Cash Discount Manager: how to use

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Cash Discount Manager

Cash Discount Manager raises your catalog prices by a percentage, so the posted price is the card price. When a customer pays cash, the cashier applies a Cash Discount that gives the increase back.

$0.99 / month30-day free trialShopify POS
Install from the Shopify App StoreWatch the video
On this pageHow it worksWhat it doesPrice & installationFirst setupSetup scenariosScreens and settingsEveryday useTroubleshootingFAQContacts
Overview

How it works

1

The posted price is the card price

You set a percentage, 4.00% by default. In step 4 the app raises the price of every product variant by it, compare-at prices too. Gift cards and your exceptions are not changed.

2

Prices change in every channel

The new prices apply in all sales channels, including your online store. Online customers pay the card price.

3

The cashier chooses cash

The app cannot see how the customer pays. The cashier asks, then taps CASH in Cash or Card, or taps Apply Cash Discount. A discount named Cash Discount goes into the cart.

4

The discount is the increase

For each line the discount is the card price minus the price before the increase: a $10.40 item raised by 4% gives $0.40. A line that already has a percentage discount gets a cash discount reduced by that percentage. Exceptions and gift cards get no discount.

5

One line in the cart

Normally the cart gets one discount, Cash Discount −$0.80. If the cashier already added another cart discount, the cash discount goes on each line instead, and a line with its own discount gets none.

6

The amount is set at the tap

If the cart changes afterwards, the tiles show Cart changed. Tap again to recalculate.

7

Price changes run in the background

A backup of the prices is saved first. Raising or lowering a catalog takes about 2–15 minutes. Do not edit prices while it runs.

8

The rules and the signs are yours

The app changes prices and adds a discount. It does not decide whether a cash discount program is allowed where you sell, and it makes no sign for the counter. Rates, signage and receipt disclosure stay your responsibility under state laws and card network rules; confirm your setup with your payment provider. Lower your prices before you uninstall the app: afterwards it cannot restore them.

The app adds to Shopify POS. Payments, taxes and reports stay in Shopify.
Features

What it does

Raise or mark

4.1 Increase raises the prices. 4.2 Prices have already been raised only tells the app that your prices already include the markup.

Revert

Revert → 4.1 Decrease lowers the prices by the same percentage. 4.2 Prices have already been lowered only clears the mark.

Exceptions

Products that are never raised and never discounted. Gift cards are always left out.

Auto-update

Step 5 raises new products when they are created. Step 5.1 raises the new price when you change the price of a raised product.

Cash or Card tile

Shows both totals, for example Cash $25.00 · Card $25.80. CASH applies the discount, CARD removes it.

Apply Cash Discount tile

One tap applies the discount, or recalculates it after the cart changed.

Custom sale tile

The cashier types the regular price; the tile adds a custom sale at the card price.

Button labels

CASH or CASH / PIN DEBIT / EBT, cash first or card first.

Fallback in POS

Opening the app in POS shows the same Pay by screen, with Settings for a manager.

Progress you can see

Updated 120 of 450 products while prices change.

Built for: Stores on Shopify POS that run a cash discount program to offset card processing fees.
Install

Price & installation

The app has a 30-day free trial. Shopify bills the subscription with your Shopify invoice.

How to install

  1. Open the app on the Shopify App StoreUse the button above, signed in to your store.
  2. Click InstallApprove the permissions the app asks for.
  3. Choose the planThe 30-day free trial starts at once. Shopify bills the subscription with your Shopify invoice.
  4. Set the app up in your Shopify adminIt is listed under Apps. The first setup is below.
  5. Add the app's tile to Shopify POSOn the POS home screen add a tile, choose Apps and pick the app.
How to cancel the subscription

Cancelling means uninstalling the app. There is no separate billing screen.

  1. In the Shopify admin open Settings → Apps.
  2. Open the menu on the app's row and choose Uninstall.
  3. Confirm. The subscription stops when the app is uninstalled.
Start here

First setup

Do this once, in this order. The app is then ready for the shift.

