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Process Bottle Deposits

  • Last Updated: August 15, 2023

In states such as Michigan and California, customers who purchase beverages are charged a deposit for the bottle in addition to the retail price of the beverage. After the beverage is consumed, customers return the bottle for a refund of the deposit. In Exatouch, bottle deposits are processed as a required adder. Bottle returns are processed as a payout.

  • Note: A required adder is a modifier which is automatically added to an item when it is rung up. Bottle deposits are processed as a required adder, which means that when a “Bottle Deposit” item is rung up at the register, the bottle deposit price is automatically added as well.

Perform the following to apply a bottle deposit as a required adder:

  1. Create a Category/Subcategory for deposits.
  2. Create a “Bottle Deposit” item and designate it as a modifier with the value of a bottle return.
  3. Apply the modifier as a required adder to each item associated with a bottle return.
Create Deposit Category/Subcategory

A “Deposit” category/subcategory is created first to host the “Bottle Deposit” modifier.

  • Note: If you already have a “MODS” (aka Modifier) category in place, rather than creating a “Deposit” category and a “Deposit” subcategory, use your existing “MODS” category and create only a “Deposit” subcategory.

  1. From Home, navigate to Items > Categories.Items module highlighted with arrow leading to categories submodule
  2. Tap New Category.Tap new category button highlighted
    • Note: If you already have a “MODS” (aka Modifier) category in place, select the “MODS” category. Then follow the instructions below on creating a new “Deposit” subcategory.Mods category highlighted with arrow leading to new subcategory placeholder
  3. Enter Deposit in the Description field.
    Deposit entered in description field
  4. Deselect the Visible On Register checkbox.Visible on register checkbox deselected and highlighted
  5. Select the None subcategory entry and tap New subcat.None selected in subcategory section with arrow leading to new subcategory button
  6. Enter Bottle Deposit in the Description field.Bottle deposit entered in description field
  7. Tap Save.

Create "Bottle Deposit" Item

A modifier is an item which further describes or amends a customer’s order. To create a “Bottle Deposit” modifier, first create an item:

  1. From Home, navigate to Items > Item Details.Items module highlighted with arrow leading to item details submodule
  2. Tap New.New button highlighted
  3. Tap the Details tab and enter the following in the highlighted fields:
    Details tab highlighted with SKU, item name, category, and subcategory fields shaded in yellow

    • SKU: Click the barcode icon to generate a SKU number.
    • Item Name: Enter the name of the item. For example, enter Bottle Deposit – single bottle.
    • Price: Enter the bottle deposit value. For example, enter 0.10 for a single bottle deposit.
    • Description (Optional): Enter a description.
    • Button Label: Enter a short description to display on the button label.
    • Receipt Description: Enter a description to display on the receipt.
    • Remote Print Description: Enter a description to display on the remote printer.
    • Category: Select Deposit.
    • Subcategory: Select Bottle Deposit.
  4. Tap the Tax & GL tab.
  5. If your state does not require tax on bottle deposits, disable the Tax Included slider.Tax included slider highlighted on item tax and gl tab
  6. Tap Save.Tap save button highlighted on tax and gl tab

Designate the "Bottle Deposit" as a Modifier

Items are designated as modifiers within the Item Details module using settings on the Details and Modifiers tabs.

  1. From Home, navigate to Items > Items Details.
  2. Tap the Details tab.Details tab highlighted
  3. Enable the Modifier slider.Modifier slider highlighted and selected
  4. Tap the Modifiers tab.Modifiers tab highlighted
  5. Enter a value in the Modifier Price field. For example, enter $.10 as a single bottle deposit value.Modifier price setting highlighted with ten cents entered in field
  6. Tap Save.Tap Save button highlighted on modifiers tab
  7. Tap the Details tab again, then deselect the Modifier slider. Modifiers are not searchable on a “stock” items list. Deselecting the Modifier slider allows you to search for this item later when you add it as a required adder to a stock item.Modifier slider highlighted and deselected
  8. Tap Save.Save button highlighted on new item screen details tab

Apply "Bottle Deposit" as a Required Modifier

A required adder is a modifier which is automatically added to an item when it is rung up. For example, a bottle of Coke ($1.25) with a “Bottle Return” modifier ($.10) associated with it will automatically ring up the value of the Coke plus the bottle return value ($1.25 + $.10). Required adders are added to each item which requires a bottle deposit.

  1. From the Modifiers tab, tap All Items.Modifiers tab highlighted with arrow to all items button
    • Note: Required adders can be applied to an item at any time! Simply navigate to an item’s Modifier page to apply a required adder.
  2. Select an item from the Items List. Scroll or use search options to find a specific item.Bottle deposit single bottle highlighted on items list screen
  3. Verify the correct item was selected.Item name field highlighted with bottle deposit single bottle text on item details screen
  4. In the Categories section, select the Deposit category.Deposit category highlighted on modifiers tab of item details screen
  5. Tap the right arrow icon to add the category to the This Item’s Modifiers work area.Arrow button highlighted with arrow to bottle deposit modifier on modifiers tab
  6. In the Required column, assign the category to Group A. Rename Group A as desired.Required dropdown highlighted and Group A selected on modifiers tab
  7. Tap Save.

  • Tip! When new bottled items are added to inventory, don’t forget to attach the required adder in Item Details.


Create Additional "Bottle Return" Modifiers

Additional “Bottle Return” modifiers can be created implemented to accommodate different types of bottle return values. Various “Bottle Return” values can be added as required modifiers to describe different types of bottle returns. For example:

  • A “6-pack BTL Deposit” (value=$.60) modifier is created and applied as a required adder to the item “6-pack Coke”.
  • “Case Deposit” (value=$1.20) modifier is created and applied as a required adder to the item “12-pack Bud Light”.


Ring Up a Bottle Deposit at the Register

When items with required adders are rung up at the register, the value of the item ($1.25 – single Coke bottle) and the value of the modifier ($.10 – bottle deposit) is automatically added to the customer’s order.

  • Example: Example: Ring up a single bottle of Coke as “Beverages” > “Soda Pop” > “Coke – single BTL”. A $0.10 bottle deposit fee is added to the order.Sample order and coke single bottle button highlighted on register


  • See: To process a bottle return at the register, see: Process Bottle Returns

Popular With

Grocery/C-StoreLiquorRetail

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Related Topics

  • Inventory Setup & Management
  • Using the Register App – Advanced
  • Adding & Managing Items
  • Item Categories & Subcategories
  • Modifiers

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