Now can gift cards or gift certificates expire? A very good question!

Short Answer: It Depends.

On what: The laws governing your State or Country.

As an example, in California, the Department of Consumer Affairs regulates Gift Cards and you can read more on it here.

Our recommendation:

1. Familiarize yourself with the laws governing your jurisdiction.
2. Go beyond the laws to satisfy your customers. How? Read these examples:

• A. Example 1: The laws in your State says that Gift Cards expire after two (2) years and the store can reject any older cards. Let your customers know that their gift cards don’t ever expire!
• B. Example 2: The laws in your Country say that the store does not have to refund the money on Gift Cards. A customer rushes and says that he wants to get 10 gift cards for his employees. He asks, “what happens if I only give out 8? Can I return the rest?” Make it your stores policy to refund Gift Cards that are not uses.

If you treat your customers the way you want to be treated, then you are on your way to success.

Get your custom Gift Cards from Sintel Systems. The holidays are around the corner, so don’t delay.

Contact Us
855-POS-SALES
www.SintelSystems.com

Sintel Systems has a long history of serving the frozen dessert industry. We have the fortune of working in some of the most delicious industries out there. We still love those frozen delights as much as we did when we were kids looking forward to the next gelato (I personally prefer sorbet), ice cream, or frozen yogurt and of course smoothies. While gaining the trust and relationship of new gelateria makes our business succeed, it gives another tastier benefit.

Gelato & Ice Cream POS System

Every time we come across the next gelateria to offer our point of sale POS system, we also get a taste of this rich and fruity delight. Can you find a better job to do? We are a professional, but fun cultured organization and like to allow our staff intellectual freedom. As we expanded into serving the San Francisco gelato industry, we set up a fun challenge. Instead of introducing our POS systems to the many gelato creameries in San Francisco, we decided to try each and rate them for taste.

Now given San Francisco’s rich Italian heritage we knew that we should be able to find many gelaterias (hopefully also sorbet) serving it up We’ll tell you the results of the challenge shortly, but we are very excited.

Most of us have heard the phrase “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” or “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” or other variations of this phrase. Or how about if “it’s too good to be true then it probably is.”
Then how is it that you see advertisements claiming “free POS” or “free point-of-sale. So, is there such a thing as “free POS” for your business? Here are some common phrases and mostly misleading we found when researching this topic:

“Upgrade your business to Point-of-Sale FOR FREE”
“FREE POS System for Hospitality, Bar or Retail”
“Is a FREE POS in your budget?”
“A comprehensive FREE point-of-sale solution for your business!”

To better understand, lets quickly look at the components and pricing of a POS system:
1. Hardware: This includes many times the POS touch screen, all-in-one touch pc or separate processor (computer), customer display, barcode scanners, cash resister drawer, kitchen display, and thermal printers.
2. Software: It is defined as the specific program than runs the point of sale operations and can have a variety of features.
3. Credit Card Processing
4. Training
5. Service & Warranty
It is easy to understand that all the above components cost money. Some imagine that the revenue from credit card processing may be able to allow seller of POS systems to offer the system for free. This is typically NOT true. The share of revenues the POS provider receives is way too little to cover the costs involved if you are to get a real system.
So, how is it that you see advertisements for “free POS systems?”

Pre-Installed POS Systems For Restaurants, Fast Foods, Bars, Coffee Shops and more...

We went searching and found the answers and here is what we found when we tried to purchase a two station POS system for FREE for a restaurant from one of the nations leading advertisers of free POS:

1. Basic Package: $60/month per station: Total: $120/month. Includes touch screen with credit card reader, cash drawer, receipt printer, and customer display pole.
2. Optional Equipment: Total: $33/month. Includes Kitchen Display and remote printer
3. There is a $60 per quarter maintenance. That is an extra $1,200 in the five year term.

