CC Pre-Authorization for bar tabs

[coffee4]

Where is this at in the beta process? Its one of my restaurant's priorities and is frequently brought up by both staff and customers.

[#2]

Hi @sadmonkeytx I can see why Pre-Auth would help out a lot in that situation!

Since you're using Square for Restaurants, you'll want to request access to the Square for Restaurants Next Gen Beta Community Group - The Beta folks overseeing that program will review your account and enable in a few batches every week.  That Beta Community is also a great place to share feedback or ask questions with fellow testers!

Pre-Auth with Square for Restaurants is still a closed Beta with a few limitations and requirements to participate, so you won't see the option to enable it until your account has been enrolled.

Once you're enrolled in the Beta test, you'll see the option for Pre-Authorization on the Dashboard under your Service Settings, and can create a new device profile where you'll be able to toggle on Pre-Authorization for that individual device.

Andy
Beta Specialist

[AndySQ · Accepted solution]

Andy from the Beta Team here!

Currently the only ongoing Beta Test that allows for access to Pre-Authorizations is for Square for Restaurants:

Square for Restaurants Next Generation - An ongoing closed beta for Square for Restaurants that includes Pre-Authorization and several other features.  This will go into Open Beta by the end of April, but if you're interested in using Pre-Authorization with Square for Restaurants, you can request to join here in the Beta Community:
https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Next-Generation-Square-for/cmp-p/grouphub%3ABarTabs

Earlier this year, we were also testing Pre-Authorizations on Square Point of Sale, but that Beta and access to the feature have been discontinued at this time.

Updated 7/1/2024 to reflect changes in Beta feature availability.

[EastEndBar]

Following 

[AndySQ]

Hi @SwanDriveIn that link will take you to the Beta Program for Pre-Authorization on Point of Sale.  It looks like you're primarily using Restaurants, so you'll want to request to join this Beta Program instead - Next Generation Square for Restaurants - this includes Pre-Authorization and several other improvements being tested for the Restaurants Platform.

[AndySQ · Accepted solution]

Andy from the Beta Team here!

Currently the only ongoing Beta Test that allows for access to Pre-Authorizations is for Square for Restaurants:

Square for Restaurants Next Generation - An ongoing closed beta for Square for Restaurants that includes Pre-Authorization and several other features.  This will go into Open Beta by the end of April, but if you're interested in using Pre-Authorization with Square for Restaurants, you can request to join here in the Beta Community:
https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Next-Generation-Square-for/cmp-p/grouphub%3ABarTabs

Earlier this year, we were also testing Pre-Authorizations on Square Point of Sale, but that Beta and access to the feature have been discontinued at this time.

Updated 7/1/2024 to reflect changes in Beta feature availability.

[sadmonkeytx]

Hi there! This is really exciting to know that Square is working on this feature. We have a bar as one location and a food truck set up as a different location which causes issues when a customer wants to order something from both locations. We have to hold on to their credit card behind the bar if they open a tab - but then give it back so they can go outside and order from the food truck.

Anyway, I have enrolled our business as a Beta Member and was wondering if it is possible to enable the pre-auth feature on a Square Register (via the online dashboard or register screen itself)? Thank you!

[achase43]

When will pre-authorization sync with KDS. It is not useful for us until it does.

[banter_bar]

Hi - whats the the reason that the suits decided pre-auth wasnt worth it on the POS app? Is it to funnel people into paying for restaurants? Seems a little suspect given that soooooooo many people on here want it for the POS app. I know you cant keep everyone happy, but it seems purely like a money grab rather than trying to help your customers get their hands on new things. I get that we are all trying to make money, but not everyone wants to use the restaurant app. 

all that being said, thanks for being the messenger on this, i am not mad at you, just supremely frustrated that we have to hold cards like its the old days. 

[Kistere]

Yep. It's actually embarrassing. Some have asked what kind of POS this is (no pun intended) and I have to sheepishly tell them its SQUARE and relate how they took away the pre-auth function. SQUARE is not doing themselves any favors.

[AndySQ]

@banter_bar I appreciate the understanding - it's not a fun message to have to pass along and I totally get why folks are upset at the change. 

I can't really go into more detail on the reason why this call was made, but we are working on an option that will allow businesses to access Pre-Authorization even outside of Square for Restaurants (we'll be able to share more details when we have a clearer timeline).  This timing is especially tough for owners that prefer Point of Sale and aren't a great fit for Restaurants.  Restaurants is highly customizable and there's a way to get it to function for bars and breweries, but making that change, training staff, etc. is a significant time investment for sure.

