Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale Gift Card Service

Frequently Asked Questions

• Getting Started

  What is the process for signing up?

  Step1. Fill out our online application to sign up.
  
  Step 2: Upon acceptance you can choose your card design. Whether you choose ready-made designs or work with a designer to develop a custom design , we make it easy for you.
  
  Step 3: Once your account is approved, you should receive your gift card account number via e-mail 2 business days after your application has been submitted. To configure Point of Sale to use the gift card service, select Setup Interview from the File menu. Select Gift Card Service from the list of areas on the left side and enter your gift card account number in the field provided. Leave the setup interview and you're ready to go. Learn more.

  What information do I need to provide on the application?

  Our online application makes signing up quick and easy. You'll be asked to provide this information:
  Business Type (Corporation/LLC/Partnership/NPO/Sole Proprietorship) Business Legal & DBA Name Number of Locations Address Business Phone & Fax Principal Name & Title Phone/Ext Social Security Numbers or Federal Tax ID Principal Address Bank Name Bank Location Bank Phone Bank Account Number Bank Routing Number

  How long will the approval process take?

  Your account approval process should take just a couple of days. Once you've been approved, and have finalized your card design, your cards will be shipped to you in approximately 14 business days of approving your card design proof.

• Service

  I sell paper gift certificates now. Why should I switch to gift cards?

  You don't have to give cash back on remaining balances. As a result, your customers will likely return to the store to spend the remaining balance. What's more, unlike paper gift certificates, gift cards are virtually impossible to counterfeit, and are much easier to merchandise in your store.

  I don't use the QuickBooks Point of Sale Merchant Service; can I still use the QuickBooks Point of Sale Gift Card Service?

  Yes. However, you can take advantage of significant price breaks if you purchase both from us; see pricing options here . Plus, both services integrate with QuickBooks Point of Sale software to save you time and effort.

  Is it easy for me to withdraw from the program?

  We're confident you'll enjoy the service that unlike other providers, we don't have a cancellation fee or contract. Just call us to cancel. You can generate a report of all outstanding customer balances in your QuickBooks Point of Sale software, so you can accurately honor any cards in circulation.

  Who is IMS

  Founded in 1999, Innovative Merchant Solutions (IMS) offers a full range of merchant services to small businesses nationwide, including credit and debit card processing. Intuit Inc. acquired IMS in order to provide a better experience for merchants and their customers.

  What if I have multiple stores?

  If the additional store locations are of the same SIC code and business owner, you can add them to your original Gift Card Service account.
  
  If this is your first time applying for a QuickBooks POS Gift Card Service account, you can add additional locations at the same time you are applying for the primary location.
  
  OR
  
  If you already have a gift card account for your primary store location, you may qualify to apply for gift card accounts for other store locations of the same business type (SIC code) and owner by sending in the Multiple Location Addendum form (pdf). To download the form, please click on the link above and save to your computer. Subsequently print, complete, sign, and fax the form along with any necessary artifacts (if specifying different bank deposit accounts you would need to fax in a bank letter and an imprinted check) to , Attn: Gift Card Service. If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt from IMS within 48 hours, please call us at .
  
  If the additional store locations are not of the same business type (SIC code) and business owner, please apply for a separate POS Gift Card Account by calling or applying online.

• Equipment requirements

  Do I need to use a specific version of QuickBooks Point of Sale software?

  Yes, QuickBooks Point of Sale Gift Card Service is compatible with QuickBooks Point of Sale software version 5 and later.

  Will I need to purchase additional equipment?

  To save time on manual data entry when processing gift cards directly through your QuickBooks Point of Sale software version 5 and later (via QuickBooks Point of Sale Gift Card Service), you'll need a card reader. A card reader is included in the QuickBooks Point of Sale Solution for Retailers bundle or can be purchased separately. To order the card reader, just call

  Will I be able to use my existing equipment?

  We cannot guarantee that existing card readers will work. Intuit offers a card reader that is guaranteed to work with your QuickBooks Point of Sale software and the QuickBooks POS Gift Card Service for just $69.95. Learn more.

  Can I use my existing credit card terminal?

  No, stand-alone credit card terminals cannot be used with QuickBooks Point of Sale Gift Card Service. A card reader must be connected to your computer to swipe gift card information. You can also manually enter the gift card information if no card reader is available.

  Do I need a separate phone line?

  You won't need a separate phone line to process payments if you choose to process your payments via the Internet. Dial-up phone access is also available.

• Card Orders

  How long will it take for my cards to arrive?

