FAQs

CoPOS is a point-of-sale system that provides a cost-effective way to meet the operational and informational needs of consumer co-ops. CoPOS provides everything you’d expect from a full-featured point of sale system.

As part of the package, we provide inventory tracking, margin analysis, patronage, prepayments, IOUs, along with interfaces to several vendors and integrated credit card processing.

We are also a good solution for small, non-cooperative grocery stores.

All our paper stock tags are available in any color. The standard colors we have are shown in the individual tag details. Contact us at 1.855.772.6767 for any questions or to request samples. Here are our paper stock tags…

Our tags and labels are guaranteed to work with any CoPOS printer.

CoPOS began as an outgrowth of a point-of-sale (POS) system developed by Ken Geiger. His POS system, unique to co-ops, began at Bluff Country Co-op in Winona, Minn. and expanded to other local co-ops and beyond. CoPOS is now used by over 65 co-ops and small grocers nation-wide.

The installation process consists of four steps:

1.) CoPOS conducts an uptake interview. The uptake interview provides the information and details about the operation of your store and usually takes less than one hour.

• Base operational parameters such as sales tax, store address, etc.
• Discounts and membership structure.
• Departments and their related properties.

2.) CoPOS provides you with our standard CoPOS Item Template and Membership Template. The store is responsible for populating these templates. The information in these templates provides the data that will be loaded into the database. (CoPOS can usually  get your store’s purchasing history from UNFI, which saves you time.) We suggest that you enter as many items as possible prior to going live. Accurate pricing is a must.

3.) CoPOS orders the hardware agreed upon in the final estimate. We assemble, configure and test all hardware prior to shipment.

4.) CoPOS schedules a go-live time. The quote specifies two days for setup and training. We are generally able to get the equipment set up in one evening.

Prior to installation, the store is responsible for:

• All wiring, including both network and electrical. We can provide specs for the network, but will not do the actual wiring.
• Preparation of the counters and/or checkout lanes.
• Providing an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) for each station.

Yes. CoPOS provides all hardware peripherals necessary for all the Point of Sale software. This includes scanners, scales, receipt and label printers, as well as all of the computer-related hardware, such as terminals, monitors, keyboards and servers.

A weigh station provides the tools for weighing a package of items and then printing a label for it.

Labels have a bar code which is scanned at the register to ensure rapid and accurate throughput or repackaged items. Here is an example of a repack label (LPQ02):

Templates are spreadsheets that can be used to facilitate the collection of data in useful configurations.

If you go to the Gallery, you will see several examples of CoPOS systems in use, as well an example of label usage.

It takes about 6 to 8 weeks to go live, once the contract is signed.

A two-lane store with a weigh station would cost just under $13,000.

In addition to the standard terminal box, monitor and keyboard, each lane would include:

• scanner
• scale
• receipt printer
• cash drawer

The weigh station would have a scale and label printer.

A system printer and additional label printer are also included in this configuration.

Yes, we offer financing. We require a 20% downpayment at the time the contract is signed.

Yes. It is based on the number of lanes. The fee is $60 per lane per month.

In our example of a two-lane store with a weigh station, maintenance would be $120 per month.

Maintenance provides support, bug fixes and upgrades.

Support is available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.

Phones are monitored after hours and on weekends for emergency support.

Yes. We sell receipt paper, shelf tags (multiple colors), and repack labels.

We also sell custom labels, which work with our label printers. We can help you design your unique label.

Here is our Tags and Labels Catalog.

Our customers have many positive things to say about us. Click here for their comments and testimonials.

Yes. References are available on request. You can also see some of our customers’ testimonials here.

You can contact us anytime, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Central Time.

Call us at 855.772.6767  or  support@copos.com  or  drop us a line.

Frequent updates are made to the CoSAT software.

Download the most recent version of CoSAT from copos.com/download.

Save SOA.LZH to your USB storage device.

Select:

• 12 – Controller
• 2 – Upgrade
• 1 – Upgrade CoSAT

When finished, remove the USB storage device from the CoSAT.

More information…

CoSAT can download updates from the Internet using a wired Ethernet connection.

Plug into your network and select:

• 12 – Controller
• 5 – More…
• 2 – Network Setup
• 1 – Automatic (DHCP)

An IP address will be displayed if the network connection is successful.

* To automatically update CoSAT, select:

• 12 – Controller
• 2 – Upgrade
• 1 – Upgrade CoSAT

For more information, see the CoSAT Basics Guide.