[US Only] Beta Test Bar Tabs Pre-Authorization with Square

[MichelleSQ]

Hey Square Sellers! Michelle here from the Square Beta Team. No longer want to hold on to credit cards behind the bar? Do you want to simply swipe, dip or tap someone’s card to start a tab and hand the card back to them? Square is excited to announce that we are testing Bar Tabs with Pre-Authorization functionality for Sellers using  Square for Restaurants!

If you are using Square for Restaurants, and want to start testing - join us over at the Restaurants POS Beta Community. Once you request access, our team will respond within 48 business hours and you’ll get an email with detailed instructions on how to get started.

If you have questions about this functionality, I am more than happy to answer your questions! As always, please share any and all feedback to [email protected].

EDIT: This is only available for US based Sellers. Apologies to those of you outside of the US, we are working on it!

[LukeNieuw]

That's sweet!! 

I know there's been lots of chat by sellers who have been waiting for this. Good stuff!

[MichelleSQ]

Hi @LukeNieuw - thanks for your interest! I forgot to explicitly call out that this is limited to the US to start.

[LukeNieuw]

😭 

[ryanwanner]

This has been a long time coming, @MichelleSQ. Im glad to see it launch in beta. 
Has this been advertised in the seriously long ideate thread yet? I bet there would be a lot of interest from there…

[MichelleSQ]

@ryanwanner can you link me to that specific thread? I was worried about touching it so late in the week, as I'm not online to manage the incoming requests this weekend + Monday, and I didn't want to hold up anybody from being able to use it asap!

[ryanwanner]

@MichelleSQ 

Here you go! With all 700 replies to it. 🫣

Not sure how many of those sellers are still active Square users but I bet you’ll get some responses!

[Callee1945]

Great! I just set this up and we're testing it out. Warning to anyone setting it up... don't do it while your bar is open. I just installed the option and all of our current open tickets disappeared. Luckily, we only had 2 and they were regular customers so were happy (and patient) to help me test the feature!

[DavidOhmann]

@MichelleSQ we are currently using Point of Sale to do pre-auth, and requested to join the restaurant beta, but was denied because we weren’t using restaurant, but we weren’t on restaurants because we didn’t have access to pre-auth. Definitely a chicken or the egg situation.

[MichelleSQ]

Hi @DavidOhmann - I'm happy to add you to the restaurant beta given the circumstances.

[DavidOhmann]

Hi Michelle! I’ve been informed that I’m in. I’m going to start testing as soon. Thank you! (Still hoping to get stock conversion and bundles for Restaurants Plus 🙂 )

[Bentsai]

Excited to see how it pans out and definitely looking forward to potentially implementing this at our place.

[lawnbrook]

Amazing - AU please 🤣

[TheJudith]

Hi! Is this test working on Square Terminal as well?

[MichelleSQ]

Hi @TheJudith - we support iOS devices, Square Terminal and Square Register with this feature.

[BillysIce]

We want this desperately! How do we enable?

[MichelleSQ]

Hi @BillysIce we see your join request and we'll get your account enabled asap!

[barpalmina]

Is this available out of beta mode yet? I see this article  as well as the option in my device settings but when I follow these instructions the setup is broken. I click bar tabs pre-auth and it just goes back to my dashboard. 

[MichelleSQ]

Hi @barpalmina you should have access! Can you email us at [email protected] with more info or DM me directly? Were you able to toggle ON the beta experience?

[thetapws]

Hello, I've been using the pre-Auth feature in beta for about a year now.  Recently, it's losing the CC information, so we have to get the card back.  Please advise.  Thank you 

[Hadley]

Hi @thetapws - I'm going to DM you to dig in more here. Keep an eye out for my message.