Please Stop Invasively Auto-Creating Item Name Based on UPC

[JoyOne]

This feedback pertains to the Square Register interface.

I've noticed that the Auto-Create and populate feature has become increasingly invasive in its effort to populate fields for you based on the UPC code that's been input into the GTIN field.

If I've filled the Item Name portion with a naming scheme specific to my business, I DO NOT want Square to auto create a new name for me. My naming scheme follows a very strict naming convention for myself and my employees. The auto-filled name is oftentimes a poorly scraped version of the item found online.

This is NOT a great UX.

Not only is there an auto-create box at the very top of the screen that I have to skip, now when I fill in the GTIN field down below, it'll behave in the same way. This is relatively new. Please, please stop this functionality.

Thank you.

[ndixon]

I hope this doesn't happen to me. Is this only for entering items in the ipad app or the register? I enter all my items in the dashboard on a computer and this doesn't happen to me. If this is the case, I would suggest trying the dashboard on the computer.

[Candlestore]

@ndixon ;

I believe this is only effecting entering an Item using an App not the Square Dashboard on a computer.  I also enter most of my items on a computer or via Import and my Items are not effected.  Now if I have 1 item to enter, and Type in a name in my Stand and then Scan the GTIN in later the Name would change.  I do not have any other Square devices to check this on like a Terminal or Register to see how they are effected.

[rustyravenng]

this happens to us using the scanner on the register.

[Candlestore]

@rustyravenng 

I am currently using Square version 6.45.1 on an Ipad Stand.  I am no longer having this issue of it Invasivly changing the name but does ask me if I want to create a NEW Item using the GTIN info found , Create an Item with GTIN or Create a Varition with GTIN etc.  This is from the Checkout Screen for new Items.

So check which Square App version you are using to see if that helps you out.   Now I can decide if the GTIN lookup feature has found the Correct item name before typing in the Item name and having it typed over by the GTIN lookup feature.   While testing it I scanned a Barcode on a Soda can, it found the barcode associated with DMX  Live and Uncessored.... Do not think this is a Can of Cola..... LOL

Just Tested this on another GTIN on my Square Stand.... If I go through the Square Catalog and Create New Item, and enter a Item Name THEN scan the GTIN Square automatically does Lookup the Item Name and Replaces what I typed in.   This example was just a TEST item name though.   

So now looking at this when I scan an UNKNOWN item in my system at the Checkout Screen I can choose if I want the name, BUT if I go through the Items and Create an Item Square is still changing the Name I entered if I scan the GTIN field after typing in the name.  Here is a Video:  

The above video shows If I create a new item in the App through Items Create New it still changes the name.

Update your Software and see if that helps.

[rustyravenng]

Ok, I looked up the app version we're using (it's 6.44.1), edited an existing item that had previously overwritten the title and removed it's GTIN and saved it.  Opened it back up and scanned it.  This time, it did NOT overwrite the existing title.

Maybe it's fixed?

[JoyOne]

My problem is specific to the Square Register (android platform). I have no issues when using Chrome/web portal. But glad to know that the iPad version is not susceptible to this.

[besus]

Yes, that's the work around we found on our own.  If you do it through the register it auto-corrects everything.  If you do it on a laptop it does not....which would also make me think it's possible to fix the issue when using the register, but Square has not.

[ndixon]

The register software is like a neglected step child. I can't even put barcodes on things with multiple units. It doesn't even do inventory counting. Why couldn't they try to make all the software work the same or at least be able to do the same feature set.

[Sarah44]

We are a confectionery shop, and this is the kind of auto name changes we are getting in our app. This happened AFTER the new item was created and SAVED!

Just to be clear, confectionery shops generally don't sell VW Golf spare parts!

 

[MayaP]

Hey @Sarah44, I see this is your first post. Welcome!

I am sorry you are having some issues with your terminal. Is your terminal up to date? Have you been able to factory reset the device? 

Reset your Terminal

Before resetting your Square Terminal, please have the following information on hand since you’ll need it to log back in afterwards:

• Wi-Fi network name and password.