Then we moved on to the fun part: THE FINE PRINT! Commonly, most business owners are so busy with setting up their business that they don’t read the pages of fine print and this is where you can come across surprises. We suggest that you spend the time to always read the fine print and ask questions. Here are a few interesting and frankly scary parts from it:
Terms: The monthly payment agreement is for 60 months and then it is automatically renewed for an additional 48 months if you don’t give them notice 60 days period to the termination of the first 60 months. Early termination fee is equal to the number of months remaining and the entire amount is due upon termination! So if after operating for 36 months, you want out, then you need to pay them 24 months worth of payments immediately.

RATE HIKE!!!!!! The POS seller can adjust the monthly service charges upon 30 days written notice. So at any point, they can raise the fees and you have to accept it.
Credit Card Processing: You have to maintain this service with them and pay any fees they like.

Equipment Ownership: They own the equipment and upon termination, you must return all the equipment in working condition.

The actual provider: Your POS provider is actually a bank. Don’t know if I want the bank to know everything about my transactions.

We know it’s hard to believe, but feel free to read the entire contract yourself.
Cost of ownership: Basic Package + Optional Equipment + Tax
$120+$33= $153 x 60 months = $9,180
Plus 20 quarterly of $60 = $1,200
Total: $10,380 (Depending on what State you are in, you may have to add applicable taxes to it.

This is the cost if they don’t decide to raise the monthly fee as they seem fit and if you forget to cancel the term 60 days before the expiration, then you are stuck for another 48 month or $8,300.
And you still don’t own the EQUIPMENT and are the mercy of the seller.

CONCLUSION:
When we tried to bring up this to them and asked “how is this free,” with a condescending attitude, we were told that this is like a cell phone contract. I am no fan of mobile phone companies, but at least with the cell phone companies you own the phone at the end and they can’t just raise rates on you if you are in a contract.
Directly stated, it is not only dishonest, but also grossly deceitful! One must wonder, if this is how a relationship starts, how will the rest of it go? The only factor we are not certain about is the service they provide when you have the system. You are stuck, so you can be at their mercy. They may be wonderful service providers, but in business, trust is everything and if they are this way in the beginning, who knows. A POS system is an investment in your business just like your employees who need to be trustworthy.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch” and “it’s too good to be true then it probably is.”

SOLUTION:
If you want an honest and reliable POS solution provider, then contact Sintel Systems. Our goal is to help you build your business instead of locking you into fine print. Your success directly reflects upon us and bring success to us. Contact us today with any questions:

SINTEL SYSTEMS
www.SintelSystems.com
POS@SintelSystems.com
855-POS-SALES or

Frozen Yogurt POS Software - Point of Sale with Scale Integration Module

The following documents provide labels to the buttons you would normally see in the Restaurant POS touch screen menus. They provide you with descriptions about the functions these buttons provide to the end user.

POS MAIN MENU BUTTON DESCRIPTION

POS QUICK SERVE MENU BUTTON DESCRIPTION

POS GIFT CARD MENU BUTTON DESCRIPTION

POS OPERATION MENU BUTTON DESCRIPTION

POS OPERATION MENU CUSTOMER BUTTON DESCRIPTION

POS OPERATION SALES REPORT BUTTON DESCRIPTION

These guides can be used to help identify the menu buttons found when navigating the different menus in Restaurant POS. If you need further assistance our tech support department is available at 972-POS-TECH. Simply give us a call and a technician will be available to assist you with any of your questions.

Connecting your scale and printer to a Sintel Systems Frozen Yogurt POS System is very easy to do. Just follow the instructions provided in the above PDF file and you will soon have both connected and ready for your day to day operations.

Scale & Printer Connection Instructions II

Once you have your adapters connected to the appropriate ports, follow the instructions provided in the PDF file above this paragraph to complete your installation process.

Sintel Systems is commited to providing our customers with a superior level of support. Our customers get access to dozens of online instructional videos demonstrating how to accomplish various tasks within the POS Software. We also provide over the phone technical support, dedicated to maintaining our high level of customer satisfaction and providing the very best POS support possible.