  1. Open Cash Discount Manager (POS) in the Shopify adminThe screen is Setup Cash Discount. Opening it once also links your store to the POS tiles.
  2. In 2. Setup discount percentage click EditType the percent in Enter cash discount percent, for example 4.00, and click Save. Two decimals at most.
  3. OptionalIn 3. Exceptions (optional) click Exceptions (0)Pick the products whose price must not change and that never get the discount. Do this before step 4.
  4. In 4. Inventory Pricing click Please increase pricesThe dialog says that prices change in all sales channels, including your online store.
  5. Click 4.1 IncreaseOr 4.2 Prices have already been raised if your prices already include the markup; it changes no price.
  6. Wait until Processing endsUpdated N of M products shows the progress. Do not edit prices. The step then shows Prices increased.
  7. OptionalTurn on 5. Auto-update prices for new/existing itemsNew products and changed prices are then raised by the same percent.
  8. In Shopify POS, add the tilesOn the home screen tap Edit, then Add tile → Apps → Cash Discount Manager (POS). Add Cash or Card and Apply Cash Discount, and Custom sale if your cashiers ring up custom sales.
  9. Test a saleAdd an item, tap Cash or Card, then CASH. Check the Cash Discount line and the total, then clear the cart.
Step 5 and Customizations stay grey until step 4 is done: Complete step 4 to continue configuration.
Configuration

Setup scenarios

Each scenario is a complete configuration. Follow the steps in order.

1. Start a 4% cash discount program

Card fees cost you about 4%. Card customers pay the posted price; cash customers get 4% back.

  1. Set the percentage to 4.00
  2. Add your exceptions firstLottery, tobacco or anything that must keep its price. Changing exceptions later does not move any price.
  3. Click Please increase prices → 4.1 Increase and wait
  4. Turn on step 5Products you add later are raised too.
  5. Add the POS tiles and tell your cashiers to ask: cash or card?
  6. Put up your own sign at the registerThe app does not print one.
Ask your payment provider how a cash discount program must be shown to customers in your state or country.
2. A cash customer at the register

The customer wants to pay cash.

  1. Ring up every item, discounts included
  2. Tap Cash or CardThe window Pay by shows the cash total with Save $0.80, and the card total.
  3. Tap CASHThe toast says Cash price applied — collect $25.00. The tile now reads Cash price applied.
  4. Take the cash payment
If the customer changes their mind, open Cash or Card again and tap CARD: only the Cash Discount is removed, other discounts stay.
3. One tap with Apply Cash Discount

Faster when nearly everyone pays cash.

  1. Ring up the items
  2. Tap Apply Cash DiscountIts window applies the discount and closes: Cash Discount −$0.80 — collect $25.00 in cash.
  3. If items change, tap it againThe tile reads Cart changed · tap to recalculate. With nothing to change you get Cash Discount is up to date: −$0.80.
This tile never removes the discount. Remove it with CARD in Cash or Card, or in the POS cart.
4. An open-price item at the card price

The cashier rings up something that is not in the catalog.

  1. Tap Custom sale
  2. Enter Regular priceFor example 10.00. The line below shows Card price $10.40 · Cash $10.00.
  3. Fill Title and set Taxable
  4. Tap Add to cartThe toast says Custom sale added — $10.40.
A custom sale added with the POS's own button stays at the price typed and still gets the cash discount: $10.00 typed means $9.62 in cash. Use the Custom sale tile so cash customers pay the regular price.
5. Change the percentage or the exceptions

Your card fees changed, or a product must leave the program.

  1. Click Revert → 4.1 Decrease and waitThe percentage cannot change while prices are increased.
  2. Change the percentage or the exceptions
  3. Click Please increase prices → 4.1 Increase and wait
  4. Turn step 5 on againIncrease and Decrease switch it off.
6. Before you uninstall

An uninstalled app can no longer lower your prices.

