Looking for Gift Card system that will sell/redeem from inside Aloha AND onePOS 2

[eburks]

We opened a 3rd store using onePOS a few years ago (the first 2 use Aloha) and that meant moving from Aloha Stored Value GC to Verifone terminal gift cards due to the 2 incompatible systems. Ecardsystems is the current provider and although they have been OK as far as processing on the verifones they initially (and still do advertise) that they can integrate with Aloha. They can't! So I have been stuck with separate GC terminals. We are a very popular BBQ restaurant but are not really big enough for the cost on some of the systems I priced several years ago. Now that some of the credit card guys like Worldpay and First Data have rolled out larger support systems for gift cards I am revisiting getting the GC back inside the POS terminals.

My investigations with Worldpay and First Data have been like pulling teeth. They have all sorts of marketing people for you to talk to but it is difficult to get email or phone info about using their products with 2 different systems.

I am hoping someone here has worked out this issue in a similar situation. Some of the aloha supported solutions I investigated like (I believe it was paymentech) were just too costly for our 3 store environment.

One solution that does exist is Mercury Payments but my financial guy and 51% owner had a bad experience with them years ago and they are not currently a viable option. He also has what he believes are the lowest rates possible on Credit with FD and a close second with Worldpay so there is resistance on new merchant accounts. He really favors Worldpay because he thinks he gets his funds a day or 2 sooner.

I am just looking for some leads on places to look. It looks like with some changes to our current merchant account that we can use First Data but I would like to look at a few options before I commit

Worldpay does NOT support onePOS

Also, one of the options I need to explore is using onePOS at all stores. Then the whole issue I am having would be moot. I am very familiar with Aloha and hardly familiar with onePOS and our local rep does not impress me so I resist that change.

Please chime in with companies I can research
TIA

 

[eburks]

PS this conversation started here but I thought I needed to rephrase the situation

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1742880

 

[eburks]

One more thing just to be clear. I am not looking for POS systems. I am looking for Gift Card Providers and that can include credit card providers who do gift cards or just Gift Card only providers. The key is that they integrate with the 2 systems.

 

[PosGuyUS]

I would check out Heartland. They bought Chockstone a few years back so when you ask the POS provider, you can ask about both. HPS service is pretty good. GCs are cheap if you process through them, not sure on the cost if you don't.
SwipeIt might integrate to both, they use STS, Smart Transactions Systems. I could put someone in touch with you from SwipeIt.
I think your big hurdle is probably OnePos, they have their own software to do CCs. They do list a number of processors on their site, HPS is one of them.

http://www.onepos.com/products/electronicpayments.html.

They might have more though so I would ask them. Get that first, then read them off to Aloha.
I am not a fan of FDMS. Probably one of the worst support I've ever dealt with. Never had any issues with Valutec or Paymentech.

 

[pmegan]

Have you tried Paytronix? My company is all Micros, but I know they integrate with a lot of different POS systems. We acquired a few restaurants with Aloha and Positouch a while back. They were ultimately converted to Micros before opening, but before that decision was made Paytronix said it wasn't a problem. I've also seen a whole list of POS installers whenever I install ro upgrade a server.

 

[eburks]

Thanks Pmegan and posguyus thats exactly the kind of info I am looking for. I never even came across paytronix in my searches. Heartland is also an option, I use to use them 5 years ago but was open to a change because we had some odd issues at one store where cards would be randomly declined during a big rush that seemed to be failing due to a random SSL issue. When I got a chance to change processors and process over datawire again I jumped at it. I have never had any authorization issue over datawire... batches are slow to settle compared to Heartland batches but worth the wait. I am sure any heartland hiccups are smoothed over 5 years later and lighning fast batches would be nice.

 

[PosGuyUS]

When you have a problem with FDMS it can take hours on the phone so I would never recommend them. All processors have equal problems with connections, some are the processor's fault but most are something on site.
Paytronix is great, best in the business for loyalty but you pay for it. Sounded like you didn't want to spend the money. Advantage to PX is all the reports. They can help you find a server that's cheating the system. They also have lots more features than the other processors out there. Can't say the same for other processors.

Another good loyalty system is Posiq but they don't do gift.

 

[MrRicco]

Hi, guys! Yes, Posiq are quite well, heard about them... But I have ordered a pos system NJ from the company Smile-POS. Have heard a lot of positive opinions about them. Besides they can help with different problems. Can somebody say something on this matter? Shall I buy again from them? Any useful information will be very much appreciated!!!

 

[PosGuyUS]

MrRicco, if you already bought from them, why are you seeking another opinion?

 

[eburks]

@others thanks for your info

@ MrRicco I think you would be best served starting your own thread

EVERYBODY is making handheld/IPAD based system nowday. What I worry most about with most of these new systems is redundancy and what happens if you loose internet connection. Some can handle it many cannot.

 

[MrRicco]

Hi everybody! Thank you for your replies))
Sorry, POSGuyUS I didn't tell all the story...
Mmmm, We are going to start a new family business with my wife,we need pos another pos system for it. My wife has her own preferences and wishes about pos company. She thinks it must be other one. I insist on my opinion))) Any advice according other pos companies, whom I can trust? I don't want to change the company, they are cool, but my wife...

Eburks, thanks for you tip

 

[PosGuyUS]

I am guessing you're in New Jersey. If so, I recommend talking with CC Productions. They sell POSitouch and Reflection. Reflection is great for most restaurant applications, it is a middle of the road product. If you want something that already does just about everything I would look at POSitouch. If you're not in NJ, let me know and I can find a dealer of either for you.

Outside of those 2 systems, Micros is probably the most well known and has the highest market share. Aloha became number 2 I think when they were bought by Radiant and now owned by NCR. Both have reduced their local dealer network and moved to a more corporate and central based operation and you must buy their proprietary hardware from them. Not sure how that works out for the little guy. I would avoid the IPad and Android systems as they are new to market, short on features and from what we hear, the support isn't there yet. Also avoid anyone who tells you the system is free.