Scales are an essential part of any Sell By Weight POS System. They allow the business owner to charge customers based on the weight of their purchase. These scales are therefore a very critical part of a successful sell by weight business such as frozen yogurt. Making sure your scale is always in proper calibration is an essential topic which the business owner must be aware of. Sintel Systems provides helpful step by step guides detailing the calibration process for our customers. These guides are provided to all of our customers in order to increase their knowledge of the way their POS System works.

Step 1: Plug in the scale to a outlet this will power on your scale. Wait for it to display a weight on the screen. Make sure the scale is free of any obstructions and does not have anything on or near it.

Step 2: Press the “SW-1” button, the display should read “DIAG”

Step 3: Press the “Zero” button until the display reads “CAL”

Step 4: Press the “Test” button to begin calibration. The display will now show the unit of measure it is being calibrated for. You want to calibrate it for ounces, if the display shows ounces press the “Test” button to continue. To change the unit of measure to ounces, press the “Zero” button until Ounces is displayed.

Step 5: The display will now show the currently selected capacity. It should read “160×0.1” if it does not, press the “Zero” button to scroll thru the available options, when “160×0.1” appears, press “Test” to select it.

Step 6: Clear all items away and off of the scale. Now press the “Test” button. After a few seconds the display should read “Load 10”

Step 7: Place the 10lbs Calibration weight onto the scale and press the “Test”

button. The display should read “Done” after a few seconds.

Step 8: Press the “SW-1” button on the scale, this will perform a countdown and return to normal weighing mode.

Congratulations your scale is now calibrated and ready for use.

Sintel Systems Contact Information:

Call: (855)POS-SALES
Email: sales@sintelsystems.com
Visit: www.frozenyogurtpos.com
Visit: www.sintelsystems.com

For Technical Support Help Call (972)-POS-TECH

Here at Sintel Systems we are dedicated to providing support on hardware, software, and other services such as helping you keep your business operating at a high efficiency. One way to maintain a superior level of up time in frozen yogurt shops is to have your own Scale Calibration Tool available.  Scales need calibration every 12-18 months depending on their usage, some more frequently used scales can sometimes need calibration as frequently as every 3 months. Owning your own scale calibration tool will allow you to calibrate your unit whenever the need arises.

A single call to a local scale calibration service costs between $135-$160 for a visit. These weights literally pay for themselves after the first calibration! Avoid the hassle of waiting for a technician to come to your business and re-calibrate your scale yourself within minutes using this Scale Calibration Weight. You also eliminate any downtime you may have originally encountered just by having one of these calibration tools available to your frozen yogurt locations whenever the need arises.

Our complete POS Bundles which come with Support from Sintel Systems and these calibration weights are just another way that Sintel Systems can increase the value of your business by helping you find the products and services you need to keep moving forward. We are your one stop shop for all your POS Solution needs.

Once the tornado hits, both terminals along with the rest of the store are swept away just before the cameras goes blank. Luckily there were no injuries to people inside the store. As for all the POS Equipment, if the 600lb frozen yogurt machines are no where to be found, I doubt any remains of the systems will be found either. To show your support you can also visit the Joplin CherryBerry Facebook Page.

Below is the video from CNN iReport:

Franchise POS for Frozen Yogurt

Since franchises are all built under the same blue print template, the Point of Sale Systems and the Surveillance Security Camera Systems were also identical. This allowed corporate to be able to control all aspects of the store including sales and security.

The latest fad following the original Pinkberry seems to be Frozen Yogurt. With new independent shops opening nationwide especially in year around warm locations such as Southern California. Since the 2004 Sintel Systems has been providing POS for the retail, food service, and produce industries. In 2007 we launched our Frozen Yogurt POS package complete with ounce scale.

Yogurt With A Twist | Santa Clarita Self-Service Frozen Yogurt POS System Click for Coupon

Yogurt With A Twist is a perfect example of a Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Shop with a Point of Sale Systems using a Scale.   Customers create their own Frozen Yogurt and add as many toppings as they desire.   Since the product is sold by the ounce, the customer can control the value of the product.  IT is also the most efficient way for the customer, because they get exactly the portion they believe is correct for them.  Customer are simply not limited by small, medium, large sizes or limited toppings amount per order.

