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Comps & Discounts

Apply complimentary items and discounts to orders with proper approval.

Comp vs. Discount​

TypeWhat It IsExample
CompFree item/meal, $0 chargedGuest recovery, employee meal
DiscountReduced price10% off, happy hour pricing

Types of Comps​

Item Comp​

Make a single item free:

  1. Open the order
  2. Tap the item
  3. Tap "Comp"
  4. Select reason
  5. Manager approval (if required)
  6. Item shows $0.00

Full Order Comp​

Comp the entire check:

  1. Open the order
  2. Tap "Discount" or "Comp"
  3. Select "Full Comp"
  4. Select reason
  5. Manager approval required
  6. All items show $0.00

Percentage Comp​

Comp a percentage of order:

  1. Open the order
  2. Tap "Discount"
  3. Select "Percentage"
  4. Enter percentage (e.g., 50%)
  5. Select reason
  6. Manager approval (if over threshold)

Comp Reasons​

ReasonWhen to Use
Guest RecoveryService or food issue
Employee MealStaff meal benefit
Manager MealManager dining
VIP GuestOwner's guest, important customer
Marketing/PromoPromotional comp
Quality IssueFood didn't meet standards
Long WaitExcessive delay
Birthday/AnniversarySpecial occasion
OtherRequires explanation

Applying Discounts​

Fixed Amount Off​

  1. Open the order
  2. Tap "Discount"
  3. Select "$ Off"
  4. Enter amount
  5. Discount applied to total

Percentage Off​

  1. Open the order
  2. Tap "Discount"
  3. Select "% Off"
  4. Choose preset (10%, 15%, 20%)
  5. Or enter custom percentage

Promo Codes​

  1. Tap "Discount"
  2. Select "Promo Code"
  3. Enter code (or scan QR)
  4. Discount auto-applies

Item-Level Discount​

  1. Tap specific item
  2. Tap "Discount"
  3. Select discount type
  4. Apply to that item only

Manager Approval​

When Required​

Comp/DiscountApproval?
Item comp under $10Usually no
Item comp over $10Yes
Full order compAlways
Discount over 20%Yes
Employee mealUsually no (pre-configured)
VIP compManager initiates

Approval Process​

  1. Apply comp/discount
  2. System checks threshold
  3. If approval needed → manager notified
  4. Manager enters PIN
  5. Comp/discount applied
  6. Audit record created

Employee Meals​

How It Works​

  1. Start new order
  2. Select "Employee Meal"
  3. Add items within allowed amount
  4. System applies automatic comp
  5. No manager approval needed

Employee Meal Limits​

SettingTypical Value
Max per shift$15-25
Allowed itemsFood only
TimingOn-shift only
Discount type50-100% off

Guest Recovery​

For unhappy guests:

Process​

  1. Manager assesses situation
  2. Determine appropriate comp level:
    • Item comp: Single item issue
    • Partial comp: Multiple issues
    • Full comp: Major failure
  3. Apply comp with "Guest Recovery" reason
  4. Add note about the issue
  5. Follow up with guest
Guest Recovery

Comp promptly for valid issues. A fast, genuine response turns a negative experience into a loyal customer. Follow up before the guest leaves.

Recovery Guidelines​

SituationTypical Response
Wrong itemComp the item
Long wait (10-15 min over)Comp appetizer or 10%
Long wait (20+ min over)Comp course or 20%
Food quality issueComp item + dessert
Multiple issuesPartial or full comp
Very upset guestFull comp + follow-up

Comp Budget Tracking​

Restaurants may track comp budgets:

Budget Categories​

CategoryTypical Budget
Guest recovery0.5-1% of sales
Employee mealsFixed per employee
MarketingSet monthly amount
VIPManager discretion

Checking Budget​

Managers can view:

  1. Go to Reports → Comps
  2. See budget vs. actual
  3. By category and reason
  4. Alerts when over budget

Voice Commands​

TaskSay
Comp item"Comp the appetizer on table 4"
Apply discount"20% discount on table 6"
Employee meal"Employee meal for [name]"
Check comp total"How much have we comped today?"

Automatic Discounts​

Some discounts apply automatically:

TypeHow It Works
Happy HourAutomatic during set hours
Senior DiscountApplied when selected
Military DiscountApplied when selected
Loyalty RewardsAuto-apply from account
BirthdayFrom customer profile

Removing Auto-Discounts​

  1. Tap the discount line
  2. Tap "Remove"
  3. May require override reason

Stacking Rules​

Multiple discounts may have rules:

ConfigurationExample
Stack allowed10% + promo code
Best discount winsHigher of two applies
No stackingOnly one discount allowed
Category-limitedOnly one per category

Check your restaurant's policy on stacking.

Best Practices​

Do​

  • Comp promptly for valid issues
  • Select accurate reasons
  • Follow up with unhappy guests
  • Track for patterns (frequent comps = fix root cause)

Don't​

Unauthorized Comps

Comping items for friends or family without manager approval is a policy violation. All comps are tracked and audited. Excessive or unexplained comps will be flagged for review.

  • Over-comp to get better tips
  • Comp without reason code
  • Exceed your authority level

Common Scenarios​

Scenario: Guest complains about cold food​

  1. Apologize sincerely
  2. Offer to remake immediately
  3. Comp the item
  4. Consider complimentary dessert
  5. Manager follow-up before they leave

Scenario: Long ticket time​

  1. Acknowledge the wait
  2. Keep guest informed
  3. Comp appetizer or drink
  4. Discount if very long
  5. Don't make excuses

Scenario: Birthday celebration​

  1. Check if Birthday discount configured
  2. If comp allowed, apply dessert comp
  3. Use "Birthday" reason
  4. Bring candle/presentation
  5. Make it special!

Reporting​

Comp Report (for managers)​

Shows:

  • Total comps by day/week/month
  • By reason category
  • By employee
  • Comparison to budget
  • Trend analysis

What's Flagged​

  • High comp percentage employees
  • Unusual patterns
  • Budget overages
  • Same guest multiple comps

Troubleshooting​

Discount not applying​

  1. Check promo code is valid
  2. Check order meets requirements
  3. Check discount not expired
  4. Check stacking rules

Can't comp item​

  1. Check if payment already taken
  2. May need refund instead
  3. Get manager assistance

Manager unavailable for approval​

  1. Find another manager
  2. Call manager for remote approval
  3. Hold order if possible
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