Other Tip Options Needed on Square

[heathe5678]

I'm hoping that Square can update the program so that I am able to offer a combination of dollar amount and percentages for tips.

I just switched from Shopkeep, and through that program I was able to set my tips with a combination of dollar and percentage (I had it set at $2, $1, 20%). I am a quick serve cafe and most people are tipping a dollar or two, regardless of the bill total. 

Currently, Square only offers two options: the "smart tip amount" (If a transaction is less than $10, the available tipping options are: No Tip, $1, $2 or $3. If a transaction is $10 or more, the available tipping options are: No Tip, 15%, 20% or 25%.) or to set 3 percentages. 

I am using the "smart tip amount," and have been monitoring for a week now, and my tips have dropped significantly. I think it's because when the total is over $10, people who were normally tipping a dollar or two are not opting not to tip because the options are only percentages and the suggested tip is higher than they feel comfortable tipping at a quick-serve restaurant. I know they can manually type in what they want to tip, but in reality, they are not doing it because it's an extra step.

It's very worrisome and I really hope that the engineers can add the option of setting tips as a combination of dollar amounts and percentages like I was able to do in Shopkeep. My staff is losing money because of this little detail. 

[TheRealChipA]

@heathe5678 Square has a form for you to use to submit feature requests, and I’m pretty sure that they would consider this a feature request.  First, the form can be found here — https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Feature-Requests/ct-p/Beta-Feature-Requests

It is probably just a difference of location and type of operation.  But, in my case, I just started using smart tips this year and my employees saw a noticeable increase in their tips over last year.  But, that might be due to the fact that my check average sale is $8 (the cost of approximately two ice cream items), so quick tipping is a better choice for us.  I can see the logic in either your idea (mixture of $ and % lines) OR in allowing us to change the tip% for orders more than $10 — that way you could put say 10/15/20% which seems better to some customers.

Another thought while you are waiting for this to happen.  Might it be better for you not to use smart tips andgo back to set percentage amounts, setting them to 10/15/20 or something like that?  I know you are looking for an immediate change, but those are rare.

Any, all the best.

[heathe5678]

Thanks for your feedback, Chip. A Square rep submitted a feature request for me and mentioned that it might be helpful to post on here because the engineers check the threads. 

All the best,

Heather

[TheRealChipA]

@heathe5678 I’m not sure I knew that the engineers actively trolled this board, so I’m glad you mentioned that.  Good luck!

[vinesandrushes]

Engineers make the best trolls.

[vinesandrushes]

There's probably a psychology component to this as well.  Some people think better in percents and some in exact dollar amounts but if people don't see the numbers they think easiest in, they may just say no tip.

[heathe5678]

Yeah, you're definitely right about there being a psychological component. I really hope they expand the tipping options because being boxed in like this has had a real-life negative effect on my staff's tips ($30-$50 overall tips less per day).

[elementalacres]

We have a very dynamic and complicated business.  A farm that raises pigs, turkeys and chickens for preservation breeding as well as meat products from the animals.  We also have a food truck; which offers both food items prepared from the pork we raise as well as meat items.  I need to be able to exclude specific items from tipping.  We want tips for prepared food items at the food truck.  But we do not want people feeling obligated to choose a tip when placing a deposit for a piglet.  It seems it would be so simple to be able to mark items as "tip eligible" or "not tip eligible".  

Current example: we are offering a pre-order for a "Meishan Pork Box" that will be picked up on a scheduled date.  I am concerned we are losing sales because when people try to place an order for a pork box the website is auto adding a tip to it.  I've tried to turn this off and it isn't working. 

At the same time if people order prepared food items for pick up from the food truck I still want them to have the option to tip.

How do I make this work?

[leswvv]

Agreed  - we're a combination tasting room/restaurant and would love options to exclude certain items for tips. Tipping on dinner? Absolutely. A $350+ case of wine you're just picking up and leaving with? Not so much. We'd love the option to either exclude orders marked 'to go' or with a certain modifier from being tippable.