Understanding cash register Z reports

Cash register reports are grossly miss-understood. In this age of endless complex reporting and analytics from websites and computers people expect the same from a cash register.

So the first miss conceptions to tackle is that cash registers know the date. Cash registers do in fact print the date and time on receipts and reports but that is where it ends. Cash registers do not associate sales to dates and time, they simply print the date and time and know when to roll it over.

So with that in mind lets look at so called daily reports. The only reason they are daily reports is because you take them daily, should you forget a day it will be combined with the next day. All cash registers sales are really period to date. Most registers do have several report levels known as Z1 and Z2 or Daily and Monthly. However remember it is only daily or monthly if taken daily and monthly. Here is how they work. A Z1 or daily is the first level of report. Example lets say you use the machine Saturday and at the end of the day you take the report or reports (will get into type of reports later). When you take the Z1 it will print the info and reset it back to zero, as well as take that data and dump it into the Z2 totals. Yes that is correct sales do not count in Z2 until a Z1 has been taken! So now Sunday you take another Z1 at the end of the day, that will be the sales from after the Z1 Saturday to right then, again that data is then added to the Z2 totals. OK now you forget to take a report on Monday night and you realize it Tuesday night and you think OK I'll just take the Monday report and the Tuesday report! NOPE both days have been added together now. When you take the report Tuesday night it will now be all the sales from the time you Z'd out Sunday night to right then, and again it will add to the Z2 at that point.

OK so now you want the monthly report or Z2. First make sure you have taken the last Z1 of the month you want (remember days to not add to Z2 until the daily Z1 is taken. So now you take the Z2 and it will be the entire period of time's sales from the last time you took the report. So if you last took the report May 1st before you did a Z1 on May 1st and it is now June 1st before you have taken the Z1 for June 1 the report will contain all the sales of May. Make sense? If you take that report every two months then it will be a bi-monthly report, take it every three months it will be the quarterly reports, take it every six months it will be a bi annual report. Get it?

What you should take away from this.

• All cash register reports are period to date, they total from last report to present report.
• Cash registers print date and time but don't report or filter by it.

Also once a Z report is taken you CAN NEVER reprint it! Lose the paper report you lose the report forever!

I hope that helps you understand cash register reports. Both SAM4s cash registers and Sharp Cash Registers work the same, yes they have different reports available but the Z1 and Z2 works the same way!

Need help selecting a cash register? Call us at 1-800-863-2274

Sharp ER-A410 cash register is in the news

Sharp ER-A410 cash register

The Sharp ER-A410 cash register has been a best seller now for quite awhile. Currently (July, 2013) however the Sharp ER-A410 cash register is on back order from the Sharp company. I have tried every distributor we know of in the US and everyone is sold out. Everyone we have spoken to regarding this problem claims that Sharp will have more in the US in mid to late September. Given this news should you need another ER-A410 in the short term you will either have to wait it out or switch to a different model or even a different make?

In the Sharp family there are a couple choices. The first is the Sharp ER-A347 cash register which comes out of the box with 20 departments, has both a receipt and journal printer and a nicer display than the ER-A420 register. The ER-A347 can not have a Datacap Twintran credit card interface like the A420. The A347 also used 2.25" thermal paper instead of 44mm thermal like the 420.

The next choice is the Sharp ER-A520 cash register, little larger then the A410, receipt and journal, standard 2 line display, large cash drawer and will interface with the Datacap Twin Tran.

You can also look at the SAM4s brand of cash registers which have lots of very popular models. Need help selecting a replacement model? call us at 1-800-863-2274

Sharp UP-820F cash register

The Sharp UP-820F offers advanced, easy-to-use features that allow you to customize your Point-of-sales System for your hospitality or retail needs. This two-station printer and flat keyboard POS System offers enhanced software features combined with a new innovative touch screen and programmable keyboard that are designed to increase speed of service when entering transactions. With integrated easy-to-use software and flexible configuration options, the UP-820F can easily grow as your business needs evolve. Color LCD Touch Panel The 6.5" color LCD backlit display details eight lines of on-screen information, making it easy for servers to verify orders and confirm sales data. Quick Customer Service Delivers enhanced speed as well as more accurate order entry. Time-saving features include fast keyboard entry, touch-screen operation for modifiers and choices, plus flexible function menus that combine special functions for fast and efficient actions. Easy-To-Use Interface Automated prompts and simple, customized screens make it easy for staff and managers to enter information quickly and accurately. Enhanced Control With Standard Ethernet Can function as a central terminal for all others in the location. Ethernet capability enables POS data to be combined centrally, so you can save time closing out and totaling. Sharp Intelligent Data Enterprise * (SIDE) Designed for businesses with multiple locations, SIDE leverages the power of the internet to view automatically polled data from multiple stores. SDW Back Office Software Solution * Easily increase the functionality of your Sharp POS system with SDW Software, a truly dynamic solution for providing the capability for advanced polling, reporting and programming. Additional Features Compact cabinet design, Standard 5 bill/6 coin cash drawer, full range of PLU/UPC/EAN codes, Price Inquiry/change for UPC, Group discounts, Tray subtotal, Multiple menu levels, Tip and edit tip function, Macro Function keys, PLU menu keys, credit/debit/gift card interface options   *optional

Touch screen point of sale systems in Washington State

Digital Dining is one of the longest selling restaurant touch screen systems in Washington State. The system has been installed in fine dining establishments in Seattle and Tacoma as well as quick service outlets in the greater Puget Sound area.

Keep in mind when buying a system that over time you will require service and support. Do you want a local company you can contact or are you comfortable with dealing with a company located across the country. Will you want a support person on-site or can you rely on support via phone and email? Ask yourself those questions before you buy. Both methods work fine for people all over the country but which works best for you?

Need help deciding on a POS system in Seattle? Call us at 253-839-9636 and we will help you out.

Restaurant POS systems in Seattle

If you are looking for a restaurant POS System in Seattle we can help you. We have more systems to offer you from touch screen based POS to high end cash registers. We have been in business in Washington State since 1971 serving Seattle, Tacoma, Redmond, Bellevue, Kent, Renton and many more locations.

Our product line up includes Digital Dining, Sharp cash registers, SAM4s cash registers. Between those three manufactures we can find the right system for your business.

We offer all the popular options as well like integrated credit card payments, Gift card programs, kitchen printers and kitchen video systems. Our Digital Dining system offer a hand held POS system as well.

Give us a call and we would be happy to meet with you. 1-800-863-2274

Cash Registers in Washington State

If you are in Washington State and need a cash register you came to the right place. We are just outside of Seattle and Tacoma and provide SAM4s cash registers as well as Sharp cash registers.

We offer complete turnkey systems with credit card interface through Mercury Payment Systems or other processors.

Let us know if you would like to look at a new cash register. 1-800-863-2274

SAM4s cash registers in Washington State

SAM4s ER-290 cash register

The SAM4s ER-290 register has been very popular in the last few years. It is an entry level cash register with limited features but also easy to program and use.

The ER-290 cash register does not have alpha print however is does have 12 departments, computes sales tax, change and tracks media totals such as cash, check or charge.

You won't find a credit card interface with this register but again it is entry level and should be used where you want a simple register not a high end one.