The new chip readers are not free so for those $30 is correct. I believe the standard swipe devices are still as free as are are the same from Square. It is your livelihood  and your wallet on the line for fraud protection.

Resolution for 'chip readers issue: 'Does QuickBooks still send out free mobile credit card readers?' available: Yes.

The chip readers issue or error code is a known issue in Quickbooks Online (QBO) and/or Quickbooks. Support for this issue is available either by self-service or paid support options. Experts are available to resolve your Quickbooks issue to ensure minimal downtime and continue running your business. First try to resolve the chip readers issue yourself by looking for a resolution described in the article. If it is a complex chip readers issue or you are unable to solve the issue, you may contact us by clicking here or by using other chip readers support options.

For more information about resolving issues related to chip readers in Quickbooks/QBO or to get support for the issue 'Does QuickBooks still send out free mobile credit card readers?', click the link below: