Checking Your Upserve Gift Card Balance: A Comprehensive Guide

Gift cards are a fantastic way to boost sales and offer customers convenient payment options at your restaurant. Upserve POS provides a robust system for managing gift cards, whether you’re using Upserve Gift Cards or integrated partners. Understanding how to check a gift card balance is crucial for both your staff and your customers to ensure smooth transactions. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to Serve.com Check Balance – or rather, check your Upserve gift card balance – directly on your Upserve POS system and online.

Setting Up Gift Card Items in Your Upserve POS

Before you can start selling and redeeming gift cards, you need to set them up as items in your Upserve POS system. This ensures proper tracking and reporting.

1. Access HQ: Log in to your Upserve HQ account.

2. Navigate to Items: Click on Menus > Items.

3. Create New Item: Select Create Item.

4. Choose Item Type: At the top of the ‘New Item’ page, click Item Type and choose Gift Card. This designation is important as it categorizes the item correctly, applies zero tax, and marks it as non-revenue.

5. Name Your Gift Card: Enter a descriptive name for the gift card item (e.g., “Gift Card – $50”).

6. Set the Price: Input the gift card value. You can set a fixed amount or $0.00 if you prefer to use price override for custom amounts at the time of sale.

7. Categorization: Assign the gift card item to a relevant category, display group, and course for menu organization.

8. Tax Setting: Ensure the Tax Rate is set to ‘Zero Tax’.

9. Price Override Option: Check ‘Allow price override’ if you want the flexibility to enter custom gift card values when selling.

10. Finalize and Save: Complete any other desired item settings and click Save.

Tip: Consider creating a dedicated ‘Gift Card’ category to keep your gift card items organized within your menu.

Selling Gift Cards on Upserve POS

Once your gift card items are configured, selling them through your Upserve POS is straightforward.

1. Open a Check: Start by opening a new check on the Upserve POS.

2. Add Gift Card Item: Tap the designated Gift Card item to add it to the check.

3. Enter Value (if Price Override Enabled): If you enabled ‘price override’, enter the specific value of the gift card being purchased.

4. Payment Processing:

   • Integrated Gift Cards (Upserve Gift Cards, TCC, Paytronix, SwipeIt): Swipe the gift card or manually enter the gift card number from the back of the card to load the balance directly onto the card.
   • Non-Integrated Gift Cards: Use an external terminal to process and load the gift card value. You can add an item note to the check to record the gift card number for your records.

5. Proceed to Payment: Tap Payments (or Done > Payments).

6. Select Tender Type: Choose the payment method the customer is using to purchase the gift card.

7. Complete Transaction: Process the payment and close the check.

How to Check a Gift Card Balance on Upserve POS

Checking the balance of a gift card is a simple process on the Upserve POS, ensuring customers always know their available funds.

1. Navigate to Home Screen: Go to the Upserve POS home screen.
2. Select Gift Card Balance: Tap on the Gift Card Balance option.
3. Swipe or Enter Card Number: Swipe the gift card through the terminal’s card reader or manually enter the gift card number. The POS will then display the current balance on the gift card.

Note: For Upserve Gift Cards, both staff and customers can also quickly check the balance by scanning the QR code located on the back of the gift card using a smartphone.

Redeeming Gift Cards on Upserve POS

Redeeming a gift card is just as easy when a customer is ready to use their gift card for payment.

1. Open Customer Check: Open the check for the customer who wants to redeem their gift card.

2. Go to Payments: Tap Payments (or Done > Payments).

3. Choose Other Tender: Select Other Tender.

4. Select Gift Card: Tap Gift Cards from the tender options.

5. Enter Redemption Amount: Input the amount the customer wishes to redeem from the gift card and tap Charge.

6. Process Gift Card:

   • Integrated Gift Cards: Swipe the gift card or manually enter the gift card number to process the redemption.
   • Non-Integrated Gift Cards: Process the payment using your external gift card terminal and enter the redeemed amount in the Upserve POS.

Utilizing Gift Cards for Online Orders

Upserve also allows you to accept Upserve Gift Cards for online orders, expanding convenience for your customers.

1. Enable Gift Card Tender in HQ: In Upserve HQ, go to Settings > Online Ordering > ‘Settings’ next to Upserve Online Ordering.
2. Activate for Order Types: Under ‘What Types of Orders Do You Accept?’, check the ‘Gift Card’ tender type for both ‘Delivery Payments’ and ‘Takeout Payments’.
3. Save Settings: Click Save to apply these changes.

Now, when customers place online orders for delivery or takeout, they can use their Upserve Gift Cards during checkout. They will be prompted to enter their gift card number and PIN to apply the balance to their order.

Customers can even serve.com check balance – view their gift card balance during the online checkout process by hovering over the information icon next to the gift card number field. This provides immediate transparency and improves the user experience.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and utilize gift cards with your Upserve POS system, providing a seamless experience for both your staff and your valued customers. Checking gift card balances is a key component of this, ensuring smooth transactions and customer satisfaction.