So your customers made a purchase and now they have called and need to change it. This is no problem in Xola. From the Purchases tab, you can modify a purchase by changing arrival dates or times, modifying guest count, adding charges, refunding purchases, and much more. This article will cover all the items you can modify from the Purchases tab with the purchase modification bar.
What's covered in this article:
- Changing Arrival Date and/or Time
- Modifying Guest Count
- Adding a Charge
- Refunding a Purchase
- Modifying Add Ons
- Switch an Experience
- Change Experience to Private or Shared
- Modify Taxes and Fees
- Add or Remove a Code from a purchase
- Cancel purchase
Changing Arrival Date and/or Time
You've reserved a customer, and now they want to change the date or time of their experience. No worries, Xola makes this a swift and easy process! In just a few clicks on the Modifications Banner, you'll be able to change the date and/or time of your customer's experience.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner (white toolbar), click Arrival.
- In the Change Arrival window, click the date field for the date picker and select the new date and time. Need a special date and time? Read about Timeslots-on-the-Fly and Reserving Past Dates and Time.
- Click Change Arrival.
- The new arrival date and or time will be reflected under Purchase Details.
Note: If a guest was checked in or marked as a no-show the new arrival time in the dashboard will not carry that same status, and that action will need to be re-taken.
- By selecting or deselecting the Notify box, you can choose whether you would like to send your customer an email regarding this change.
- If there is any difference in price between the new and original date and time, Xola will help you reconcile by automatically creating a balance due or an option to refund the excess payment. If you choose not to collect or refund the full amount right away, the booking will contain a Collect Balance or Refund Excess Payment button.
- If you select the Check or Other payment method, this will not initiate a transfer of funds. For example, if you choose the Check option you must still write the customer a check - Xola will not produce this check.
Modifying Guest Count
You've reserved a customer, and now they want to change the number of guests in their party. No worries, modifying the number of guests in Xola is a simple process! In just a few clicks on the Modifications Banner, you'll be able to update the guest count in a jiffy.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click Guests.
- Here you can update the guest's name that appears on the Roster, and update the demographics if needed.
- To add a guest simply click the +Add guest button, type in the name, and select the correct demographic.
- Click Modify.
- In the next window, if you increase the guest count you have the option of immediately hitting Collect Balance and charging for the additional guests. You can also collect this balance later by hitting Skip. or if you decrease the guest count you have the option of immediately Refund for the subtracted guests. You can also refund later by hitting Skip.
- In either case, the adjusted number of guests will be reflected under Booking Details. Any charges or refunds will be reflected under the Payment Summary.
- By selecting or unselecting the Notify box, you can choose whether you would like to send your customer an email updating them on this change.
- Xola will help you reconcile the difference in the guest count by automatically creating a balance due or an option to refund the excess payment. If you've added guests, you'll click the green Collect button under Payment Summary. If you've removed guests, you'll click the green Refund Excess Payment button under Payment Summary.
- Per-person coupons, as well as taxes and fees, will adjust to the new number of guests.
Adding a Charge
You've reserved a customer, and now you need to add a charge to their reservation. No worries, Xola makes this super simple! With just a few clicks on the Modifications Banner, you'll be able to add a charge to a purchase with no hassle.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click Charge.
- In the Amount field, type in the exact monetary amount you would like to charge your customer.
- In the Reason field, type in the reason for this charge (tip, damage fee, etc).
- Click Charge. In the window that appears, select the payment method, and click the Collect button. If you choose not to collect the full amount of the charge right away, the booking will reflect a balance or refund due.
- You will see the charge reflected under the Payment Summary and in the Timeline.
- By selecting or unselecting the Notify box, you can choose whether you would like to send your customer an email about this charge.
- If you select the Check or Other payment method, this will not initiate a transfer of funds. For example, if you choose the Check option you must still write the customer a check - Xola will not produce this check.
- This charge has no effect on the taxes or fees set for this purchase.
Refunding a Booking
When you click the Refund in a customer purchase, Xola will ask you to select from one of the following options:
Reduce booking value and return payment
Below are details of the difference between these three methods of returning payment to a customer, and in which situation you would choose one over the others.
Reduce booking value and return the payment
What this does: Reduces the customer's total booking value and sends full or partial payment back to the customer.
When to use: When you need to offer a customer a discount or full refund on their balance or payment. This might be due to something like bad weather conditions or placating an unhappy customer.
- Navigate to the customer's purchase and click the Refund button.
- Select Reduce booking value and return payment.
- Ensure the right amount to refund is populated in the Amount field. If this is a partial refund, type in the amount to be refunded into the box.