4 Cameras Surveillance System | 7" Retractable Built-In LCD | Installation Kit Included

SURVEILLANCE:  The Surveillance System consists of a 4 Camera Package covering the front and back prep area. It is important to note the role surveillance plays in a Frozen Yogurt Store.  Yogurt With A Twist uses CCTV to protect their most valuable assets: Frozen Yogurt Machines.  Since it is the customer pouring the frozen yogurt, it is important to cover such areas as a deterrent.

Active Cultures Frozen Yogurt is our example of a full service frozen yogurt store.  Here the process is different then the weighted method.  Full Service frozen yogurt requires a traditional menu with pre-designed frozen yogurt products.  Surveillance is more preventive in regards to employee behavior rather then customer.  Since the employee is the person creating the product, it is important to make sure that all products are created in according to the recipe provided.  Extending topping portions can become instant lose in sales due to shrinkage.

Active Cultures Frozen Yogurt | Studio City Full-Service Frozen Yogurt Click to Visit Website

At Active Cultures Frozen Yogurt located close to Universal Studios the Point of Sale Systems is integrated with a Label Maker. Here the customer orders their desired frozen yogurt product and it is punched in the system first.  Once the item is paid for, a label is printed and posted on the frozen yogurt cup.  Labels are printed with customer and order information for the frozen yogurt artist to creates the desired product for the customer off the label.

Franchising Frozen Yogurt Stores

Sintel System can accommodate your POS & Surveillance needs making sure all stores receive proper equipment and security coverage.  Whether opening 5 stores or 500 we are here to grow with you.  Our Enterprise Solutions Team can deliver, install, train, and provide technical support for all stores nationwide and world wide.  In our next blog we will be discussing how Sintel Systems can accommodate the work of 7 Vendors making it easy and more affordable for the franchise.  We offer services such as: POS, Surveillance, Network Solutions, Telephone, Audio, Video, & Alarm.

Call Us Today To Discuss your Franchise needs with a Business Automation Specialist at (888) SINTEL-6 Or Click Here to contact us via email with your request.

Complete Bookstore Point of Sale System. Click for System Details.

The Bookstore POS System can help you manage all books and search them by ISBN numbers (serial or SKU number). Keeping inventory of the thousands of books in your bookstore is just got a whole lot easier with Sintel Systems bookstore POS system. The comprehensive inventory data files can carry critical characteristic information and history.

Schools need to replenish according to expected student class participation during each session. The bookstore POS system can provide historical data which can better predict the inventory needs in the future. Stop under stocking, stop over stocking, and prevent shrinkage by knowing what you have.

Built in Time Clock Manager helps bookstore owners manage employee payroll. In addition it allows for thorough tracking of employee activity on the bookstore POS terminal. Deduct break and lunch time with accurate time management included free with the retail POS software.

Professional Edition Features:

CCS Professional Retail Edition is intended for bookstores wanting to use the POS for more then just managing transactions.  It includes features such as Loyalty Cards, Gift Cards, Inventory Control, and much more.  See Product matrix for details. This works great with students who can really use the discounts.  Gift Cards are also great because parents can give them to their children knowing they will be spent for its intended use.  Gift Cards Modules typically charge a fee for processing, but this feature is included in our professional POS software.  Inventory Control features allow for periodic reconciliation of inventory.  Create shelf tags and labels for the retail showroom and individual product tags when necessary.

Complete Coffee Shop POS for under $2,000

Enterprise Edition Features:

CCS Enterprise Retail Edition main users are bookstores with coffee shops.  The Enterprise Edition allows for both retail and restaurant versions to run under one database.  The Coffee Shop POS terminal would consists of a touch menu interface whereas the Bookstore POS terminal would have a retail scan interface with touch screen (optional).  The end of the day reports would include both terminals with individual details. Enterprise Customers are custom designed POS system.  Call (888) Sintel-6 to speak to a POS Professional and learn how you can manage your business using Enterprise Solutions.yee payroll all with one system.