Shopify might be worth considering, they have a pretty good POS system (http://shopify.com/pos), and probably more experience dealing with these sorts of shenanigans, plus you can get them on the phone.
I wonder if Shopify actually has any input into the chargeback process and risk evaluation of accounts. Shopify Payments are "powered by Stripe" rather than something they run themselves. They do have a nice integration and you get a discount compared to using Stripe directly without any minimum volume.
I guess I'm part of the small minority who love Path. It's my favorite app, I use it almost every day. I use it strictly with my immediate family - my brothers, sister, their spouses and my parents. I barely have time for Twitter, I don't use Facebook, but I use Path. Their pitch about deeper connections and about being real and authentic rings true to how we use it. I'm quite disappointed to watch them flounder.
I really really want to like this app more -- I love the journaling implications, and the design just makes me smile every time I open it -- but its vision will be its downfall:
1) The "smaller, tighter" social network just diminishes its viral component by design
2) The mobile only approach means I can't type out a longer post or entry about my day
3) Lack of viable monetization options means I can't trust my data long-term with them.
4) Lack of non-people "Paths" -- i.e. I really like to follow certain companies/organizations on Facebook because I can keep up to date with what's going on. For example, I follow a few yoga studios on FB because they're always discussing new classes, teachers, class changes, etc. Say what you want about FB & Twitter, but they know how to craft addicting news feeds that I consume like water.
Looks like the primary new thing here is the ability to create orders on the phone, including the option to accept a credit card swipe. (Which is awesome.) Most everything else was part of previous versions of the mobile app.
No. We would be crazy to do anything bad for our incredible third party network at http://experts.shopify.com . We are super proud of what we archived here. Last year more than $18m was billed for Shopify work through this community.
As a Dad myself, probably about the age of your Dad, with a son about your age, I can tell you that as impressive as what he has accomplished in his career is -- I bet he'd say that having a son like you, and what you wrote, the way you feel, and your determination to follow his lead is his greatest accomplishment.
Garrett has earned a solid reputation with me in how he has run Sifter. I've been a customer on-and-off, and he's always treated me fairly and promptly, even when I was "churn." I agree the price feels a little stiff, but I see his argument about the value. If confidence in the money-back guarantee is all you need to pull the trigger, I wouldn't hesitate.
Note: I don't know Garrett, we're not friends, just wanted to add another voice.
