Digital Financial Transactions
💱 QR CODE 💱
This green circle is a QR code. Often they are square. Encoded in the pattern of dots is information your phone can use. This one will open a page at Amazon.com where you could buy a copy of Sara Leith-Tanous' book Without Masks. If you are seeing this website on your desktop, why not try out using the QR code now?
Take out your phone and pretend to take a picture of the green QR code. You may need to move your phone closer to the computer screen for the camera to see the QR code well. As soon as your camera focuses, you will see a yellow frame appear on your screen around the image of the QR code. Tap your phone's screen within the frame with your finger. This will take you out of your camera and to your browser. You should now be on the book's page on the internet. So simple! So easy!
🪙 Use a QR code to simplify your financial transactions at the arts fest.
Using a QR code for electronic banking is also easy. No one even needs to unzip a wallet, fumble with change or use a card reader. Ideally, you would print out the code for whichever financial account you would like to use, so you can post it at your table. (Or keep a copy handy on your phone.) The buyer just uses their phone which puts most of the work of the transaction in the buyer’s hands freeing you up. Being prepared for multiple ways to pay may reassure buyers accustomed to using a particular platform.
Here is a list of some payment apps: Bank/Zelle, Paypal, Venmo, Square, Cash App, Stripe, Propay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Meta Messenger....
🪙 How does it work?
When the buyer acts like they are taking a picture of your QR code, with a tap, the code redirects their phone to the payment site. They only need to type in the amount and push the button to pay, sending the funds directly to your bank account (or however you have it set up). They can not access your actual account. It is the electronic version of showing up at the bank with a deposit slip and cash.
🪙 Where is the QR code?
You can find your code in different places depending on what kind of account you use. Whatever your account, know there will be a code, so keep looking until you get it. Here is where to find it on my mobile version of PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle/Bank of America. These are screenshots from my banking apps on my phone, but it is not much different on a desktop. I am sure your account will work similarly.
🪙 Still feeling unsure?
Just get out your phone and try it. My scribbles above are terrible, but on your device in your app, things will be clearer. Poke around until you find your QR code. Maybe test it. You could open your QR code on your desktop and then use your phone's camera to take you to your bank's website. Next time you and a friend go for coffee, pay for them and then have them pay you back using your QR code. You will soon get very used to it.