Today, more and more of our shopping transactions are completed via POS (point of sale) machines. While these machines are convenient and essential in today’s marketplace where credit and debit cards have replaced cash and checks as the primary methods of payment, they aren’t going to be any more error-free than any other technology found in market. Here are some issues that can help you keep your POS machine working fine.

Stop Working after Ribbon Replaced

When the ribbon runs out, you need to replace it with a new one. However, sometimes you may replace the ribbon cartridge only to find that the machine is still being stubborn. In that case, your first check should be to make sure you have installed a compatible ribbon. There are a number of different brands on the market so be sure that you are using the one designed to work with your point of sale machine. If you are using the correct ribbon, the next step may be contacting customer support.

Won’t Print or Work in Anyway

Generally, when your point of sale machine stops working the first step you should take is to check the connections. Most of these machines only come with three cables that are color-coded to match the connections in the back so connecting them isn’t difficult. However, if one of the cables comes loose it can stop the machine from working when you need it to. Wiggle all of the cables to make sure they are all connected. If none of the cables are loose, disconnect and re-connect all three.

Not Printing Receipt

When your POS machine stops printing the receipts, you need to fix the problem immediately. After all, you don’t want to keep customers waiting and you don’t want to send them away without a receipt. The most common reason the receipt isn’t printing is that the ribbon needs to be replaced. Obviously, this is going to happen periodically so make sure you have the supplies you need on hand. Having at least one or two extra ribbons on site is a good idea. If you replace the ribbon and the POS still isn’t printing, you may need to replace the unit.

Quickly Dealing with Problems

While this section doesn’t provide specific tips for problems you may have with your POS system, it does include a couple of tips that may help you make the most of your machine. First, be sure to have the manual available within arm’s reach of the unit. You don’t want to have to search everywhere to find answers when something goes wrong. Second, have customer support’s number on your speed dial. If you’re having a problem that can’t be solved simply by replacing the ribbon or checking the cables, you need answers quickly. Being able to contact technical support quickly is critical.