Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Welcome to some new RITE Customers!

A quick shout out to some retailers and organizations that recently signed on with me for point of sale related needs:

Opus One Winery - Card Defecnder - CA
The Range - RMS Plug Ins - CA
Bullet Barn Guns - Cloud Retailer and Card Defender - CA
Rietdyk's Milling Co - Service and Support - WA
Quantum Raynbow - Caribian - Cloud Retailer Reseller
Everson Royce - Cloud Retailer and Card Defender - CA
Plasticare - Cloud Retailer and Card Defender - CO
4 Way Meat Market - Card Defender - CA
1 Stop Pool - Support and Service - TX
Young Life - Consulting Services - CO
The Range of Richfield - Cloud Retailer and Card Defender - WI
Marmot Mountain / Newell Brands - RMS Plug Ins - CO

I can be reached directly at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Recent Posts in an NCR CounterPoint SQL Users Forum


POSTINGS FROM OUR FREE  

Counterpoint® Users Group (CPUSER.ORG®) is an independent Support Group for users of Counterpoint® Point-Of-Sale Software by NCR Corporation (formerly by Radiant Systems, Inc. & by Synchronics, Inc.).  We have been serving the Counterpoint® Community since 2003.  Please see our Legal Disclaimer at the end of this e-mail.
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This NCR Counterpoint® SQL user gets Credit Card Errors when processing with Vital.
Another user posts a reminder of CPGateway's End-of-Life on April 30 and includes how to switch to NCR SecurePay.
See users-helping-users at Posting #3394, "Credit Card SSL error help."


  



3.)  HostGator Error 404:  Page Not Found: 

If you are trying to connect to our Forum and get an Error 404 Message, change the 50.87.144.104  IP Address in the link towww.cpuser.org and the link will work. 
       
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SALE * SALE * SALE:
Thermal Receipt Paper Rolls: 
*  $62.10/Case of 50 Rolls
*  3 1/8 Inch x 230 Feet (Epson, Bixolon, etc.)    
*  Free Shipping
*  That's 54 cents per 100 Feet!  
*  Regular Price is $69.00/Case 
*  Call or E-Mail Us Today! Plus Save 10% on Labels, Tags, & Ribbons! 
SALE * SALE * SALE 
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Counterpoint Users Group 

Gordon Gelrod, Owner 

Toll-Free:  (888) 434-0844 

E-mail:  Gordon@cpuser.org 
Website:  www.cpuser.org   
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CPUSER.ORG® and Counterpoint Users Group provide independent technical support services and information specifically for users of COUNTERPOINT® point of sale systems.

COUNTERPOINT® is a registered trademark of CheckPoint Systems, Inc. and a licensed trademark property of NCR Corporation (formerly licensed by Radiant Systems, Inc. and by Synchronics, Inc.

CPUSER.ORG® is a registered trademark of Counterpoint Users Group.

CheckPoint Systems, Inc. and NCR Corporation neither endorse nor have any affiliation with CPUSER.ORG® or Counterpoint Users Group.


Tuesday, May 15, 2018

What Microsoft Dynamics RMS Users are Doing: 2018 Edition

Quick analysis of what retailers are doing specific to the upcoming end of extended support date for the  Microsoft Dynamics RMS and HQ point of sale software programs:



Whether it be paid onsite consulting or point of sale sales and service, you can reach me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or 208-340-5632 to have a free initial conversation to discuss your specific situation,

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Survey News- Republicans Spend More on Mom's Day Than 'Dems'

Guest Post from Len at Brand Keys:


Republicans More Liberal Than Democrats On Mothers Day Spending

Mothers Day 2018 Spending Up 2% Over Last Year

NEW YORK, NY April 30, 2018 - Mother's Day anticipated spend is only up by two percent YOY, but it turns out that Republicans intend to spend more on Mom than other registered voters. "Republicans may claim they are more fiscally conservative than Democrats when it comes to taxation and the national budget, but not, apparently, when it comes to spending on Mother's Day," noted Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys, Inc., Inc. (www.brandkeys.com), the New York-based consumer loyalty and emotional brand engagement consultancy,
Politics Significantly Affects Spending on Mom

Overall, celebrants intend to spend on average $224.00 this year, a two percent increase over 2017 spending. Men, following a long-standing tradition, intend to spend more than women, reporting an anticipated average spend of $245. Women, an anticipated spend of $203.

This year as part of Brand Keys' annual Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, 7,500 men and women, ages 18-65 from the nine U.S. Census regions, all registered Democrats, Independents, or Republicans, were asked if, and how, they planned to celebrate Mother's Day this year. Most consumers indicated multiple gift purchases. But if you break out the average spend by political affiliation, noted Passikoff, there are some significant differences.

