Hey there, @Brewhousedownto. According to this Square Help Document on pre-authorization, after you tap the “Add Pre-Authorization” button and swipe/dip/tap the card, “The POS will pre-authorize either the minimum amount as configured in Dashboard or the value of items in the cart at the time of pre-authorization, whichever is greater.”
This implies that if you always want to pre-authorize $2, (assuming that you have the minimum in your device settings set to $2) then don’t add anything to the cart until after you have completed the card pre-authorization step. This will do what you want it to do.
On word of caution here, that same help document has this to say about your minimum amount — “The POS will pre-authorize either the minimum amount as configured in Dashboard or the value of items in the cart at the time of pre-authorization, whichever is greater.” The implication here, not surprisingly, is that only the pre-authorization amount is guaranteed. It is possible that when you close the check — if the amount is higher — that the customer’s bank could reject the additional amount. So, you’ll want to be sure the customer is handy as you close their check, just in case. That’s why many bars, etc, pre-authorize something closer to their check average — just to be safe.
Chip A.
Square Expert & Innovator and member of the Square Champions group. (But NOT a Square employee, just a seller like you)
Was my post helpful? Take a moment to mark it as a solution. Marked solutions help other sellers find possible resolutions to similar problems. Also, if you find your solution elsewhere (say, through Support), it is helpful to come back to your post and tell us about it, then mark that as a Solution. Solutions are what this Community is all about!