  1. Click Revert → 4.1 Decrease
  2. Wait until Processing endsStep 4 shows Please increase prices again.
  3. Remove the tiles from POS, then uninstall the app
Reference

Screens and settings

Every screen of the app and what each setting does.

Setup Cash Discount

The first screen in the Shopify admin. In POS it opens from Settings on Pay by, with Back to Pay by.

Setup Cash Discount
Setting What it does
Status Not configured, Partially configured or Configured, and N / 3 steps completed: prices raised or marked, then steps 5 and 5.1.
1. Install the app Installed. While prices are raised it reminds you: Please decrease prices before uninstalling the app.
2. Setup discount percentage Edit opens New percent. While prices are raised it shows You can't change the percentage while your prices are increased.
3. Exceptions (optional) Exceptions (N) opens the Shopify product picker. Saving the list changes no price.
4. Inventory Pricing (increase by 4.00%) Please increase prices opens Increase. After it, Prices increased and Revert, which opens Decrease.
5. Auto-update prices for new/existing items The main switch turns both 5 and 5.1 on or off. Show steps 5 and 5.1 opens them one by one. Off by default.
5. Auto-update prices for new items A new product is raised by the percent. A new variant of an existing product too, while 5.1 is also on.
5.1 Auto-update prices for existing items When you change the price of a raised product, the new price is raised. Turning it off keeps changed prices as card prices.
6. Customizations Optional. The cash and card button labels.
Miss something? Tell us sends us a missing feature, with an optional email. It works before step 4 too.
FAQ Opens Troubleshooting with three answers.
Increase and Decrease

The dialogs of step 4.

Setting What it does
4.1 Increase Saves a backup, then raises every variant except exceptions and gift cards, compare-at prices too. Step 5 is switched off.
4.2 Prices have already been raised Changes no price. A Warning! asks you to Confirm.
4.1 Decrease Saves a backup, then lowers every variant except exceptions and gift cards by the same percent. Step 5 is switched off.
4.2 Prices have already been lowered Changes no price, only the mark. Asks to confirm.
Changes are processing. A price change is still running. Try again in 5 minutes.
You have zero items. The catalog is empty. Mark my inventory increased marks prices as raised without changing any.
Processing

A grey layer over the screen while prices change.

Setting What it does
Please do not edit prices or uninstall the app. Editing prices now can leave them wrong.
Updated N of M products The progress, refreshed every 5 seconds.
Long press → CRITICAL! → Stop processing Only removes the lock. A write Shopify has started still finishes, and the step shows the result of the action. Use it only if processing is stuck.
Closing the admin The change continues on the server. The layer is back when you open the app until it ends.
Customizations

Change card/cash dialog buttons.

Customizations
Setting What it does
Cash & Card Brands CASH on top, then CARD. The default.
Cash/PIN Debit/EBT & Card Brands CASH / PIN DEBIT / EBT on top, then CARD.
Card Brands & Cash (reversed) CARD on top, then CASH.
Card Brands & Cash/PIN Debit/EBT (reversed) CARD on top, then CASH / PIN DEBIT / EBT.
Pay by

The window of the Cash or Card tile, and the first screen of the app opened in POS.

Pay by
Setting What it does
CASH The cash total and Save $X. Tapping it applies or recalculates the Cash Discount. Applied shows when it is on and the cart has not changed.
CARD The card total and Visa · Mastercard · Discover · Amex. Tapping it removes only the Cash Discount.
Totals include tax. The final amount is shown at checkout. The totals are an estimate. The amount on the POS payment screen is the one that counts.
Settings In the app in POS only. Opens Setup Cash Discount.
POS tiles

The subtitle shows the state of the cart.

