With the Big Cartel iOS app, you can take your shop on the road and accept in-person card payments at markets, pop-ups, or events.

You can accept card payments using:

• Tap to Pay on iPhone (no reader needed)
• Card reader payments (tap, chip, or swipe)
• Manual card entry (enter card details manually)

All payments are processed securely through Stripe and automatically sync with your orders and inventory.

Before you start

To accept card payments in person, you’ll need:

• The Big Cartel iOS app installed
• A connected Stripe account
• Your in-person checkout settings enabled in the app

Ways to accept card payments

You have three options for accepting card payments:

• Tap to Pay on iPhone
• Card reader payments
• Manual card entry

Option 1: Tap to Pay on iPhone

Tap to Pay lets you accept contactless payments directly on your iPhone—no additional hardware required.

Customers can pay using:

• Contactless cards
• Apple Pay or other digital wallets

Requirements

• iPhone XS or newer
• Latest version of the Big Cartel app
• Stripe connected
• Tap to Pay enabled

How it works

1. Open the app → go to Cash Register
2. Add products to the cart
3. Tap Continue to payment
4. Select Tap to Pay
5. Have your customer tap their card or device on your iPhone

Once approved:

• The order is created instantly
• Inventory updates automatically

Option 2: Use a card reader

You can accept payments using a Bluetooth card reader for a more traditional checkout experience.

This is ideal if you:

• Want to accept chip or swipe payments
• Prefer a dedicated payment device
• Need support for PIN entry (in some regions)

Big Cartel supports Stripe-compatible readers (powered by Stripe Terminal).

Recommended readers

• Stripe Reader M2
• BBPOS WisePad 3

Set up your card reader

1. Turn on and charge your reader
2. Enable Bluetooth on your phone
3. Open the app → go to Cash Register
4. Tap Connect card reader
5. Select your reader

Note: Only one reader can be connected per device at a time.

Take a payment

1. Add products to the cart
2. Tap Continue to payment → select Card reader
3. Have your customer:
4. Tap
5. Insert (chip)
6. Swipe (if supported)

Option 3: Manual card entry

If you don’t have Tap to Pay or a reader available, you can enter card details manually.

How it works

1. Add products in the Cash Register
2. Tap Continue to payment → select Manual entry
3. Enter:
4. Card number
5. Expiration date
6. CVC
7. ZIP/postal code (if required)
8. Confirm the payment

When to use manual entry

• As a backup option
• If a card won’t tap or read
• When you don’t have a reader available

Keep in mind:

• Fees may be higher
• There’s a higher risk of declined or disputed payments

Additional in-person features

When accepting card payments in person, you can also:

• Add sales tax to orders
• Apply discounts (percentage or dollar amount)
• Send email receipts
• Manage products and orders on the go

Important notes

• Inventory tracking won’t prevent overselling during in-person sales
• Orders sync automatically once completed
• You can continue selling even if items are marked sold out online

Tips for selling at events

• Test your setup before your event
• Enable your payment methods in advance
• Keep your device fully charged
• Bring a backup option (like manual entry)
• Consider a mobile hotspot if Wi-Fi is unreliable

Need help?

If something isn’t working, reach out with:

• Your iPhone model
• Which payment method you’re using (Tap to Pay, reader, or manual)
• A description of the issue
• Screenshots or a short video

We’ll help you get back to selling quickly.