Ingenico RP450c Review

The RP450c is another Ingenico mobile card reader – this one offers magnetic stripe card acceptance, EMV chip and signature acceptance, and digital wallet contactless transactions like Apple Pay. It cannot accept EMV chip and PIN transactions. (If you need that capability, check out the RP750x.) Since it’s an Ingenico reader, it can be used with almost any processing company. Read on for a full explanation of features.

Using the RP450C

In order to use the card reader, you’ll need to have the ROAMpay mobile app (available from both the iTunes store and the Google Play store for Apple and Android devices, respectively) and set up a merchant account. Not processing yet, or considering switching processors? You can view pricing from processors that can support Ingenico machines using our quote comparison tool.

Features

The Ingenico RP450c works with Ingenico’s ROAMpay app, which includes several features for payment acceptance and business management. On the payments side, you can take and record cash transactions, accept credit cards and NFC payments, customize receipts, process refunds, automatically calculate tax, offer discounts, and even capture customers’ signatures on your mobile device. If you run the kind of business where you customers tip your staff, enabling gratuities will allow tips at the time of sale even if customers don’t have cash on hand.

Another popular feature is the offline mode, which allows you to take payments on the go even if a connection isn’t available.

On the business management side, you can collect customer information and make notes about transactions, or use the basic inventory management options to track your stock.

Hardware

The RP450c weighs less than 2.3 ounces and offers several connection options. You can use the card reader in three different positions: through your mobile device’s audio jack, via Bluetooth connectivity, or in its dock as a desktop card reader. An adjustable clamp ensures that the RP450c stays firmly on your device to prevent wobbling.

The RP450c is a bidirectional card reader, so it doesn’t matter which way you swipe it. It’s longer than many other card readers on the market, giving it an edge in capturing data on the first try. LED and beep indicators tell you the battery and reader status.

This card reader uses a rechargeable lithium ion battery that connects to a power source via USB cable. Ingenico claims that the RP450c can process 200 EMV or contactless payments or 400 magnetic swipe card transactions per charge. The card reader has a lifetime of a minimum of 100,000 EMV or magnetic card transactions.

Security

The RP450c and ROAMpay are PCI compliant, and the reader is EMV Level 1 and 2 certified. Ingenico’s card reader features end-to-end encryption so customer data can travel securely over a network from the moment you swipe it. In addition, it detects when someone is trying to tamper with it.

The RP450c’s ability to accept EMV cards reduces your fraud risk. Remember that as of October 2015, businesses that accept an EMV chip card but run it as a magnetic strip card are liable for fraudulent transactions. Some processors are even starting to impose EMV non-compliance fees if you don’t use an EMV-capable machine. The RP450c helps you avoid those hassles.

Reporting

A basic set of reports is available through the ROAMpay merchant portal, although the apps’ websites don’t explain what kind of reports you can generate. You can view your transaction history within the app itself.

Helpful Links

App in Google Play Store
App in iTunes/App store