Did you temporarily lose the ability to accept credit and debit card payments? This may be why.

 

Delayed - TLS v1.2 security upgrade Express Flickering of the lights event delayed The Express platform 'flickering of the lights' event scheduled for today, Wednesday February 17, has been delayed until Monday, February 24 at 2:30 p.m. ET due to the winter storm impacting many cities across the U.S. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Worldpay from FIS is ending support of TLS 1.0 and 1.1 on our MercuryPay and Express platforms.   As a follow up to the communication below, Worldpay from FIS will be flickering the lights for merchants still processing on TLS 1.0 and 1.1. “Flicker the light” events, where Worldpay proactively ‘turns off’ the no longer compliant TLS 1.0 and 1.1 for a brief period will take place to identify potentially impacted merchants. The dates and platforms impacted are: MercuryPay: February 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET - COMPLETE Express: February 24 at 2:30 p.m. ET - DELAYED The flickers will last for 30 minutes and merchants using TLS 1.0 or 1.1 will be unable to process during the flicker window. You are receiving this notice because you may have merchants that are utilizing the outdated security protocols known as Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.0 and 1.1 to submit transaction to Worldpay from FIS on our MercuryPay or Express platforms. The PCI Security Standards Council has declared that TLS 1.0 or 1.1 no longer meet minimum security standards due to security vulnerabilities for which there are no fixes. Worldpay from FIS will end all support for TLS 1.0 and 1.1 after February 28, 2021 on our MercuryPay and Express platforms. Customers who are still using TLS 1.0 and 1.1 and who have not updated their system by that date will no longer be able to process transactions with Worldpay from FIS. Worldpay from FIS will be emailing merchants who may be utilizing these outdated protocols with common steps to prepare for the end of support for TLS 1.0 and 1.1. The merchants’ required actions will vary, and these steps are outlined in the attached document. (note from Kevin - if you were effected by this, you need to look at updating your computer and possibly your point of sale software ASAP. The quickest and least expensive solution is to put in stand alone payment terminals that do not connect to your point of sale system. I realize that stand alone payment terminals mean lost revenue due to miss-keyed payment totals but it will at least be a temporary solution while you see what hardware and software needs to be update so you are TLS 1.2 compliant).

State Specific Reporting Requirements for Liquor Store

In my travels across the US, I've learned that several states have specific reporting requirements for liquor stores (eg: sales by volume in Washington State, OLCC reporting in Oregon, TABC/Comptroller reporting in Texas, etc).

Obviously, a point of sale system that can automate these state specific reporting requirements would be very beneficial to liquor stores in these states.

As I am working on some technology solutions for these state specific requirements, I'd enjoy the opportunity to learn about any state specific reporting requirements for liquor stores located in the following states:

• Colorado
• Montana
• New Mexico
• Arizona
• California
• Arkansas
• Oklahoma
• Wyoming
• Montana
• Texas
• Washington State
• Oregon

I'm available to meet in person and/or online. We would work out some sort of compensation for your time. 

Please contact me if you are a liquor store located in one of the above states (kevinantosh@gmail.com or 208-340-5632). Thanks!

Standardized POS System for Oregon Liquor Stores?

 This was sent to me via email:

"The State of Oregon, acting by and through the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, (“Agency”), is issuing this Request for Information for a Point-of-Sale (POS) software for the Distilled Spirits Supply Chain to assist the Agency’s future buy decision. The desirable solution will merge computer hardware, software and peripheral equipment with improved operating practices for managing inventory for our liquor agent’s throughout the State of Oregon. The solution will increase accuracy and improve flexibility and responsiveness through real-time liquor inventory management and revenue capture."

Basically, they are soliciting information from POS vendors for a possible standard point of sale system to be used at all of the 280+ agency liquor stores in the state of Oregon.

If you are a liquor retailer, what are your thought on this? Are you OK with being told what POS system you must use in your store by a state agency? 

I'm curious to know! Please comment on this post or contact me at kevinantosh@gmail.com

The results will be shared in a future blog post (less any personal information so there is no chance of retaliation).

 

One Question for Retailers

What is the biggest challenge that you are facing as a retail store owner or manager?

Please let me know by using the contact form on this blog site, calling me at 208-340-5632 or emailing me at kevinantosh@gmail.com

I will compile the results and share via a future blog post.

Regional Site Visits 2021

 A quick note that Q3 and Q4 of 2020 was amazing!  You folks kept me on the road for almost 6 weeks straight and we found some great solutions for your stores!

Here are the areas that I am headed to for 2021 - please let me know if we should schedule some time to meet in person at your store:

• Twin Falls, ID
• Pocatello, ID
• Twin Falls, ID
• Jackson, WY
• Evanston, WY
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Stateline, NV
• Battle Mountain, NV
• Winnemucca, NV
• Seattle, WA
• Portland, OR
• Salem, OR
• Eugene, OR
• Bend, OR
• Missoula, MT
• West Yellowstone, MT
• Dallas, TX
• Austin, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• Tulsa, OK
• Oklahoma City, OK
• Denver, CO
• Phoenix, AZ
• Minneapolis, MN
• St Paul, MN
  
• LaCrosse, WI
• St Cloud, MN
• Duluth, MN
• Chippewa Falls, WI 

You can reach me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or 208-340-5632 - no cost to meet in person if I am already traveling to your area!

Liquor Stores: What Technology Tools Would Help You Increase Revenue and/or Save Time?

 Howdy to all the liquor retailers out there! Quick question: What technology tools would help you increase revenue and/or save time?

The floor is open for any all ideas, concepts and suggestions!

Please email them to me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or call me at 208-340-5632. This information will be used for some technology solutions that are currently conceptual but could become reality in 2021. Thanks!

Welcome to the First new Customers of 2021!

A quick shout out to retailers that have signed on recently for point of sale hardware, software and services. I am so grateful for all of you putting your trust in me!

• CJ Eateries - 22 location chain in Oregon - moving from Microsoft RMS/HQ to Cloud Retailer
• Owasso Liquor - Oklahoma - moving from Microsoft RMS to Cloud Retailer
• Total Health - Idaho -support and services to upgrade their Microsoft RMS point of sale system
  

Updated for 2021: Microsoft RMS vs. Retailer Management Hero (RMH) vs Cloud Retailer

 A quick comparison of running sales transactions, inventory, purchasing, reporting and merchant services in the Microsoft Dynamics RMS, Retail Management Hero (RMH) and Cloud Retailer point of sale software programs.

For questions or comments, please contact me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or 208-340-5632.