• Square login information (email address and password) or device code.

• Location name, if applicable.

• Accessory settings: printer stations, drawers and any other accessories. A recommendation is to take a picture of the configuration of each connected accessory.

It’s also a good idea to send a Diagnostic Report and Support Ledger from your device prior to factory resetting. Diagnostic reports and Support Ledgers contain essential logs that will help us diagnose and resolve issues faster.

To submit a diagnostic report and support ledger from your Square Terminal:

1. From the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen, tap More > Support.

2. Under Troubleshooting, tap Upload Support Ledger

3. Tap Send Diagnostic Report.

4. Once you tap Send Diagnostic Report, you can leave the screen and continue using your Terminal normally while the report is sent in the background.

Note: Diagnostic reports can take between two and seven minutes to upload – please ensure you have a strong internet connection and your device is powered on during this time.

To reset your Square Terminal:

1. Tap ≡ More > Settings > Hardware.

2. Tap General > About Terminal.

3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap Factory Reset > Confirm Factory Reset.

4. Tap Reset one last time. From here the countdown will begin and your Terminal will reset.

Note: If you’re unable to access the Square Terminal settings, hold down the power button for 20–30 seconds until you see a black screen with a countdown timer. Keep holding down the power button until the timer gets to 0 and the screen says you can release the power button. Once the reset is complete, you’ll need to:

1. Go back through basic setup questions like your time zone.

2. Reconnect to the internet.

3. Sign back in with your email address and password or device code.

4. Add accessories such as cash drawers, printers or barcode scanners. Learn more about connecting compatible hardware to Square Terminal.

5. Adjust any settings back to your preferences.

[fortunagames]

We recently started having this issue as well and would really appreciate a fix! This has complicated our process for entering items, and we don't want to use the auto-created information.

[besus]

@Sarah44 and @fortunagames I'm not sure if you've read through this thread but it's been a problem for over a year and square has not addressed it.  Basically, as far as I understand, Square makes its money as your bank and the POS is more of a side gig.  As such, they don't put the same effort into fixing POS issues as they do taking commission on your work.  

That aside, if you are scanning items bar codes through the register when creating them square will autopopulate most of the information.  Thus a confectionary shop starts selling Volkswagen parts.  Square pulls from a sludge of a database that has outdated and incorrect information and the terrible product shots.   

Our workaround is to enter the the bar code manually through square online or scan it through a separate laptop.  You would either have to have a second scanner or unplug your register scanner and plug it into a laptop and scan it through square there.

If you ask a square rep why this is happening I would bet my life fortune that their answer is, "That's a great question...we understand your concern and we'll pass this feedback along to the appropriate team."  And then less than crickets.

[ndixon]

I will corroborate this. Using the online dashboard to enter items is a lot smoother. We have a separate barcode scanner for entering barcodes for products in the online dashboard.

[MayaP]

Hey everyone, my team is requesting examples of items you've scanned that returned incorrect information. @ndixon @besus @Sarah44 @fortunagames @JoyOne, I’ve escalated this issue for further review.

Thanks for your help in getting this resolved!

[besus]

@MayaP It happens with many items.  After we manually set them up using our own pictures if we add the GTIN at the register by scanning it completely changes the item and description and swaps out our photo with the worst resolution, distorted picture from some clearly outdated database.

The first item we noticed was GTIN [Redacted]54.  I'm not sure if you can replicate it with actually scanning the item at the register.  

Let me know if you need more information.  

[MayaP]

The team is asking for item examples, could you provide items for us to reference this is happening with @besus? 

[besus]

What, exactly, do you need me to provide?  The item name is Moulin de Gassac, Rose 2023.

[MayaP]

Yes, item names. Is this the only item that is happening on @besus? 

[besus]

We first reported the issue months ago (in April when we first went live).  We only got through a couple items before we found the workaround.  I can't really remember which items they were, but it was more often than not.  

[MayaP]

Got it, thanks for insight. Could you provide the GTIN for Moulin de Gassac, Rose 2023? 

Thank you @besus !

[besus]

GTIN [Redacted]54