To ensure happy customers, consider upgrading your point-of-sale system with a pole display. Many times customers don't hear or don't pay attention when the cashier announces the amount of their total purchase. A point-of-sale display will put the total purchase amount within their line of vision, so they don't have to ask cashiers to repeat themselves. A point-of-sale pole display also allows a customer to watch you scan items, so they feel comfortable that you are charging them the correct amount for everything they purchase.

As a benefit to you, a POS pole display affords you the opportunity to market to your customers with scripted messages scrolling across the monitor before you begin checking them out. Consider the following as you search for point-of-sale pole displays:

1. Most pole displays include 2 lines and 20 columns, but you can find single and 4-line displays, too.

2. You can adjust the heights of most pole displays, but know whether it provides a one-time, permanent adjustment (by cutting the pole) or a pole you can adjust any time.

3. Make sure your pole display head provides a tilting function so you can position it at a comfortable angle for your patrons.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase your POS pole displays from Partner Tech

For more than 10 years, Partner Tech has addressed point-of-sale market needs by incorporating the newest engineering advances and flexible manufacturing. The company builds entry-level LED and LCD models and high-tech VFD displays.

I recommend: Purchase the Partner Tech CD-6420 from RACO Industries to display more information at one time. With its wide viewing angle and four lines of text, customers and employees will both benefit. The display comes with two pole sections permitting four different display heights, and it can rotate up to 270 degrees; the head of the display can tilt up to 35 degrees. For a two-line pole display, order the CD-5220 pole display at Barcodes, Inc. This display also offers two pole sections for adjustable heights along with its 2-line by 20 column display.

Check out the Logic Controls line of pole displays

Since 1982, Logic Controls has specialized in designing and manufacturing point-of-sale peripherals. The 2007 VSR POS hardware leaderboard survey ranked Logic Control displays number one.

I recommend: Order the Logic Controls PD6900 pole display from ThePOSsite, a company specializing in Microsoft products and support service since 1990. This display incorporates a data pass-through process that permits connection of multiple pole displays, cash drawers, printers and other devices to one output port. You might also consider the Logic Controls LD9000 from L-Tron, a leading supplier of bar code products since 1972. The LD9000 Series lets you choose among USB, serial, parallel and pass-through interfaces and adds "smart scrolling," user-definable characters and a built-in-real-time clock.

Consider other leading pole display manufacturers

Both Epson and POSIFLEX rank high as pole display manufacturers. Epson has maintained its commitment to POS technology for more than 30 years and continues developing industry-leading open architecture technologies for improved functionality. POSIFLEX started up in 1984 and now boasts 27 subsidiaries worldwide in addition to a growing number of distributors and resellers.

I recommend: Consider one of the Epson DM-D series pole display kits from POS World. A large screen with 2-line by 20-column format makes the displays easy for customers to read. You can also tilt and swivel the head to any angle, and the displays support power supplies ranging from 12V to 48V. Order the POSIFLEX PD2500 or PD2601 pole displays from Semicron Systems, a worldwide dealer/supplier of point-of-sale systems. Both come with a fixed pole and 2 x 20 displays.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you build the prerequisites for any pole display you buy, consider looking for one that allows you to display your company's logo and other graphics in addition to any text.