Every payment in Soapbox Engage Onsite — a donation, a Shop order, or a card saved to a bidder — is collected in one of three ways. Your team chooses on the Payment Method screen after tapping Collect Payment.
| Method | The payer... | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal Reader | Taps or inserts their card on a Stripe Terminal reader | You have readers and want the fastest, most familiar experience |
| QR Code | Scans a code and pays on their own phone | You have no reader, or the payer prefers their own device and mobile wallet |
| Manual Entry | Hands over their card for your staff member to type | There is no reader and the payer has no phone to hand |
All three are equally valid and all three record the payment the same way. The choice is about what is in front of you at the moment, not about which is better.
Note: The Terminal Reader option appears only when a reader is online and available on your Stripe account. If your team never sees it, see Why isn't my Terminal reader in the list?
Choosing a method
- Complete the donation, order, or bidder record as normal.
- Tap Collect Payment.
- On the Payment Method screen, tap the method you want.
Cancelling
Each method can be cancelled before the payer completes it, which returns your team to the Payment Method screen so they can choose a different one. Cancelling a QR code stops that code working, so the payer cannot come back to it later — generate a new one if they change their mind.
If a payment succeeds but the sale does not save
Very occasionally the money moves but the record does not save, and the app shows Recording Failed with the amount charged. It offers to retry, and retrying is safe — it saves the record, it does not charge again. Do not take the payment a second time. If retrying does not clear it, note the amount shown on screen and contact support so the sale can be reconciled.
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