thread Re: item options in Orders, Menu Items, Catalog & Fulfilment

What is the difference between item options and item modifiers?

Rp3 — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 18:03:59 GMT

What is the difference between item options and item modifiers?

Re: item options

isabelle — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 18:09:04 GMT

Great question @Rp3!

You can use item variations/options and modifiers to strategically display your items on your website, making them easy to shop for based on what your buyers need. Below I'll explain what the two are typically used for, and how they differ.

Item Variations/Options:

Selling shirts in four different sizes? A gift basket with “standard” and “deluxe” versions? Item options allow you to add variants to a single item, and are directly tied to your item stock.

To add variations/options to an item, go to your dashboard > Items > Item Library > select an Item > scroll down until you see Variations/Options.

Item Modifiers:

Item modifiers allow you to sell items that are customizable, or offer additional choices, and are not directly tied to your item stock. There are two types of item modifiers: a text input box for custom requests, and a list of options for pre-determined requests. You can use modifiers with item variations/options to create products with a wide range of options.

For example, say you’re selling an engravable bracelet that comes in multiple sizes. Your item variations/options would be the sizes (e.g. small, medium, large, etc.), and your modifier would be the custom text to engrave (e.g. the customer’s name/initials).

To add modifiers to an item, go to your dashboard > Items > Item Library > select an Item > scroll down until you see Modifiers.

I hope this helps clear things up. Let me know if not.

Modifier and Option Question

MonteBarrow — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 12:39:08 GMT

First time here, so forgive me if this is answered elsewhere. I searched but can'd find exactly what I'm looking for.

So I am setting up a friends POS system at the deli he bought a year and a half ago. It's been done one way and one way only, which is hand written tickets, a manual cash register, a Square terminal, a separate receipt printer and then their UBEReats terminal. I've convinced him to let me get him on the tech side of things (we're in our 30s so you'd think this is a no-brainer).

Anyways.

I've got all the menu items in the POS system... there are only 30'ish sandwiches and most of them share a lot of the same toppings.

I've created a list of modifiers, but as you can see from the screen grabs below, you have to click edit and then have to click the price to get to A) the modifiers and B) the option for half or full sandwiches.

That doesn't seem very intuitive to me and I was hoping I am just missing something and that these can be added to 'sub menus' on each button.

In this instance, I click Roast Pork... but nothing comes up on the main screen for addons, I have to click thru like I've shown below.

Am I missing something?

Re: Modifier and Option Question

isabelle — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:38:04 GMT

Hey @MonteBarrow!

Welcome to the Seller Community! ✨

This is totally not a no-brainer. I had to think this one through too 🤓.

I think that the half or full sandwich should actually be a Variation and the toppings should be a Modifier. I go over the difference and how they are typically used here. Does that help? Let me know!

Re: Modifier and Option Question

MonteBarrow — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 11:59:02 GMT

Thanks for the reply... I realized what I did wrong. I had the option selected to 'automatically add item to check'. Now when I click any of the items, the modifier menu comes up. I just need to modify those so the relevant ones show up on the right sandwiches instead of 50 modifiers.

Thanks!! 🙂

Re: Modifier and Option Question

Valentina — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 01:18:59 GMT

Thanks for letting us know you were able to get this one figured out, @MonteBarrow ✨🎉

If anything else comes up, we're here!

Re: Modifier and Option Question

SweetB — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 21:48:33 GMT

@Valentina

If I can jump in and recommend something for the Square team.

I have noticed while setting up products that it may be wise for square to default "Automatically add item to check" as off. As most restaurants will have some type of modifier, and it can be an easy step to miss while setting up a new menu.

Or perhaps a different UX for how the flow of Restaurant items is created. Might help newer users understand the workflow better! 😁

Re: item options

CornsilkCrafts — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 03:43:18 GMT

I would like to add options with variations for each option, but when I add an item to my online store, I do not have the ability to add options - I can only add variations. Do I have something set up incorrectly?

Re: item options

nika — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 18:55:53 GMT

Hey @CornsilkCrafts- I'm a little confused by your question. What do you mean by "options"? Are you wanting to add a subset of options under each variable? Can you give me an example?

