In some regions, customers must pay an additional fee to purchase packaged drink items, like bottled or canned beverages. This deposit gets refunded to the customer when they return their bottle, can, or other drink container to your business, or to a designated return center.

In Lightspeed Restaurant, you can handle bottle deposits in two ways: using a negatively priced item as the deposit refund or using a partial refund. Use a negatively priced item to save time; instead of searching for a specific order, you can simply refund via a button on the POS. If time isn't a factor, use partial refunds to refund the deposit directly.

Creating a negatively priced item

Using a negatively priced item to refund bottle deposits can save time for busy restaurants, but is only available for non-integrated payments like cash. If you use Lightspeed Payments, you will need to use Standalone Payments instead. For this type of refund, you will need to create two specific items.

Negatively-priced items cannot be used in some regions, like Belgium, due to fiscal limitations. Regulations can vary by region, so it's important to verify your current local laws before using this deposit refund method.

1. Create a new item representing each deposit. For example, you might need an item each for glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastic containers. You might also need to create an item each if, for example, glass bottles have different pricing depending on size or shape. Use these settings:
   • Name: Deposit, Bottle Deposit, etc.
   • Price: Amount of the deposit.
   • Other settings: Set as desired.

     

2. Create a second item representing the deposit return. Use these settings:
   • Name: Deposit Refund, Bottle Deposit Refund, etc.
   • Price: Amount of the deposit as a negative price. For example, if the deposit on a bottle of beer is $0.75, the negative price would be -$0.75.
   • Other settings: Set as desired.

     

When the customer purchases an item requiring a bottle deposit, add the positive bottle deposit item to their order. When the customer returns their container, find the negatively priced item on your POS and run it like a regular order. You will then be able to return the deposit to the customer.

Creating items for partial refunds

Partial refunds allow you to refund specific items from a paid order, rather than having to refund it entirely. Partial refunds cannot currently be applied to combos, or used to return deposits on items bought outside your place of business.

Partial refunds are best used to refund items purchased during the current sales period. For previous sales periods, you will need to reopen the receipt. For Lightspeed Payments users, use the Financial Services tab in the Back Office.

For partial refunds on bottle deposits, you will need to create a new item representing each deposit. Use these settings:

• • Name: Deposit, Bottle Deposit, etc.
  • Price: Amount of the deposit.
  • Other settings: Set as desired.

Add this item to any order which contains a deposit item. When the customer returns their container, find their receipt on the POS and use the partial refunds option. You will then be able to return the deposit to the customer.

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