Republicans to Spend 10% More than Democrats
Registered Republicans average Mother's Day spend is anticipated to be $240, seven percent higher than the average national spend and 10 percent higher than Democrats. Registered Democrats average spend was $219, only $1 lower than the national average. Independents declared average spend is $213, five percent lower than the national average.

What Consumers Are Buying Mom
No matter how shoppers vote, nearly everyone celebrates Mother's Day, noted Passikoff. Over the past decade Mother's Day has encompassed a broader spectrum of relationships and to become a more collective celebration, said Passikoff. The holiday celebrant-range includes virtually everyone: moms, wives, step-moms, female relatives and friends, divorced, single-parent, same-sex and civil union households. It crosses cultural, ethnic, and religious bounds, making it a real opportunity for retailers an occasion nearly everyone celebrates.

What consumers anticipated buying this year was generally constant from 2017 (with percentages in parentheses indicating changes from 2017 with a margin of error of + 2%).

2018 Gift Categories Percent Purchasing Change from 2017

Cards/E-cards 97% (+2%)
Brunch/Lunch/Dinner 92% (+2%)
Flowers 89% (+3%)
Clothing 87% (- 2%)
Jewelry 60% (- 1%)
Spa Services 55% (+3%)
Gift Cards 60% (+5%)
Books 21% ( ---- )
Housewares/Gardening Tools 22% (+ 2%)
Candy 10% (- 2%)
Electronics/ Smartphones 15% (+ 2%)

Interestingly, said Passikoff, there were no differences politically where consumers were going to shop, or how consumers intended to connect with Mom.
Where Consumers Intend To Shop

Specialty Stores 60% (+ 5%)
Discount Stores 55% ( --- )
Department Stores 42% (+ 2%)
Online Stores 40% (+10%)
Catalog 2% ( --- )

Like last year, more consumers intend to connect with Mom via in-person visits, noted Passikoff. Phone calls and online chats remain unchanged, although it's worth noting that given the ubiquity of smartphones and apps like FaceTime, Mother's Day has become one the most popular holidays to place a call.

Phone/mobile 65% ( --- )
Personal Visits 27% (+5%)
Online 12% (+1%)
Cards 10% ( ---)

A proverb says a mother understands what a child does not say.That said, this year consumers seem prepared to articulate exactly what Mom means to them, said Passikoff.

Contact: Len Stein
Visibility Public Relations
914. 527.3708


Wednesday, May 2, 2018

TSYS, Heartland and Wells Fargo Ending Support for Native Payment Processing in Microsoft Dynamics POS 2.0, 2007, 2009 and RMS / TLS Deadline

***New Heartland Deadline: June 1st, 2018. You will need to change hardware/software as need or your processing will be tuned off***

If you happen to be hanging on to old credit card swipes and are using TSYS, First Data or Heartland to process payments made via credit card or debit card in the Microsoft Dynamics POS 2.0, 2007, 2009 and RMS point of sale software programs, you will be in for a surprise when your processing is turned off starting June 1st, June 30th, or July 1st 2018. This also somewhat aligns with the TLS deadline for non-secure ways of processing credit cards.

It is simply just not secure or safe to use USB or Keyboard Wedge credit card swipes anymore.  You could be fined and/or lose the ability to accept payment via credit or debit card if caught.

There are multiple options available to you:
  1. Look at Card Defender which takes the security risk out of RMS, uses integrated payment terminals to interface with RMS, and you even pick up cool stuff like signature capture and NFC for Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
  2. Switch to using stand alone payment terminals. Quickest and least expensive option but leaves you open to entry errors that can cost you over $2080 annually in lost revenue.
  3. Look at updating RMS to one of the low cost direct replacement programs like Cloud Retailer or Retail Management Hero 
Those are the main options - you should make a decision no late than the end of May.

***I've also been contact by users of Microsoft Dynamics POS 2007, 2009 and 2.0 stating that they are also losing the ability to process credit cards effective June 1st, 2018. In these cases, you have fewer options since Dynamics POS 2007, 2009 and 2.0 do not have any 3rd party processing interfaces and do not qualify for a low cost replacement program. Contact me as needed***

****Wells Fargo and Heartland have also communicated with retailers that they will no longer allow them to use RMS and native processing with USB/Keyboard Wedge credit card swipes****

*****If you are using Windows XP then you can not use any web-based or integrated processing solution as Windows XP does not meet security standards*****

Please contact me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com for more information. You should also contact your merchant services company to see which deadline applies to you.