OVERVIEW

Store & Forward enables retailers to process credit card sale transactions in the event of an internet or service outage.  The feature automatically activates when the RICS>POS receives an outage code from the credit card terminal. 

Once activated, the RICS>POS stores all credit card transactions until internet or service is restored; the RICS>POS automatically checks for internet and service availability.  When internet is restored, all Store & Forward transactions will be sent to MerchantTrack for processing. 

Retailers can verify the processing status of Store & Forward transactions using the Credit Card Processing Reconciliation Report.

This document is a resource for retailers to:

• Enable Store & Forward in the Back Office
• Use Store & Forward at the RICS>POS
• FAQ

 

Enable Store & Forward in the Back Office

1. Login to the RICS Back Office
2. Navigate to Setup :: Manage Store :: Setup Settings

 

3. Enter your RICS Store Number; Click ‘LookUp’

 

4. Click ‘POS Credit Card Processing’

 

5. Click the checkbox next to ‘Enable Store & Forward’
6. Select ‘Yes’ in the dropdown

 

Note: If ‘No’ is selected in this dropdown, Store & Forward will NOT be enabled and credit card processing will be unavailable in the event of an internet or service outage.

7. Click the checkbox next to ‘Store & Forward Outage Threshold Dollar Amount’
8. Enter a Store & Forward Outage Threshold Dollar Amount

Note: This is the maximum total dollar amount that can be stored per POS terminal during an outage.

9. Click the checkbox next to ‘Store & Forward Transaction Threshold Dollar Amount’
10. Enter a Store & Forward Transaction Threshold Dollar Amount

 

Note: This is the maximum dollar amount that can be stored per transaction during an outage.

11. Click ‘Save’

 

Use Store & Forward at the POS

The RICS>POS will automatically switch to Store & Forward, if enabled,  in the event of an internet or service outage.  Follow the steps below to process a Store & Forward transaction:

1. Select a ‘Cashier’ from the ‘Ticket Header’ tab

 

2. Enter a customer account number into the ‘Customer’ field, or use the magnifying class to lookup a customer

 

3. Navigate to the ‘Ticket Detail’ tab to scan or manually enter an item

 

4. Navigate to the ‘Ticket Payment’ tab

 

5. Select a credit card tender; click ‘End Sale’

 

Note: After clicking ‘End Sale’ a new window will appear on the POS.

 

 

6. Enter the required card information
7. Click ‘Ok’

Note 1: The transaction will complete and be stored on the POS to be automatically processed in MerchantTrack once service resumes.

Note 2: If the transaction amount exceeds the Store & Forward Transaction Threshold Dollar Amount, the following alert will appear once you hit ‘End Sale’

 

 

FAQ

Q: I have Store & Forward enabled in the Back Office; how do I turn on this feature at the POS?

A: When enabled, Store & Forward will automatically switch on when the RICS>POS detects an outage.

 

Q: When will my Store & Forward transactions be processed in MerchantTrack?

A: Once an outage is resolved, the RICS>POS will automatically send stored transactions to MerchantTrack for processing.

 

Q: Can I refund a credit card when Store & Forward mode is in use?

A: Store & Forward is supported for regular sales only.  Returns are not supported.

 

Q: One of my Store & Forward transactions was declined in MerchantTrack; how do I contact the customer to seek payment?

A: The RICS Best Practice recommendation is to add a customer file to all Store & Forward transactions so contact information is accessible in the event a payment fails to process.

 

Q: Why don’t I see a Transaction ID on my Store & Forward transaction receipts?

A: Store & Forward transactions will be assigned Transaction IDs once processed in MerchantTrack.  For that reason, Transaction IDs will not be included on receipts from these transactions.