Feature Request: Test Transactions (Training Mode)

[Michael_L]

I've run into some very odd issues with my Square transactions and now, despite processing refunds I still have a mathematical error in my accounting and it cannot be reconciled.  (Help call confirmed this on Jan 7, 2019.)

REQUEST: Could you please implement a 'Testing' mode where people can just turn off the data and see how things work?  

In another thread, you suggested a workaround of just processing transactions and then refunding them.  This doesn't work well for a few really valid reasons:

• Square still records the transaction as a sale; a refund will adjust the final 'net' dollar amounts but it doesn't clear out the sales counts such as item and category sales (throwing off the actual sales numbers).  The dollar amounts also remain in the 'gross sales' totals and activity reports.

• Due to inexplicable mathematical errors in your software, tips are not removed from sales totals even if the full transaction is refunded.  Hopefully this will be fixed; but now all my 'test' tips are still showing as income and my tax report shows that I owe tax on the tips even though I didn't actually take any in.

ALTERNATE REQUEST: a way to delete 100% of all sales data from an account.  This would allow a new user to do testing on the way their products show up in various sales reports, play with the system, and then start fresh when they go 'live' with real clients.

I spent a fair bit of time setting up the products and all the account settings and the idea of just starting a new account 'because it is free' seems pretty daunting time-wise.  My first week or so will be a total mess and I will have to find a way to reassure my accountant that most if it should be ignored.

[#2]

I've run into some very odd issues with my Square transactions and now, despite processing refunds I still have a mathematical error in my accounting and it cannot be reconciled.  (Help call confirmed this on Jan 7, 2019.)

REQUEST: Could you please implement a 'Testing' mode where people can just turn off the data and see how things work?  

In another thread, you suggested a workaround of just processing transactions and then refunding them.  This doesn't work well for a few really valid reasons:

• Square still records the transaction as a sale; a refund will adjust the final 'net' dollar amounts but it doesn't clear out the sales counts such as item and category sales (throwing off the actual sales numbers).  The dollar amounts also remain in the 'gross sales' totals and activity reports.

• Due to inexplicable mathematical errors in your software, tips are not removed from sales totals even if the full transaction is refunded.  Hopefully this will be fixed; but now all my 'test' tips are still showing as income and my tax report shows that I owe tax on the tips even though I didn't actually take any in.

ALTERNATE REQUEST: a way to delete 100% of all sales data from an account.  This would allow a new user to do testing on the way their products show up in various sales reports, play with the system, and then start fresh when they go 'live' with real clients.

I spent a fair bit of time setting up the products and all the account settings and the idea of just starting a new account 'because it is free' seems pretty daunting time-wise.  My first week or so will be a total mess and I will have to find a way to reassure my accountant that most if it should be ignored.

[Valerie14432]

I have the new Square Register and was looking for a training mode to train employees.  Even Vend offers that.  A little disappointed.

[EJ_]

It's definitely a popular feature request @Valerie14432 

The Best Answer in this thread is the most commonly used workaround, but hopefully we can come up with a better solution in the near future. 

[Facebar]

This reply was created from merging the thread "Is there way to allow my staff to practice taking payment?"

I have a small staff that work remotely and are new to using Square. Is there a dummy account or way that I can have them run through taking payment that won't actually charge an account? 

[Chad]

Hello @Facebar! 

I went ahead and merged your thread with this one since this question has been asked before. This keeps the community organized and easier to search for other sellers. 

Currently we don't offer a test mode for practice payments, but we are tracking the feedback on this thread. 

[BobMerlin]

Put me in the "You definately need this feature" side.

How do you set up a dummy account using the same ssn and what do you use for a bank account? Please explain this to me!

[puka]

Hey @BobMerlin - You wouldn't need to link a bank account to your test Square account since you won't be depositing any funds from it. You would just need to make sure to refund the test transactions that you process. 👍

[HammerDownGrill]

I think this is something that square desperately needs to do ASAP.  I am about to enter a large scale food truck business with upto 5 more employees and we definately need to learn how to do all the transactions with the menu items that I have already created for my account.  With a food truck that can serve upto 600 people in one day Im sure every situation will encure almost immediately.  Please get this issue resolved. Its the end of 2018 and people have been asking since 2016.  So almost 3 years later no headway.  Come on Square.  Get on board with this please.  

[SleeplessNC]

Agreed.  I'm not sure that I would recommend the square register without a training mode.

[phanson99]

Hi, any developments on test/training mode? Is there any rationale for not having it? It appears to have been a topic of discussion for several years. What is the best way to receive updates on this? 

[Helen]

Hello @phanson99! No updates on this request yet but we will continue to flag this request ot the Point of Sale team. You can subscribe to this thread for updates - sign in to the Community and then click 'Subscribe' in the upper right of your screen.