@Kistere I definitely hear where you're coming from, especially when at one point this feature was already on the way.  I'll be sharing this feedback with the product team that made this decision, along with all the other valid concerns that business owners have shared in this thread.

Thank you both for speaking your minds here - this kind of input is valuable for the Beta team and helps us make a stronger case for why this pivot could have been handled differently.

Andy
Beta Specialist

[AndySQ]

Hi @sadmonkeytx I can see why Pre-Auth would help out a lot in that situation!

Since you're using Square for Restaurants, you'll want to request access to the Square for Restaurants Next Gen Beta Community Group - The Beta folks overseeing that program will review your account and enable in a few batches every week.  That Beta Community is also a great place to share feedback or ask questions with fellow testers!

Pre-Auth with Square for Restaurants is still a closed Beta with a few limitations and requirements to participate, so you won't see the option to enable it until your account has been enrolled.

Once you're enrolled in the Beta test, you'll see the option for Pre-Authorization on the Dashboard under your Service Settings, and can create a new device profile where you'll be able to toggle on Pre-Authorization for that individual device.

Andy
Beta Specialist

[sadmonkeytx]

Hi @AndySQ,

I have requested access to the Beta Group and will keep an eye out for an approval email. Thank you for your response and for the detailed information!

[JW4624]

This has been in Beta for a while now. How much longer before all the bugs are worked out and it's a standard feature? Thanks

[JW4624]

I posted this question over a week ago, is this thread even being moderated anymore? Has Square given up on the Beta testing and decided to scrap this idea? What's the status already?

[insightbrewing]

What is going on with this beta?  I use Square Point Of Sale and submitted a request to join the beta.  I'm waiting to be approved, but I called tech support and they told me the feature is already available on Point Of Sale.  But none of the menu options, settings, etc. that they tell me to look for are showing up on my dashboard or devices.  On the dashboard, I was told to go to Devices > Service Settings and look for something about pre-authorization but that option isn't there.  On the device, they told me to go to Add-Ons, open the settings for the Open Tickets add-on, and look for an option for pre-authorization but that option isn't there - all I have is 'Use Tickets as home screen', 'Use predefined tickets', and 'Use on this device'.  PLEASE HELP!!! I've lost countless hours of my life dealing with this!

[BillysIce]

In the exact same boat here... please assist!

[Kistere]

I was using the pre-auth on point of sale for a few months and it just disappeared. I was on the phone for over an hour and no one could give me an answer. A week later I got an email from SQUARE that they knew it was gone snd were working on it. This was many months ago. Still no contact, still no pre-auth. So disappointing. Customers hate that we have to keep their cards like its 1996. What's the deal, SQUARE??

[AndySQ]

@Kistere @JW4624 DM'ing you with the latest information - thank you for checking in about this.

[banter_bar]

This is where we are at. I saw the beta and signed up for the POS app, but didnt continue with it because it was only available on the iOS devices. That blew my mind. I opened a tab on the ipad stand, but couldnt close it out on the handheld device the I BOUGHT FROM SQUARE. Like every one else on the internet, it blows my mind that I cant tap a card to hold this info in 2024.

[AndySQ]

I've DM'd you with the latest, @BillysIce - thanks for the question 🙂

[JW4624]

I read your message but don’t understand why you can’t post this and let the rest of the community know you’re giving up on your customers and not implementing this feature everyone had asked for unless you don't want them to know and want to keep stringing everyone along. 

After all the requests and interest in this feature Square should be ashamed of letting down its users who have been promised to for years that this would be coming.

[mythmaker]

Hey Andy,

I came on here to follow up on pre-auth with the loyalty program enabled, as I was told late July. However reading this thread, I'm afraid that's probably not the case. Any update? As many have stated, holding cards is a thing of the past that many are not comfortable with anymore. I was told nearly two years ago that pre-auth would be available soon.

Is it time to start looking into a POS system that can offer this feature?

Thank you.

[AndySQ]

@mythmaker Loyalty for Pre-Auth actually did roll out in late July, and the Pre-Authorization feature is still available on your account, if you'd like to give it a try with those options 🙂

Like I mentioned in my post below, Pre-Authorization won't be coming to Square Point of Sale in the long term, but we are working on a way to make it available to businesses that need it.  I just can't go into much detail on that at this time.

When we originally began this Beta over a year ago, launching to Point of Sale was where we were headed. This summer, that plan changed, and it's an unfortunate reality that not all Betas go the distance - even extremely popular features like Pre-Authorization.

Ultimately only you can make the call when it comes to who you process with and what's best for your business.  I'm just sorry that this change feels so abrupt and puts you in a position where considering alternatives may be necessary.

Andy