- Select the Method.
- Add a reason for the refund in the Comment field.
- Click Refund.
Please note that when issuing credit card refunds, you may not refund a customer more than the amount originally charged to their credit card.
Return payment only
What this does: Returns payment to one customer in order to collect that money either in a new form of payment or from another paying customer. Using the Return Payment feature will always open a balance on the purchase for the amount returned.
When to use: To change the card that was originally charged for the purchase. To allow a customer to switch from cash payment to put the balance on a credit card.
- Navigate to the customer's purchase and click the Refund button.
- Select Return payment only.
- Type the refund amount in the Amount field.
- Select the Method.
- Add a reason for the return of payment in the Comment field.
- Click Return Payment.
- In the Purchase, click Collect Balance.
- In the popup window, select Add a new card and enter the credit card details.
- Click Collect.
Please note that when returning payment to a credit card, you may not return a customer more than the amount originally charged on their credit card.
Change guest quantity
What this does: Reduces guest count and gives you the option to refund the full or partial price of the ticket.
When to use: It's important to reduce the guest quantity and not issue a refund when a guest cancels or does not show up as part of a group. This will maintain your proper guest records and allow you the option of refunding in full, in partial, or not at all.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click Guests.
- Here you can update the guest's name that appears on the Roster, and update the demographics if needed.
- To add a guest simply click the +Add guest button, type in the name, and select the correct demographic.
- Click Modify.
- In the next window, if you increase the guest count you have the option of immediately hitting Collect Balance and charging for the additional guests. You can also collect this balance later by hitting Skip. or if you decrease the guest count you have the option of immediately Refund for the subtracted guests. You can also refund later by hitting Skip.
Modifying Add Ons
You've booked a customer, and now they want to add or remove an add-on to their purchase. No worries, Xola makes this a swift and easy process! In just a few clicks on the Modifications Banner, you'll be able to modify the number of add-ons in a jiffy.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click Add-ons.
- From here, add or remove add-ons to the purchase. The balance will adjust to display the amount to be charged or refunded to the customer.
- Click Save Changes. You can settle right away or click Later.
- The adjusted number of add-ons and the transactional records will be displayed under the Payment Summary and in the Timeline.
- By selecting or unselecting the Notify box, you can choose whether you would like to send your customer an email updating them of the change in add-ons.
- If you've chosen Later and you've added add-ons, you'll click the green Collect button under Payment Summary to settle. If you've removed add-ons, you'll click the green Refund Excess Payment button under Payment Summary to settle.
- If you select the Check or Other payment method, this will not initiate a transfer of funds. For example, if you choose the Check option you must still write the customer a check - Xola will not produce this check.
Switch an Experience
You've reserved a customer into one experience...and now they want to entirely switch to another! No worries, Xola makes this a swift and easy process! With just a few clicks on the Modifications Banner, you'll be able to change a customer from one experience into another with no hassle.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click on the 3 dots, then click Switch Experience.
- On the left side of the window is the customer's current experience, and to the right are all the other listings you have on offer.
- Select the listing that the customer would like to switch to. The right side of the window will change to display that experience, the date picker, and the current booking and payment details for this customer purchase.
- Select the date and time of the new experience.
- Click Confirm Switch.
- The Modifications Banner will show the photo and title of the new experience, and you’ll see a record of the switch in the Timeline as well as any new transactional information under Payment Summary.
Note: If a guest was checked in or marked as a no-show the new arrival time in the dashboard will not carry that same status, and that action will need to be re-taken.
- By selecting or unselecting the Notify box, you can choose whether you would like to send your customer an email updating them on this switch.
- Xola will help you reconcile any differences in price between the new and original experience by automatically creating a balance due or an option to refund the excess payment. If you choose not to collect or refund the full amount right away, the booking will contain a green Collect Balance or Refund Excess Payment button.
- If you select the Check or Other payment method, this will not initiate a transfer of funds. For example, if you choose the Check option you must still write the customer a check - Xola will not produce this check.
Change Experience to Private or Shared
After a shared or private reservation has been made, you have the option to switch to the other type. This option can be found on the Purchases tab, in the Modification Banner.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click on the 3 dots to the right, then click on Make Private or Make Shared
- On the left side of the window is the customer's current experience, and to the right are the details of the new experience.
- Click Apply.
- You can settle right away or click Later.
- The adjustment and transactional record will be displayed under the Payment Summary and in the Timeline.
- When choosing to switch a reservation from shared to private, only events that do not have a reservation on them yet will appear as available.
- Any pricing differences that have been configured will be applied when changing a reservation type.
