Online Store/Site vs Menu & Library

[Cooked4U]

I'm new and using Square Register for Restaurants, we are a take out business. 

I have not issue creating my main item library or on the register but I am having issues trying to add or subtract items from the store for online ordering and when I think I've done it, its not syncing properly. 

[ryanwanner]

Hello @Cooked4U !

Welcome to the Square Community!

First thing I can say is that when you do a lot of work on your website it may take some time (5-15 minutes) for everything to sync up correctly. You also may have run into a cache issue where your browser is showing you outdated pages. I recommend trying incognito mode on your browser to verify things throughout the build process.

After that, let's clarify the term synching. Are you meaning that items you designate aren't showing on the website, or are they showing but not available for sale/marked sold out?

The thing I've learned with the online store is that you need to double- and triple-check your settings, especially the fulfillment settings of the items. I've had best luck getting items to show on the website quickly when I use the dashboard to create an item versus creating the item on the point of sale.

Always make sure your site's fulfillment types are set correctly at Dashboard -> Account & Settings -> Fulfillment -> Online Pickup and Delivery. Also check the shipping section here to verify things, even if you're not offering shipping. Then make sure every item you want to show on the site matches those fulfillments. One of the biggest issues I've seen is where an item is set for shipping but the website isn't configured for it: the site will show random out of stock errors and other irregularities.

After this troubleshooting, please respond with your website address. We may be able to troubleshoot further when looking at your site from a customer standpoint.

[Cooked4U]

thanks, I will look over your suggestions. Right now I have it set as not taking orders, since I am not open and building out - so using this time to work out the kinks and test everything. I went back into each item to make sure they are listed as visible and pickup only so as you pointed out in incognito mode everything now shows on the site store. Moving forward we cook small batches each day so for each day those itmes need to be invenorty adjusted and turned on for selling

[ryanwanner]

@Cooked4U  Ok Great! I'm glad that things started to show up in incognito mode.

Yay to small batch cooking! It's the only way to go. Inventory is pretty easy to manage online. Any stock quantities you set up for the items on the system will show on the site. The only thing I've found that can trip you up is that inventory is only reduced once the item sells online, not when it's put into a cart. For my bakery, I had a couple times where I sold out of an item then got an online order for it because the customer hadn't completed payment when I sold it in store. It's a rarity, but something to be aware of.

[Cooked4U]

hmm, why would inventory not be adjusted from either type of sale? I expect to sell online for pickup and in store walk in or call. Is there a way for inventory to adjust regardless of sale type?

[ryanwanner]

@Cooked4USorry I should have been clearer. Yes, inventory will be adjusted at time of sale for every method, in store and online. However, if someone puts an item in their cart but doesn't buy it right away, the inventory count isn't reduced. As soon as they complete the sale online the inventory count is reduced. So there's that few minutes where the inventory count isn't exact. If you happen to sell the last of that item between cart add and checkout, their sale will still process even though you're now out of the product.

I should also emphasize that in over 7 years of using the online store, this happened to me only twice. Both times the issue was resolved by reaching out to the online buyer to find a replacement product. It should definitely not deter you from building your site, I just wanted you to be aware of this small loophole in inventory control.

[Summer2024 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Cooked4U! Thanks @ryanwanner for working with this Seller. I'm gonna provide some tips and best practices below. 

Common Issues & Solutions

1. Items Not Showing Online

   • Verify "Available Online" is checked
   • Check item is active
   • Confirm pricing is set
   • Ensure photos are added (if required)

2. Sync Problems

   • Force manual sync
   • Clear cache
   • Wait 15-30 minutes
   • Check for error messages

Restaurant-Specific Tips

1. Menu Organization

   • Create clear categories
   • Set prep times
   • Add modifiers
   • Configure special instructions
2. Online Order Settings
   1. Square Online →
      Fulfillment →
      Configure:
      - Pickup times
      - Order capacity
      - Prep time

Best Practices

1. Item Setup

   • Use clear descriptions
   • Add accurate prices
   • Include dietary info
   • Set inventory tracking

2. Channel Management

   • Regular menu audits
   • Check both platforms
   • Test customer view
   • Verify modifications save

Questions to Help

1. Are specific items not syncing?
2. Do you see any error messages?
3. How long after changes do you check?
4. Are you using categories?

Quick Fixes

1. Clear browser cache
2. Log out/in of Dashboard
3. Force refresh online store
4. Check internet connection

I hope this helps! 

[Cooked4U]

Thank you,  great list

[Cooked4U]

what is the best way to turn on and off the items made daily until sold out? So that when a consumer goes to the store they see what is available to buy at that moment 

I was informed that it would be another $29/monthly to add the upgrade to certain features. 

 

[Getonthebus]

Just my two cents here... I do everything (as far as items, modifiers, menus, etc...) from my laptop. I do keep my iPad with me to double check the changes that I have implemented. I also have to log out of the app and log back in when i make some changes to get them to show up. On the rare occasion when you have something in place and it still isn't working correctly, like both @Summer2024 and @ryanwanner mentioned above - walk back through all of the steps to double check your settings. If that doesn't work, delete the item and start again. 

And as far as the out of inventory, I don't believe there should be a charge for that. You can have your FOH staff just press the item button and hold it down to show that it is no longer available that day. It should grey out on your screen. Or you can always plug in your inventory on that item and once you have sold that amount, it will default to out of inventory.