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Permalink Reply by Reagan Osborne on June 27, 2014 at 11:39am

We use gift "coins". The ceramic coffee coins labeled in $5 and $10 denominations. It's not ideal, but it is distinctive and memorable.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Davis on July 10, 2014 at 8:11am

Here's what we do:

We use ecardsystems.com.  They have a simple iPad app that tracks card balances, and they also print cards for you.  You will have to use a separate card reader on your iPad (so you can't use the Square Stand.)  We have our iPad set up with the Square card reader in the audio jack, and a Magtek reader in the 30-pin connector.

We ring the order up in Square and select payment by Other > Gift Card.  We then make note of the total (or print a receipt) and switch over to the eCardSystems app and deduct that amount from their gift card.

Its not perfect, but the hassle is worth it to offer gift cards - they're a HUGE seller for us!

It would be a much better system if eCardSystems could use the Square scanner, but I've talked to them and they say the Square card scanner is encrypted and locked down so no app other than Square can use it.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Spivack on July 10, 2014 at 8:35am

Thank you for the response. Just to clarify, I understand that I'd be paying to have cards made, but what about the processing of cards? Is there a fee/subscription for that?

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Permalink Reply by Chris Davis on July 10, 2014 at 8:50am

eCardSystems charges $39 per year if you use their app on one iPad (that's what we do).  If you want to use it on more than on iPad, or in multiple locations, they have two plans: $19 per month for up to 200 transactions, or $29 per month for unlimited.

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Permalink Reply by Southeast Grind on August 21, 2014 at 8:51am

This is super helpful Chris Davis! I think we are going to get this set up at our shop. Thanks. 

Chris Davis said:

Here's what we do:

We use ecardsystems.com.  They have a simple iPad app that tracks card balances, and they also print cards for you.  You will have to use a separate card reader on your iPad (so you can't use the Square Stand.)  We have our iPad set up with the Square card reader in the audio jack, and a Magtek reader in the 30-pin connector.

We ring the order up in Square and select payment by Other > Gift Card.  We then make note of the total (or print a receipt) and switch over to the eCardSystems app and deduct that amount from their gift card.

Its not perfect, but the hassle is worth it to offer gift cards - they're a HUGE seller for us!

It would be a much better system if eCardSystems could use the Square scanner, but I've talked to them and they say the Square card scanner is encrypted and locked down so no app other than Square can use it.

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Permalink Reply by Tricia H. on June 10, 2015 at 6:12pm

Hi,

Just thought I'd chime in now that Square does accept (and keep track of) giftcards, if you still have the old ecardsystems gift cards, they will change the strip to work with Square (because they are now the company that makes squares giftcards), you just have to send them to ecardsystems and they charge a small fee per card (can't remember exactly what they quoted me, but I think it was less than a $1 each card). It's cheaper than buying all new gift cards (especially if you bought a ton of them). 

Cheers!

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Permalink Reply by Eric Spivack on June 11, 2015 at 8:45am

Yes, thank you. We did convert to Square Gift cards in January and have been loving them.

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