Ring up your first sale

You have products in the catalogue and staff logins ready. Now ring up a real basket. This article follows one sale from start to finish, the way a cashier does it on a busy Saturday.

Open the register

1. Log in with the cashier’s own login.
2. Open the POS screen.
3. Enter the cash that is in the drawer at the start of the shift, then confirm.

The POS screen has a search box at the top, the basket in the middle, and totals and payment buttons at the bottom.

Add items to the basket

There are four ways to add an item. Cashiers mix them all day.

1. Scan the barcode with a USB or Bluetooth scanner. The scanner types the number into the search box and the item is added.
2. Type a PLU or SKU. For loose produce, type the code from the sticker, such as 4011 for bananas, and press Enter.
3. Search by name. Type “tortilla” or “tofu” and pick the right item from the list.
4. Tap a product button if you sell from a tablet and have product images turned on.

To sell more than one, change the quantity on the line or scan the item again.

Add weighed items

Grocery baskets almost always include something sold by weight. There are two ways:

• Label from the counter scale. The deli, meat or produce scale prints a barcode label that holds the item code and the weight. On the POS screen, click the weighing-scale button next to the SKU search (or press its shortcut key), then scan the label. The line shows the weight and the price, which is the weight times the price per pound or kilo. Setup is in label scale barcodes.
• Decimal weight at the register. For items sold per pound or kilo, type the weight as the quantity, for example 2.36. The unit must allow decimals.

Check the basket

Before taking payment:

1. Read the total out to the customer.
2. Change any wrong quantity by editing the line.
3. Apply a discount if your role allows it.
4. Add the customer to the sale if they collect reward points or buy on account.

Take payment

1. Click the payment button.
2. Choose the method: cash, card, or another method you set up, such as a bank transfer or JazzCash in Pakistan.
3. For cash, type the amount received and the register shows the change.
4. If the customer pays two ways, add a second payment line for the rest.

Card payments run through your own payment processor and card reader. SNAP/EBT in the US works with your certified EBT processor; see accept SNAP/EBT.

Print the receipt

When the payment is complete the receipt prints, the sale is saved and the stock count goes down. If no printer is connected, the receipt opens on screen and can be printed from the browser.

End of the shift

1. Close the register.
2. Count the cash in the drawer and enter it.
3. Check the closing report: expected cash, counted cash, card totals and the difference.

Common problems

The scanner types the number but nothing is added. The product’s barcode or SKU in the catalogue does not match. Check the product, or the scanner may be adding an extra character; see the hardware article.

The scale label adds the wrong item. The weighing-scale settings (prefix and lengths) do not match the label format your scale prints.

The quantity will not accept 1.5. The product’s unit does not allow decimals. Edit the unit and turn on decimals.

Nothing prints. Check the printer is on, has paper and is the default printer in the browser.

Related: Label scale barcodes · Receipt printer and cash drawer · Weighing scales