Payment checklist for Black Friday: 10 errors every merchant should avoid
But alongside the excitement, there's also an increased demand on your infrastructure—especially your payment systems.
While many merchants focus on marketing and logistics, payments are often left for last. Yet, even small issues, both online and in-store, can lead to missed conversions or poor customer experiences. The good news? These mistakes are common, and there’s still time to fix them.
At MultiSafepay, we work with thousands of merchants to help them create payment journeys that are stable, scalable, and ready for the Peak Season. Let’s explore 10 common payment errors and how to avoid them with practical, conversion-focused solutions.
Optimizing online payments: 5 common mistakes (and how to solve them)
1. A checkout that’s too long or complicated
Every extra step in your checkout is a potential drop-off point. When customers are ready to buy, especially during Black Friday, they expect a frictionless experience.
How to fix it:
Offer fast payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Click to Pay.
Payment solutions with one-click checkout help boost returning customer rates.
Avoid redirecting users to external pages, as these can cause hesitation or confusion, especially for less tech-savvy shoppers.
MultiSafepay's Payment Components allow you to fully embed the checkout flow into your website. This creates a consistent user experience, builds trust, and allows for higher flexibility and customization.
2. Missing relevant payment methods for your target audience
Offering the wrong payment mix is one of the main reasons your conversion rate suffers. It’s not just about having many options: it’s about having the right ones.
How to fix it:
Analyze your customer base: which payment option do they actually prefer to use?
Offering a diverse payment mix—including credit cards, digital wallets, and Buy Now, Pay Later solutions is key to meeting the expectations of a broader audience. These methods appeal to different demographics and spending habits, and can significantly increase your conversion potential.
To build trust and increase cross-border sales, it’s essential to offer customers in different European markets their preferred local payment methods.
With MultiSafepay, you can provide access to 40+ payment options, including the most popular ones in each local market — such as iDEAL (Netherlands), Bancontact (Belgium), Bizum (Spain), and Cartes Bancaires (France). These familiar choices make the checkout experience smoother and give each customer the confidence to complete the purchase.
3. Unexpected fees at checkout
Surprise fees not only disrupt the experience—they damage trust and reduce the chance of future purchases.
How to fix it:
Be transparent: show the full cost upfront, including taxes or payment-related fees.
For international shoppers, multi-currency support makes a big difference. Show prices in the user’s local currency to reduce friction and increase clarity.
With MultiSafepay, you can process payments in 37 currencies and easily enable automatic currency display, helping customers avoid unforeseen conversion costs and helping you build loyalty across.
This way, foreign customers aren’t discouraged by hidden costs—and you're seen as a transparent, trustworthy brand.
4. No support during checkout
If a customer encounters a problem but doesn’t know who to contact, chances are they’ll abandon the purchase.
How to fix it:
Add visible support options, such as live chat, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger, or even a phone number, directly within the checkout flow.
Even a simple FAQ link or contact button can go a long way in reassuring hesitant buyers.
Just keep in mind: on mobile, these elements can take up valuable screen space and may hurt conversions if not well integrated. Always consider the UX/UI impact when adding support tools.
5. Slow or error-prone checkout performance
During high-traffic periods like Black Friday, your checkout experience needs to perform flawlessly.
How to fix it:
Keep your platform updated to the latest versions. This is a top tip not only for security, but also to ensure top performance.
For more tips on how to protect your checkout, check out our security tips.
Run load tests in advance to simulate traffic spikes and detect bottlenecks.
Monitor user behavior and technical performance with tools like Hotjar, Google Analytics 4, and Sentry to resolve issues proactively.
Improving in-store payments: 5 errors you can still prevent
6. POS device freezing at the worst moment
When customers are ready to pay, delays can lead to frustration and lost sales.
How to fix it:
Update your POS terminals to the latest firmware and software to ensure smooth operation.
Have a backup device ready—like our SmartPOS devices—that can be activated and up and running within a minute.
7. Slow terminals or unstable connections
If your payment terminal depends on a weak or inconsistent connection, you’re at risk of delays, and soon, a long queue of frustrated customers.
How to fix it:
Test your Wi-Fi or network connection well before Black Friday.
Prepare a secondary connection (e.g., a 4G fallback or backup router) to stay online even if your primary network goes down.
Many of our SmartPOS devices support multiple connection types—Wi-Fi, 3G/4G, and Ethernet—so you’re never left without a working connection
8. Long queues = lost opportunities
Time is money, especially when foot traffic is high. Luckily, you still have several opportunities (and plenty of support) to avoid long queues during the Peak Season.
How to fix it:
Our SmartPOS devices, available in multiple form factors—including mobile units with both Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity—are one option that allows payments to be processed anywhere in the store, not just at the counter. This can be an effective way to reduce queues and customer complaints during peak sales periods.
Terminals like our P3 MIX and P3H models, specifically designed to meet the needs of retail customers, allow staff to assist customers on the floor, reducing wait times and increasing flexibility.
Enable contactless and mobile wallet options to speed up each transaction and improve the overall customer experience.
9. Staff untrained on SmartPOS usage
The best hardware is only as good as the people using it. A lack of training can lead to mistakes, slow service, or payment rejections.
How to fix it:
Provide hands-on training for all staff on your SmartPOS devices, covering:
Basic use and troubleshooting
Security protocols
Supported payment methods (cards, QR codes, wallets, etc.)
A confident, well-prepared team ensures smoother in-store payments and better service during busy periods.
10. Manual reconciliation errors at closing time
End-of-day processes can get chaotic, especially when done manually.
How to fix it:
Automate your reconciliation process with daily reports synced to your POS or ERP system.
Our SmartPOS can even refund directly from the device - making exchanges and returns an effortless process.
We’re here to help you grow
Black Friday is a key moment—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right tools and a reliable partner, you can make this season your most successful yet.
This year, we’re all ears more than ever! To give you extra support during Peak Season, we’ve launched “We’ve got your back”, a new content hub where you can submit your questions and ask our experts anything about your Retail payment strategy.
At MultiSafepay, we support merchants in building frictionless, conversion-focused, and future-ready payment journeys. Whether you're optimizing for mobile, going cross-border, or expanding in-store, our solutions are designed to help you succeed.
Need support reviewing your payment setup? Our team is ready to help you implement the right solutions on time and stress-free. Talk to us today and make your payments your biggest asset this Peak Season.
