand extreme portability.
But convenient or not, Square’s updated user agreement will certainly force some customers to throw their free reader in the trash and find a new payment processing service.
Square isn’t the only payment processing company that has chosen not to accept transactions that involve guns, parts or ammunition though. Others have the same or similar policies. PayPal has long refused to engage in any gun-related transactions. According to the policy posted on their website, PayPal cannot be used to pay for firearms, firearm accessories or ammo.
However, if you are a small business owner in need of a gun-friendly credit card payment processing option, there are some available. The NRA Business Alliance provides credit card payment processing, including transactions made over the Internet, and so does PistolPay, which launched just last summer as a PayPal for guns. PhoneSwipe is another payment processor that accepts transactions involving firearms and ammunition.
Square doesn’t only discriminate against firearms either. According to their Seller Agreement, they also do not allow transactions involving adult entertainment oriented products or services, including escort services, as well as drug paraphernalia, or any other “hate or harmful products.” Although there is no list provided as what is considered harmful.
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