MS-RMS has a voucher tender type that provides functionality for Gift Cards and cards issued for store credit in place of cash refunds. However, MS-POS does not currently have this feature, which is a huge drawback when trying to sell this software vs. RMS. MS-POS is a better fit for many of my clients, but the lack of Gift Card support forces them to use third-party software for processing. (Or even worse, shop the competition!)
Gift Cards are a retailer's paradise! They "borrow" money, interest-free, from the gift-giver. The recipient usually buys more than the value of the card, a win for the merchant. Or, the card is lost or forgotten, a huge win for the shop owner! Most imortant, it brings people into the store and guarantees income. And when used as a way to issue store credit, the system brings even more value to the retailer.
Gift Cards are in such huge demand that Microsoft should strongly consider adding this functionality as soon as possible to the Point of Sale application.
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