Use Stripe Terminal Readers

When to use this

Use this article when you need to use Stripe Terminal Readers in Topo. The main staff surface is Staff > Commerce > Terminal Readers. It is written for Front Desk, Managers.

What this covers

• Settings plus POS-13

• Register reader with label and code, assign to location, online/offline status, remove reader, pending sale behavior, and fallback payment path

Before you start

• Select one location before opening POS. POS cannot run from All Locations because stock, taxes, tips, and Terminal readers are location-specific.

• Use a staff role that can create sales. Ask an owner or admin if POS is hidden or checkout controls are disabled.

• Confirm Stripe payment readiness before accepting card payments.

• Choose one checkout context: an attached member for member-specific access, account credit, card-on-file payments, or post-sale check-in; Guest checkout for anonymous merchandise sales.

• Review the sale detail if payment is pending, failed, refunded, or disputed before retrying anything.

Steps

1. Open Terminal Readers and register the reader with its label and registration code.

2. Assign or verify the reader location.

3. Open POS at the same location and build the sale.

4. Choose the reader checkout option and send the sale.

5. Watch the pending sale screen until the reader completes or fails.

6. Review the sale detail if the reader disconnects or the sale remains pending.

What happens after saving or completing this

• The sale record keeps the member or guest context, staff user, selected location, line items, discounts, taxes, tips, credit, and payment status.

• Receipts, refunds, disputes, inventory changes, and access grants depend on the sale status.

• Review the sale detail if payment is pending, failed, refunded, disputed, or if access did not apply as expected.

Common issues and fixes

• A reader can be online but assigned to the wrong location.

• Terminal sales may show pending until the reader completes the payment.

• Do not retry blindly; open the sale detail first.

• Checkout is disabled: confirm selected location, non-empty cart, member or guest checkout, payment readiness, and required payment method.

• An item is missing: check active status, location availability, variant sellability, bundle contents, and inventory tracking.

• A payment or Terminal sale is pending: review the sale record before retrying so you do not double-charge the customer.

Related articles

• Choose Member Checkout or Guest Checkout in POS

• Add Products, Plans, Bundles, and Access Items to the POS Cart

• Apply and Remove Promo Codes in POS