Top EPoS Hardware Tips for Retailers

Growing a retail business isn’t easy and busy retailers can often forget about their in-store technology until something goes wrong with it. By which time, getting it fixed is a serious concern.

We all know that in-store technology is precious to a retail business. EPoS (Electronic Point of Sale) systems are responsible not only for transacting sales but also vital for producing critical business information.

With that in mind, here are a few handy tips and guides to help you troubleshoot your retail EPoS hardware and in return ensure your in-store EPoS hardware is maximising sales, productivity and profitability:-

• Are you having challenges with your Barcode Scanner?

If your scanner is working intermittently ensure that the lens is clean as smudges, fingerprints, or dust can impede scanning. Try wiping the scanner lens with a soft lens cloth. Check if the scanner lens is scratched or damaged in any way. If so, it will need to be serviced or replaced.

If the barcode scanner is not working at all, then the cable may have come loose. Unplugging the cable and plugging it in again usually solves this problem. If the scanner has a rounded PS2 connection, this should be plugged into the round purple keyboard socket of the computer or terminal. If this does not work, you may need to restart your computer.

If you are having challenges with your Barcode Scanner such as it not being detected by the host, then you may need to reset the scanner to its factory default settings.

If your scanner is a Honeywell one then you’ll welcome our handy Troubleshooting PDF guide available here – Troubleshooting Honeywell Scanner Guide

This troubleshooting guide is fairly generic and so could be used for other brands if scanners.

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• Are you having problems with your receipt printer?

Very often a receipt printer problem can be resolved by simply switching the printer off and on again to ‘re-set’ it. You will find that the power button is usually at the front or side of the printer. There will usually be three cables going into the rear of your receipt printer; one is for the cash drawer, one is for the power and the third one is the data cable which allows the computer to communicate with the receipt printer.

If the ‘re-set’ has not resolved your problem, make sure that all cables are plugged in securely and restart the printer again.

Check to see that there is paper in the receipt printer and that the door is firmly closed. There could be a red light flashing to indicate that the Paper has run out. Most receipt paper has a pink/red back on it as it nears the end of the roll. When you notice this appearing, get yourself prepared by having a new till roll ready to drop in.

Many receipt printers use 80 x 80 thermal till rolls and we will be talking about this subject in a following blog.

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Do you need a set-up guide for your Epson Retail Printer?

If the office gremlins have lost the set-up guide for your Epson TM-T88V Retail Printer (typically they throw it out with the rubbish thinking it won’t be needed!), then you can obtain a PDF copy of it on the RMS website here – Epson TM-T88V Set Up Guide

Should they have also lost the Epson TM-T88V Retail Printer user manual, then you can obtain a PDF copy of it on the RMS website here – Epson TM-T88V User Manual

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• Regularly calibrating your touch-screen is very important to the smooth running of your business.

We advise that you calibrate your retail touch screen every 6 months, when was the last time you calibrated yours? Is it not quite as accurate as it used to be? Please find a helpful ELO touchscreen calibration guide at this link:- Calibrating ELO Touchscreen

If your screen is blank, the power lead may be slightly out of its socket at the back of the monitor. Or, the plug could be loose on the cable, or the VGA cable could be loose. Check both ends of all cables which come out the back of the monitor to ensure the plug is secure and plugged in properly. If they all seem to be okay, then try a different power cable. The power cable for a monitor is very similar to that of the PC so you could try one from a PC which is not being used.

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• Is your cash drawer not working correctly? If not, then follow our tips below:

Cash drawers are typically connected via the receipt printer so check if your printer has run out of paper. Most cash drawer issues are related to your receipt printer so we advise that you check your printer is working properly first.

A loose cable may cause a cash drawer to not open when it should. The cash drawer cable connection looks like an ordinary phone cable. If reconnecting this cable does not fix your problem, there may be an issue with your receipt printer.

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• New EPoS Hardware technology

Like washing machines, vacuum cleaners and mobile phones, EPoS hardware unfortunately does not have an infinite lifespan and are subject to normal wear and tear over the years. You can though help to extend its lifespan by looking after it (as you would with your car). EPoS hardware can attract a lot of dust and it is important to keep the EPoS hardware and the area around it clean and free of clutter. Often it is easier, quicker and safer, to carefully vacuum the dust rather than using a cloth and cleaning spray.

Dust will quickly clog up the fans which keep the units cool, causing them to overheat and subsequently cause internal components to blow.

Similarly, keep the area around the EPoS hardware free of clutter (Keys, staplers, knives, label & till roll boxes, etc.) to ensure there is no restriction of the airflow into the unit.

If your EPoS hardware has eventually reached the end of its life and is either causing you frequent problems or simply not operating at all, then it’s time to look to the future. Investment in new technology and software is imperative for any retailer to stay ahead of their competitors.

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• EPoS Hardware and Software training

As well as investing in new technology, it is pivotal to your success that you and your staff keep up to date with training to ensure a competitive advantage over your fellow retailers.

Please don’t hesitate to talk with RMS today should you have any questions about training or anything else concerning your retail EPoS system which prevents you obtaining maximum sales, productivity and profitability.

You can Freephone RMS today on 0800 138 0050 or complete our on-line enquiry form to speak with one of our dedicated team. Either way, we look forward to helping you with the EPoS needs of your growing business.

You can also follow RMS on Social Media for all the latest information on the benefits, features and great deals on EPoS Hardware.

If you have any doubts or questions regarding the above points, contact your hardware provider and or manufacturer. RMS accepts no liability for the content of this blog or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. While every caution has been taken to provide our readers with the most accurate information and honest analysis, please use your discretion before making any decisions based on the information in this blog.