Modify Taxes and Fees
You may have customers that are tax-exempt or need the taxes and fees taken off a reservation. Removing taxes and fees can only be done on back-office reservations, or after a reservation is made. Read on below to find out how to remove taxes and fees from a customer reservations in a snap.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- Under the Payment Summary, you will hit Modify> Taxes and Fees.
- Once you hit Modify, a pop-up will appear with a breakdown of all taxes & fees associated with that booking.
- To remove a tax or fee before processing this reservation, click the trash can. A gray line will strike out the tax or fee line item and it will be removed from the reservation total.
- Click Confirm and your modifications will be saved.
NOTE: If you have a Partner/Booking fee from Xola, you will not be able to remove this fee. Only taxes & Fees, that you created in Settings will be able to be removed from a reservation.
Oops! I need to reinstate one tax or fee, simply click the gray arrow on the line item to reverse the removal. To re-instate all taxes or fees, click "Reset taxes & fees". - If a customer has already paid, then a Return Excess Payment box will appear to have you return the tax or fee removed back to the original payment method. Click Return Excess Payment and you will be walked through the Refund Payment workflow.
Add or Remove a Code from a Booking
Adding a Code
You've processed a customer reservation, and now they want to apply a coupon, Partner, voucher, or gift code. No worries! Xola will help you easily apply this code and adjust the reservation's value.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- Below the Payment Summary, click Add code. A window will open displaying a drop-down menu and the customer’s payment summary.
- Click the drop-down to view all the coupon and affiliate codes for this account, or type in the code to search.
- Select the code from the list or if you've typed it in, hit Enter on your keyboard. You'll see the code applied and appearing in the Payment Summary.
Please note: If you add a Partner code you'll be asked to put in a Partner deposit. If your Partner does not take a deposit, type in '0'.
- Click Apply Code.
- Click the Return Payment button to finalize this transaction. The code will be recorded in the Payment Summary and in the Timeline of the customer purchase.
- By selecting or unselecting the Notify box, you can choose whether you would like to send your customer an email updating them that the coupon has been applied and the balance adjusted.
- If you choose not to issue the refund for the difference right away, the booking will contain a green Refund Excess Payment button.
- If you select the Check or Other payment method, this will not initiate a transfer of funds. For example, if you choose the Check option you must still write the customer a check - Xola will not produce this check.
Remove a Code
Whoops! Maybe you applied a coupon by mistake or entered the wrong Partner code. In Xola you can remove a code just as easily as you can add one. Details below:
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- Under the Payment Summary, you will hit Modify> Code.
- Once you hit Code, a pop-up will appear with all codes associated with that reservation.
- Locate the code that was applied (coupon or Partner) under the Payment Summary.
- Hover your mouse over the code and click the trash can.
- You will be asked to confirm that you want to remove this coupon. Click Confirm.
- The code will be removed from the customer purchase. If it is a coupon code or a Partner code with a discount associated, the price will adjust accordingly.
Cancel Reservation
When a customer cancels a reservation, you can choose to issue a full or partial refund, issue no refund at all, or send the customer store credit.
Please note that when issuing credit card refunds, you may not refund a customer more than the amount originally charged to their credit card.
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click on the 3 dots, then click Cancel Experience.
- Click Confirm to continue with the cancellation.
- Enter the full or partial amount to be refunded in the Amount field. If you are refunding two or more customers on a purchase, keep Automatic Split Refund selected.
- Select the Method of payment with which to issue the refund.
- Enter any comments on this refund or cancellation in the Comments field.
- Click Refund.
Cancel Reservation Without Refund
- In the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click on the 3 dots, then click Cancel Experience.
- Click Confirm to continue with the cancellation.
- If you do not want to issue a refund, click Skip on the Return Payment screen.
- The customer is officially canceled. If you choose to come back later and issue a refund you may do so by selecting Refund in the Modifications Banner.
Cancel Reservation and Issue a Store Credit
For a detailed overview of Xola's Store Credits feature, please click here.
- n the Purchases tab, navigate to the customer purchase.
- From the Modifications Banner, click on the 3 dots, then click Cancel Experience.
- Click Confirm to continue with the cancellation.
- Enter the full or partial amount to be credited in the Amount field.
- Select Store Credit under Method.
- Enter any comments on this refund or cancellation in the Comments field.
- Click Save Changes.
- By selecting or deselecting the Notify box, you can choose whether you would like to send your customer an email regarding the Refund.
- The cancellation notification will go out depending on the setting under Settings> Notifications.
- If you select the Check or Other payment method, this will not initiate a transfer of funds. For example, if you choose the Check option you must still write the customer a check - Xola will not produce this check.