|
|
|
|
|
|
newsletternewsletter 311
Cash Register Express & Restaurant Pro Express 12.0 (Part 6)
Support for New Pin Pads, Debit, EBT Cash Register Express & Restaurant Pro Express 12.0 (Part 6) Support for New Pin Pads, Debit, EBT Cash Register Express (CRE) and Restaurant Pro Express (RPE) Version 12.0 were released on February 16, 2009. The new versions include over two dozen new and useful features! A few of the main highlights are enhanced credit card security, a new labor scheduler, an interface with security camera and DVR systems, ID scanning, and an internet-based web portal for chains. For a complete list of NEW features found in Version 12.0, go to: http://download2.pcamerica.com/versioninfo12.pdf (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
For those of you who are not familiar with EBT, many states issue benefits such as food stamps and cash benefits in the form of a card that works just like a debit card. This EBT card is now supported in Cash Register Express (CRE). A retailer sets up CRE to only allow EBT use with certain items. For example, food stamps can only be used to purchase food that your household plans to eat. You can’t use the food stamp EBT to purchase pet food, paper products, alcohol, toothpaste, cosmetics, vitamins, medicines, and other non-eligible items. CRE (and Restaurant Pro Express) has added a cash back option to debit card transactions. I have to admit that I only recently heard of the cash back option on debit cards, but it is widely used. Many supermarkets and other retailers add a cash amount to your debit card transactions. Let’s say you purchase a hammer in a hardware store for $12.95. The merchant debits your card for $22.95 and gives you your hammer plus $10 in cash. Many merchants offer the cash back option to customers as a convenience. Merchants are not charged bank fees for cash back transactions. Likewise, a consumer is not charged a fee for the transaction and can save AMT charges that some banks may impose when using a debit card to get cash at a bank. Most states do not allow merchants to add a fee for cash back transactions. Some merchants require customers to make a minimum purchase prior to offering the cash back option. Do You Have Adobe Acrobat Reader? Some newsletter readers have had a problem opening the new feature link for CRE as in the above article. You must have Adobe Acrobat in order to open the above link. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Adobe Acrobat Reader, it is a FREE product offered by Adobe that allows you to open up and read certain files compiled using Adobe Acrobat. Adobe Acrobat is a standard. People who use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Excel, Lotus, and other products have files that they may want you to read. In order to read those files, you would normally need a copy of Microsoft Word, Excel or other software programs. By compiling the documents with Adobe, you don’t need anything else (other than Adobe Acrobat). Many manufacturers and businesses offer their manuals and advertisements in Adobe Acrobat form. Besides making it easy to distribute printed material, it also saves printed material in a very small compact file. So those of you who have trouble opening up the above link, you need Adobe Acrobat on your computer. You can download for free it at: I do not recommend the FREE Google Toolbar that comes with the Adobe Acrobat Reader. I find that the Google Toolbar just takes up space on my screen that I am not willing to give up and offers little benefit to users. In case you are interested, if you want to compile documents, manuals and advertisements into an Adobe Acrobat Reader format, you need to purchase Adobe Acrobat Standard or Professional Edition which sells for $699 or less depending on where you buy it from and which version you need. $10,000 For A Website. Are You Crazy? Several readers were a little distressed by my statement: In my opinion (and please read my entire opinion before deleting the newsletter), every retailer needs a web presence and should invest about $10,000 per year or more into creating and polishing up that web presence. The $10,000 or more may or may not include actually selling over the internet. It also may or may not include an email campaign. The $10,000+ includes the costs involved in hiring an experienced professional web developer. The key part of the statement was to read my entire opinion before deleting the newsletter. Lots of readers send me some really great homemade websites. They were really impressive. Just to make it clear, I believe that every retail store or business needs a website. Even if you are not computer literate, you can get started with a very small investment. Having a website presence means that you can place your website on your business card, brochure or advertisement. It is a place where your customers can go to see some information about your business. You can start with just adding your name and address; adding a photo or two; perhaps placing your picture on the site; and adding directions and your phone number. It doesn’t have to be that professional. The minimal investment compared to your return will be well worth it. The majority of smaller businesses do not have any website presence. Most larger stores do have a web presence. You don’t need to sell your products online. You do need to let your customers know that you exist. I receive links from several small businesses owners who created their own websites using a product like Site Builder. Site Builder is an easy to use website design package made for beginners to users who don’t require a million dollar website designer. The websites that I saw were great and perfect for their businesses. Yes. Some of the websites could use some improvements. However, the idea is to get started and see where it will lead you. You don’t need a $10,000 website. You need to get started. At least show a few pictures of your retail store or restaurant. If you own a restaurant, at least display your menu. If you absolutely hate computers, have an employee help you out. If you are ready to get started, you can be up and running for as little at $60 per year. For more information on getting your first website up and running, write to hgosman@pcamerica.com. Now, back to the $10,000 website. Once you have done some experimentation, and once you have a minimal website up and running, you may want to consider paying a professional to upgrade your website and actually sell your products online. $10,000 or more is not an outrageous price if you are selling products that can be sold online. Are you a plumber or an electrician? Do you cut lawns? A $100 website may be fine for you. Spending $10,000 will get you a website that has videos showing your services, what you have done for customers, and even sets up online appointments. So...start with a small investment and see where it goes. Get your feet wet. If you don’t have a website, that’s bad. Before you spend your first $10,000, get your feet wet a little.
Help! My Business S_cks! (Fill in the Blank) I hate to use the word. Your spam blockers may be hard at work, but this is a really great website. One of you sent me the link and I do thank you. The missing letter is “u” for those who couldn’t figure it out. The creator of this website is Andrew Lock. At first glance, you may think that this guy is kind of a nut case. If you look around his website, you will see that he is brilliant. If you own or manage a business, Andrew offers lots of hints to help you grow your business. Watch and listen to several of his episodes. You now know that I think the guy is brilliant, but let me know what you think. Go to:
|
CRE
and RPE now support additional pin pad entry devices with integrated
signature capture capability. Debit functionality has been enhanced
to allow for cash back and EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) for
food stamp eligible products.
|