For an acquirer, the cost of a terminal doesn’t end once it’s deployed. Throughout the device’s service life, additional costs appear – repairs, replacement of damaged parts, or replacing entire units. Across a large terminal fleet, even small per-unit costs can add up to a significant expense over time.
That’s why it’s worth looking at accessories not just as equipment that improves comfort of use, but as part of managing the cost of running a terminal fleet. For stationary payment points, three solutions matter most – silicone cases, payment mounts (or pole mounts) and screen protectors. Each addresses a different aspect of everyday terminal use.
Why does the acquirer bear the cost of a damaged terminal?
Because the acquirer, not the merchant, owns the leased device – damage to a terminal is a cost on the acquirer’s side, regardless of who used it or how intensively.
Damage to a terminal can mean much more than a simple repair. Depending on the situation, it may involve replacing the screen, other components, or the entire device. On top of that comes handling the service request, transport, and the time needed to get the terminal back into operation.
In practice, the costs associated with a damaged terminal can include:
- repairing the device or replacing damaged parts,
- replacing the entire terminal if repair isn’t cost-effective or possible,
- logistics for collecting and redelivering the device,
- the time and resources needed to handle the service process,
- potential costs linked to the device being out of service.
Across large fleets, these situations can repeat many times over. That’s why reducing the number of damage incidents and extending device lifespan can have a direct impact on the costs an acquirer bears.
Read more on this topic in our article on the 5 most common types of payment terminal damage.
How does a silicone case protect a terminal from everyday damage?
A silicone case adds a protective layer between the terminal’s housing and its surroundings, reducing the impact of everyday knocks, scuffs and contact with the counter surface.
At a stationary payment point, the terminal typically stays at the same station throughout its service life. It’s set down, moved and handed over to customers and staff repeatedly. Even without being carried around, it remains exposed to accidental knocks and other mechanical damage.
A silicone case can help reduce the effects of this everyday use and lower the risk of housing damage that could otherwise lead to repair or replacement further down the line. For an acquirer, this means a simple protective measure that can be applied at the device preparation stage, before deployment.
How does a payment mount stabilize a terminal and make replacement easier?
A payment mount (or pole mount) secures the terminal firmly to the payment station, keeping the device in a fixed position and allowing it to be angled correctly for both the customer and the staff member – and in modular solutions such as DURAPOS pole mounts, it also helps lower costs when switching terminal models.
A payment mount serves a different function than a case – it doesn’t enclose the terminal, it fixes it to the station. In solutions with swivel-and-tilt functionality, the terminal can be rotated and tilted to match the user’s position. The mount head can also be adjusted for a specific station, and in select configurations, a rotation lock can be applied to protect the terminal’s cable from twisting and damage as the device is turned.
This kind of solution affects more than just ergonomics. A stable mount also reduces the risk of the device being accidentally knocked off or dropped from the station.
With Duratis’s DURAPOS series, the modular design brings an additional benefit. The stand consists of a base and a replaceable head matched to a specific terminal model. This matters particularly when replacing a fleet of devices: when an acquirer switches to a new terminal model, there’s no need to replace the entire stand – only the head needs swapping for one compatible with the new device, while the existing base stays in place. In practice, this means lower equipment costs during fleet upgrades, along with less component wear and less waste.
For a broader look at equipping a checkout station with the right accessories, see How to Optimize a Checkout Station in a Small Business.
How does a screen protector protect a terminal’s display?
A screen protector adds a layer that guards the display against scratches, scuffs and – most importantly from a service-cost perspective – cracking caused by an impact or a drop.
The screen is one of a terminal’s most used and most exposed components. Every transaction means contact with its surface, and an accidental knock or a dropped device can crack the screen – one of the costliest faults a terminal can suffer, often requiring the entire display to be replaced. The right screen protector reduces this risk and helps keep the display in good condition for longer.
What does protecting a terminal fleet cost compared to repairing it?
Equipping a terminal with a case, a payment mount and a screen protector is a one-off cost, incurred once, at deployment. Repairing or replacing a damaged device is a cost that can recur multiple times over the same terminal’s service life.
A single repair usually involves more than just replacing a part: it comes with handling the service request, logistics for collecting and redelivering the device, the service team’s time, and the terminal being out of service at the station. The cost of a protective accessory is paid once, and its purpose is precisely to reduce how often all of these cost elements add up.
For a single device, the difference might seem small. Across a fleet of dozens or hundreds of terminals, the scale of that comparison grows – every avoided service ticket is not just a saved repair cost, but also less time and fewer resources tied up on the acquirer’s side.
Find out how the right accessories can also help reduce damage and complaints for payment terminals.
How can acquirers build protection into the terminal deployment process?
Protective accessories are best factored in at the terminal preparation stage, before deployment, rather than treated as a fix applied only once problems appear.
At a stationary payment point, a silicone case adds protection to the device, a payment mount handles stable and ergonomic placement, and a screen protector guards the display surface. With DURAPOS, the modular design further reduces costs when terminal models are replaced down the line.
This approach makes it possible to look at accessories across the device’s whole lifecycle – from initial deployment, through daily use, to later fleet upgrades.
Résumé
Protective accessories can serve different functions, but they share a common goal: reducing the costs and issues that arise while terminals are in service.
A silicone case helps protect the device from everyday damage, payment mounts provide stable and ergonomic placement, and screen protectors guard the display. With modular solutions such as DURAPOS, additional savings appear during fleet replacement – only the head needs swapping, not the entire stand.
For an acquirer, this means being able to factor protection and proper station equipment into a longer-term approach to terminal-related costs.
FAQ
Do protective accessories really lower the service costs of a terminal fleet?
Accessories alone don’t eliminate the need to service devices, but they reduce how often damage occurs that requires repair or replacement. Across a large fleet, even a modest reduction in service tickets translates into a noticeable difference in costs and service team workload.
Which accessories do acquirers most often choose for stationary payment points?
For stationary payment points, acquirers most often choose silicone cases, payment mounts and screen protectors – solutions suited to a terminal that stays at one station, unlike carrying accessories used with mobile devices.
Does a modular payment mount design reduce costs when switching terminal models?
Yes. In solutions such as DURAPOS, the stand consists of a base and a replaceable head matched to the terminal model. When switching models, only the head needs replacing – there’s no need to replace the entire stand.
When is the best time to equip a terminal with protective accessories – at deployment or later?
Accessories are best factored in at the terminal preparation stage, before deployment. This limits the risk of damage from the very start of the device’s service life, rather than reacting only once the first problems appear.