  Custom and ready-made cards will ship approximately 14 business days after you approve the card design. Please note, during busy times of the year, particularly during September-December, orders may take longer due to an increase in order volume. Order early to ensure you have cards ready for the holidays.¹

  Can I order my gift cards from another provider?

  No, you must order your gift cards from QuickBooks POS Gift Card Service. Every card we print follows specific guidelines and is specially coded to work specifically with your QuickBooks Point of Sale software.

  Is there a minimum number of cards I need to order?

  Yes. For ready-made card designs, it's 100. For custom-designed cards, it's 250.

  What if I want to order more than one type of ready-made card?

  You may order as many as you like in quantities of 100. Giving your customers a choice of card designs will help increase impulse purchases. We offer a card template for any occasion.

  What do the gift cards look like?

  The gift cards are the same size as a credit card: 3 3/8" width x 2 1/8" height, and .03 inch thick. The cards are white plastic and have a magnetic stripe on the back that stores the card number, to save you time on data entry. The card number is also printed on the back.

  What do I need to submit for camera-ready artwork?

  The Camera-ready card design option is offered for retailers who have access to graphic artists or designers to create the artwork for gift card printing. This is your opportunity to design your own gift card without incurring the designer fee. Camera-ready artwork is just that: It's ready to go to print. Camera-ready orders that do not adhere to requirements will require a designer to make it ready for print. The design fee may be charged if your camera-ready artwork does not include all of the following:
  Preferred artwork format is Adobe Illustrator. Adobe PhotoShop and Adobe PDF are also acceptable. Artwork must be supplied for the front and the back of your gift card design. Outline all text, or supply special fonts. Embed placed images. Minimum 300 dpi. Allow 1/8 inch border around front of card design to allow for trimming/full bleed printing. Camera-ready art is NOT a simple .JPG, or other image file, of your logo. Instructions for what you would like your card to look like.
  If these are the only artwork elements you have available, you will want to select the Custom card option. You are welcome to include your own logo or images in the Custom card design option. If you submitted Camera-ready art that does not adhere to the requirements listed above, you will either have to fix them so they comply or you will be asked to use the assistance of the Design Service and pay the Design Service fee.

  What do I get with the Design Service Fee?

  Design Service is an optional service that costs a one-time fee of only . You will work with experienced, professional designers on your cards. The designers start with your desires in mind; however, if you don't have a strong idea of what you want on the card, the designers can make recommendations for you. We'll provide an initial concept for you to review. You'll have up to three rounds of revisions to make any edits you want. Additional revisions may require additional fees.

  How do I reorder gift cards when I run out?

  You may place a reorder of your gift cards by placing another order at the gift card ordering Web site at https://giftcard.innovativemerchant.com. The process and turnaround times for reorders are the same as the initial order you placed.

  When should I reorder cards?

  Please keep in mind it takes us approximately 14 business days to process a gift card order.

  What is printed on the back of the card?

  Typically, the back of cards are printed in black and white text (address, phone number, etc.) and/or logo, with positioning based on the dimensional specifications. Should you require color text or logo on the back, you must place a 500 quantity minimum of the same card and it will take an additional 5-7 days to ship. For more details, please call the POS Gift Card Service team at .

• Using Gift Cards

  How do I sell a gift card to a customer?

  Open a new sales receipt,enter the amount to be purchased in the Gift Card purchase cell, and swipe or manually enter the gift card number. Complete the sale by taking payment (cash, credit, etc.). You do not need to enter the gift card as an item on the receipt. Learn more.

  How is a gift card redeemed by a customer?

  On the sales receipt payment screen, enter the redemption amount and then swipe or manually enter the gift card number. Any remaining value is left on the card for later use. Learn more.

  Can a card be re-used?

  A customer can add value to an existing card at any time using the same process as purchasing a new card, but instead of using a new card use the existing card instead. In addition, gift cards surrendered at the time value is exhausted can be used again.

  Can I check the balance on a card without making a sale?

  Yes. Click the Check a Card Balance button on the sales receipt payment screen to check the card's balance without a purchase.

  What gift card information is on the printed receipt?

  The gift card number and the remaining balance.

  How can I find out what cards are still outstanding?

  The Gift Card Service—Balance Summary report under Reports > Payments will show all outstanding card balances. Learn more.

  How are gift card transactions in Point of Sale sent to QuickBooks Financial Software?

  By default, gift card amounts are sent to the Gift Cards account (type Other Current Liability).

  Can a customer buy a gift card at one store and redeem it at another?

  Yes. We can link your store locations together in our system to allow redemption in multiple locations, regardless of where the gift card was issued. Call our Customer Support center at for more details.