Re: item options

CornsilkCrafts — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 22:22:47 GMT

I would like to list an option/variation for color and then list red, green, blue, yellow, etc. under that. I would also like to list an option/variation for size and then list small, medium, large, XL, etc. under that. I can add "variations" but I can't add anything else so I have items listed on my site as red small, red medium, red large, red XL, green small, green medium, and so on, which is less than efficient.

Re: item options

nika — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 16:46:15 GMT

I see @CornsilkCrafts. If you really want to have the colors separated from the sizes, you could modifiers for one or the other. It'll create a separate section aside from the variables where your customers can choose size (or color). Otherwise, it sounds like you have it set up in the way that our system allows at this time which is size and color both combined as a variable. Ex: BLUE-SM, BLUE-MED, etc.

Re: item options

Poohbear0471 — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 01:02:10 GMT

Isabelle,

In your response, you said:

"Item modifiers allow you to sell items that are customizable, or offer additional choices, and are not directly tied to your item stock. There are two types of item modifiers: a text input box for custom requests, and a list of options for pre-determined requests. You can use modifiers with item variations/options to create products with a wide range of options."

Could you explain how to create a modifier as a text input box? I cannot find how to do this.

Thank you!

Re: Modifier and Option Question

TrinityTreasure — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 03:52:20 GMT

Would this answer apply if I wanted to have the item upgraded to a combo with additional cost if possible. ie. Item is a burger ($5), you can add the combo +$7 and then if the combo is added, the option of drink is given [coke/sprite/water]. Then the item total is $12 with a drink selected

Re: Modifier and Option Question

BernadetteA — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 00:54:15 GMT

Great question, @TrinityTreasure

I think the biggest thing to keep in mind is that you cannot track inventory with modifiers. You can certainly setup an item using modifiers with the added price, and the ability to choose a drink option, however, the modifier options will not subtract from your total inventory.

You can find more information about setting up item modifiers here.

Hope this helps clarify, but please let us know if you still have questions.

Re: Modifier and Option Question

JRonan — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:06:03 GMT

I am using Square for Retail and there is no Text Box option. When I input the new t-shirt, for instance, under modifiers it is only the ones that were previously set up. it doesn't have the Create new option ... I really need a text box added and I am unsure it exists.

Sorry it wont let me upload images ...

Re: Modifier and Option Question

Arie — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 05:08:13 GMT

Hi @JRonan,

When you create a new item with Square for Retail, you'll see "Add Options" instead of Modifiers. To create a new modifier in Square for Retail, tap on Items > Modifiers > Create Modifier Set. You'd then be able to apply modifiers created here on the item level.

I hope this helps, let us know if you have any other questions around options and modifiers 🙂

Re: Modifier and Option Question

JRonan — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 14:16:23 GMT

@Arie Thank you for replying, however, it doesn't give that option on the item level. not even when creating a new item. It only allows me to pick from the ones already created....

Re: Modifier and Option Question

Arie — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 04:10:43 GMT

Thanks for sending through these screenshots, @JRonan.

I assumed you were using the Square for Retail app, and things are layed out a bit different on the Dashboard, and I also realise I should have explained this in a bit more detail!

Modifier sets can online be created under Items > Modifiers (the last screenshot you included). The best answer in this thread explains the difference between modifiers and options/ variations.

There's no text box to add a modifier once you've selected your item. Using variations is going to allow you to add text on the go, while you'd have to create a modifier set outside of the item. How you use variations and modifiers really depends on your business, and what you find easiest! To give you an example of how a coffee shop might use options and variations:

The item "Coffee" could have variations such as Cappuccino, Latte, Espresso, etc. A modifier set for this item could include modifiers such as skim milk, soy milk, etc.

Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂

Re: Modifier and Option Question

JRonan — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:07:33 GMT

Hi @Arie

My goal would be to remove the modifier for colors (because the list is just too long) and instead add a text box where they then type in the the colors options they want (we want them to pick 3 choices ). But when I set up the modifiers it does not give the option to create text box in either the modifier setup level or when trying to set modifiers in an item new or old.

I only switched to Square for retail because I read a thread that stated the text box can only be added to that version. We dont have a brick and mortar so I am willing to switch out of the Retail option as well.

Re: What is the difference between item options and item modifiers?

Ekramkedir — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:18:49 GMT

you can use modifiers to if you have different type for one item like same item different color