Setting What it does
Cash or Card Cash $25.00 · Card $25.80 before; Cash price applied and Collect $25.00 in cash after; Cart changed · tap to update if items changed.
Apply Cash Discount Cash $25.00 (−$0.80) before; Cash Discount applied and $25.00 · tap to recalculate after; Cart changed · tap to recalculate if items changed.
Greyed out Add items first, Checkout in progress, or No cash discount for these items when only exceptions or gift cards are in the cart.
Custom sale Card price +4.00%. Greyed out only during checkout.
Custom sale window
Setting What it does
Regular price The price before the markup. Above zero: Enter an amount above zero.
Title The line name. Empty gives Custom sale.
Taxable On by default.
Card price … · Cash … What the line will cost by card and in cash.
Add to cart Adds one custom sale at the card price and closes.

Screenshots of the running app in Shopify POS and the Shopify admin. Click one to enlarge.

At the register

Everyday use

What the cashier does after the app is set up.

  1. Ring up every item first, discounts included.
  2. Ask: cash or card? Cash or Card shows both totals.
  3. Cash: tap CASH, or Apply Cash Discount. Collect the amount in the toast.
  4. Card: take the payment at the card price. If the Cash Discount is already on, tap Cash or Card → CARD first.
  5. If the cart changed after the discount, tap the tile again to recalculate.
  6. Ring up open-price items with the Custom sale tile.
If something is wrong

Troubleshooting

Symptom on the left, what to do on the right.

Symptom What to do
Couldn't load Cash Discount Manager settings. Open the app once in the Shopify admin; that links the store. Then tap Try again. If it repeats, check the internet connection.
This staff member has no access to Cash Discount Manager. Shopify gave the app no session for the staff member signed in to POS. Check that this staff member is allowed to use the app, then sign in to POS again.
The tiles are greyed out. The subtitle says why: Add items first, Checkout in progress, or No cash discount for these items.
Couldn't apply the discount. Try again. POS did not take the change. Check the cart and tap again.
A line got no cash discount. It is an exception or a gift card. Or another cart discount is in the cart and that line has its own discount: POS keeps one discount per line.
You can't change the percentage while your prices are increased. Click Revert → 4.1 Decrease, change the percentage, then increase again.
Changes are processing. A price change is still running. Try again in 5 minutes.
Imported products were not raised. While step 5 is on, imported products are raised automatically. Otherwise decrease your prices, import the products, then increase again.
A product I made an exception is still raised. Saving exceptions changes no price, and Decrease does not lower exceptions. Change exceptions while prices are lowered: Decrease, exceptions, Increase.
The app's tile is not on the POS home screen. Add it: on the POS home screen add a tile, choose Apps and pick the app.
The tile does not react or shows an old screen after an update. Close and reopen Shopify POS. If that does not help, update Shopify POS on the device.
The app asks for new permissions. A new version needs them. Open the app in the Shopify admin and approve them.
Questions

FAQ

Does the app detect cash payments?
No. Shopify POS does not tell apps how the customer will pay. The cashier taps CASH or CARD.
Is this a surcharge?
No. The app raises the posted prices and gives a discount for cash. It never adds a fee for paying by card. For a card fee, see Feesly.
Do online store prices change too?
Yes. Prices change in all sales channels. Online customers pay the card price.
What happens to compare-at prices?
They are raised and lowered the same way, so sale prices look as before.
Can I get my old prices back?
Revert → 4.1 Decrease lowers them by the same percent; untouched prices come back exactly. A backup is saved before every change; to restore one, write to contact@merchbytes.com.
Can I use it together with Feesly or Donatly?
Not in the same sale. Their custom sale lines also get the cash discount. See Feesly and Donatly.
What happens if I uninstall without decreasing?
Your prices stay raised. Decrease them first; afterwards the app cannot.
Can the cash discount show on the receipt?
It shows as the discount line Cash Discount. The app prints no other text.
In which languages is the app?
English and Spanish, following your Shopify language.
How much does it cost?
$0.99 per month, with a 30-day free trial.
Support

Contacts

Email
contact@merchbytes.com
Website
merchbytes.com