POS ettiqute

[abdooleotoole]

I have been asked to add an impact printer for the bar area of a restaurant. The customer is very unhappy with the company that set up the system and has requested that I do any future modifications.
What are the ramifications of me modifying a POS system. I know the obvious is the warranty issue, but are there any other considerations? I want a happy customer more than I want to take work from someone else. It is just that the customer has completely had it with their dealer and is ready to yank the units out if they have to deal with them again.
They currently use a posiflex KS-6115 POS with focus software. I proposed to run a wire out of the open USB port and supply a USB-Cat-5 extender and run it to the bar area. I think I can just add another port in the software and label it bar. Is it as simple as I believe?

 

[kermit01de]

First of all you should document everything you modified and let the customer sign that the system runs properly after your changes.

Also document all issues the customer has got and let him sign before you start modifying the system. Then there should be no misunderstandings and both sides are happy.

Before you modify a running system, try with a testsystem (if possible), show the result to the customer and if he likes it, then implement to the live system.

Kind regards
Mirko
--------------------------------------
>>>>>> ... I am sure, some supportissues are a matter of PEBKAC ... <<<<<

 

[alohaakamai3]

It sounds like what you're trying to do is simple enough that you can give it a shot, and if it doesn't work, you can reverse the effects. However, only someone familiar Focus can say for sure, but I thought you'd be asking something a lot more complicated when you said "modifying a POS system".

Along the lines that Kermitode suggested, I would be careful, though... especially with regard to future service. Without a dealer to call in emergencies, etc, and you not seeming to know Focus all that well, you are in a precarious position. With POS systems, seemingly harmless things can cause huge problems or take systems down, especially without knowledge base documents to back you up.
You may be a hero today, but I've seen friendships go down the shitter when problems start to effect the business. I would definitely have them sign something that says they are aware you are not a Focus technician and that you're not responsible for things that you could not have known about.

I've always have someone sign something like this before I work on any system, usually... whether I am familiar with that software or not.

 

[coorsman]

The hardware aspect of adding a printer might sound simple and straight forward but in reality the problem is with the software- here lies the problem - do you have administrative rights in the software to add a printer - printer routing - printer groups - item maintenance etc. A big and complicated job for a novice of any restaurant pos system.

I would seek more help on this forum for someone knowledgeable on the focus pos.


Cheers,
Coorsman

 

[abdooleotoole]

Thank you for all the advice, what is PEBKAC?
Does one need administrative rights to add a printer? Isn't it a windows based system ? It would be like me adding a printer to my computer?

 

[alohaakamai3]

On some systems, admin rights can be customized, and yes, sometimes installing dealers make the ability to add something like a printer a "super user" function. In other words, a clearance level that may be outside of the business owners current access privileges.

Even though the system is Windows based, you'd have to likely have to configure the printer within the POS software. Some systems do take advantage of windows printing and require the printer to be installed in windows, but you'd still have to do configure something in the POS software as well. Other systems, like Aloha, do 90% of the printer configuration via the POS software, and really don't have anything setup in Windows at all except the communication ports.

Coorsman's response was really good. I probably wouldn't mess with this thing unless someone chimes in to give you some insight into Focus.

PEBKAC = Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair

 

[Lex87]

@abdooleotoole - If that was intentional, thank you it was a good laugh. If not, sorry sir, I had a good laugh though?

I've actually used POS Software (Logivision in this case) where allowing Windows to install a driver for the printer will cause the port to become 'captured' and you won't be able to print from the POS which is merely feeding formatted data right to the port hardware and bypassing Windows completely.

I've also seen some EPSON OPOS crap where the wrong Windows driver throws everything into chaos and you need to either update the driver, or the printer firmware, or reset DIP switches on the printer to get it happy.

Finally I've worked with Windows friendly POS software (ResortSuite in particular) where the definitions for unusual printer types were all 'basic' and when you add a new printer you have to fix the definition to get anything close to what your client would like to see on the chits..

Kermit's reply was sage advice for almost any "TIAS" work. Just get all expectations and limitations on paper and make the client sign before/after. They can still raise a fuss but it won't be nearly as bad as it could be.