Advanced Equations for Pricing

[SugarShackAndy]

I own an ice cream shop, and I'm attempting to do prices through my current scoop prices, where the first scoop is $2.00, and each scoop afterwards is $1.50. I would like to make it to where I can easily type in the quantity of scoops, and it come out to the pricing I would like. Example: Customer gets 3 scoops of ice cream, I type in 3 in the item of "Scoop" and it comes out to $5. I'm trying to avoid using modifiers for this since I would need a lot of modifiers, and I feel as though this would look neater for online customers and cashiers checking the customers out.

[TheRealChipA]

Hey @SugarShackAndy.  Since what you are trying to do is the very reason for modifiers and variations, you can’t get around them — at least not the way you are attempting to do it.  Besides, in order to allow customers and cashiers to specify flavors for each scoop, you’d need modifiers anyway.  This is not really a matter of making things look net for customers, but rather a matter of efficiency and accuracy in fulfilling orders.

I have a soft serve shop with 80 flavors and over 100,000 possibilities of flavor blends.  Sure, if you go to my online store it can be overwhelming at first.  But when the order is placed, it makes sense to everyone — especially once toppings and other options are added.  My customers that order online (it’s not that many really since most customers just walk over and order) enjoy seeing all of the flavors and options, and aren’t put off by modifiers at all.  But, that’s my business.

IF you really want to simplify it this much, the only option you really have is to use variations.  In your example, the item “Scoop”” would have multiple variations and prices, as follows:

One Scoop $2.00

Two Scoops $3.50

Three Scoops $5.00

Four Scoops $6.50

etc. Up to the max number of scoops you allow

Keep in mind that if you’re going to make it this simple, then you are going to force customers/cashiers to have to remember to type flavors for each scoop into the comments, which means they have to already know what flavors you offer.

That will solve your pricing dilemma, I think.  Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Candlestore]

@SugarShackAndy ;

Since @TheRealChipA I agree with what he is saying since he already runs the same type of business you are.  So the Variations Modifiers would be best to track the flavors for each cone ordered.

But if you want a simple checkout as you described the alternative would be have an Item called Scooped Ice cream for example.  Then when you add this Item to your Checkout Cart in multiples you could apply an automatic discount so each Scoop is decreased by $.50 according to your example.  The issue I see here is if people, say a couple order 2 cones, the First one would be correct and the 2nd one would be sold at $.50 under your expected sales Price.

Example:

    Person orders a Cone with 2 Scoops

          Item                      Qty                 Price

         Cone                        2                  $3.50

But now if the Customer was buying 2 cones with 2 Scoops Each the total should be $7.00

          Item                      Qty                 Price

         Cone                        4                  $6.50

What happens in the second example is Cone 1 is $2 for the cone and 1 Scoop, Each additional one above 1 is discounted.

So the Second cone would also be discounted to $1.50 by using an automatic discount.

To avoid the above would be 2 have 2 items:   Cone and 1 Scoop  and Additional Scoops.

So then you could ring up :

           Item                                         Qty                 Price

        Cone and 1 Scoop                        2                  $4.00       ($2.00 for 1st scoop and cone each)

        Additional Scoops                        2                  $3.00        ($1.50 for additional Scoops each)

So Cone and 1 Scoop as an item with price of $2 and then additional Scoops as an Item with a sale price of $1.50.  Qty is How many of each customer is buying.

Problems of doing this simplified method is:

1. What type of cone is it if you have Multiple Cone types?
2. What Flavor Ice Cream is your best selling flavor to make sure you have enough on hand or will buy in bigger quantities?
3. What happens if you add different toppings?

Yes this simple way can be done, but are you setting up for limiting growth or making mistakes.  As Chip pointed out staff would have to rember the flavors of say 4 scoops on 4 different cones for a party of 4 people.  Chips method with Variations or Modifiers has this on a Screen or a Printed Receipt or Order Ticket to cut down on Employee errors.

So here is my thought- to get up and running asap.  Use the simple method and learn more about the Modifiers.  Then test on yourself with the modifiers way and sell with the simple way to get sales now.  See if there are adjustments you need for the Modifers.  Adjust accordingly.  Test till its acceptable to you, then start using the modifiers.  Have the Cone and Scoop and extra Scoop as a backup.  With Square you can have almost unlimited number of Products (items) to sell in your catalog.

There are plenty of ways to do things with Square and what is right for another business may not be what you need or right for you.

If you have more Questions ask away.