Recommend: Enable additional email authentication

Earlier this year, Google and Yahoo announced new requirements for high-volume email senders (exceeding 5,000 daily emails). Email authentication, once merely a suggestion, is now crucial for major email providers to receive your emails. You can learn more about the sending requirements here.

While these changes may not directly impact your winery, we strongly recommend taking proactive steps to enable DMARC (Domain-based message authentication, reporting and conformance) for your emails. We have devised a streamlined procedure to help you implement DMARC.

By enabling DMARC, you stand to benefit in the following ways:

• 📧 Improved email deliverability: Ensure your emails consistently reach your intended recipients, enhancing communication with your consumers.
• 🔐 Enhanced security: Protect your winery's online presence by fortifying the authentication process, protecting your reputation and consumer's trust.

Get started

Not sure if you have DMARC enabled?

You can use a free tool such as this to check if your domain's DMARC has already been set up. All you need to do is enter the domain in your sending email address (such as info@wineryname.com) and scroll down to see if it is enabled.

If you have any questions or need support, please feel free to use the 'Ask a question' feature in the bottom right of the admin panel or email us directly at support@winedirect.com.

Thank you for your continued support and trust in WineDirect. 

Fixed: Issue with Move5000/VP3300

Updated 4/16/2024: We have applied fixes for both devices and no longer report any issues. We appreciate your patience as we worked towards a resolution.

Updated 2/28/2024: We're actively investigating and working to resolve this issue. If you are looking to set a custom tip amount, please get in touch with WineDirect Payments.

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We have observed an issue with changing certain device settings on the Move5000 and VP3300. If you currently use one of these devices, please refrain from making the following changes to the device:

• If you tap Device Settings in the POS app, select a VP3300 from the device dropdown, and tap "Edit EMV Terminal," please do not select "Enable Receipt Printer."
• If you tap Device Settings in the POS, app select a Move5000 from the device dropdown, and tap "Edit EMV Terminal," please do not set the custom tip amounts from this menu.

We are working to resolve these issues as soon as possible.

If you need to make these changes to your device, please get in touch with WineDirect Payments. We appreciate your patience and continued partnership. We encourage you to visit our Status Page for the most current updates. 

Testing Complete: iOS Update 17

Update 1/31/2023: 

The WineDirect team has completed testing, and all users (including VivoPay users) can safely update their iOS software to version 17. Minimum requirement: iOS 13 or higher. Check device compatibility before updating. The benefits include enhanced security and optimized performance, opening the door to future product enhancements. We've also updated the WineDirect POS app to address issues related to Bluetooth devices. Here are the recommended steps to update your POS setup:

Recommended Steps

1. Update your iOS to version 17.

• To manually update, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

2. Update your WineDirect POS App

• Important Note: Only update the WineDirect POS App if you are iOS 13 and above*
• To update your WineDirect POS App, open the App Store.
• Tap your profile icon at the top of the screen.
• Scroll to see pending updates and release notes. Tap Update next to the WineDirect POS App.

iOS Version 12 and below

As iOS undergoes regular updates, security concerns persist for older iOS versions. To address this, this and all upcoming releases of the WineDirect POS app will no longer be compatible with devices running iOS versions 12 and below. Learn more about iOS and WineDirect POS compatibility in our documentation.

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Recommendations

As a best practice, we advise waiting for our testing of the new iOS update before initiating any updates on your iPad devices.

Disable Auto-Update

We recommend to disable automatic updates on your iPad device(s). You can do so by:

1. Go to Settings.

2. Tap App Store.

3. Turn off App Updates.

For more detailed information about the iPad iOS updates and any associated changes, please refer to Apple's documentation here.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and continued support as we work to enhance your WineDirect POS experience.  If you have any questions or need support, please feel free to reach out through the 'Ask a question' feature in the admin panel or by emailing us directly at support@winedirect.com.

Fix: Disabling duplicate orders for terminal orders

If you process orders through a terminal using a card, you might have observed an option to duplicate orders completed with an EMV terminal. However, this action leads to errors as there is no way to collect payment for these duplicated orders. To enhance order processing, we've taken the step to disable the option for duplicating orders where payment was collected via an EMV terminal.

We appreciate your patience and support as we worked quickly to find a solution. If you have any questions or need support, please feel free to reach out through the 'Ask a question' feature in the admin panel or by emailing us directly at support@winedirect.com.

Investigating: New email sending requirements

Updated 3/5/2024:

We now recommend that all clients enable additional email authentication through DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance). We have devised a streamlined procedure to help you implement DMARC for your emails.

Update 1/25/2024:

We've proactively emailed all clients whom we anticipate may be impacted by the latest requirements. If you dispatch at least 5,000 emails daily and haven't received our communication, kindly contact us at hello@winedirect.com, and we'll promptly follow up with you.

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Recently, Google and Yahoo announced upcoming requirements set to affect high-volume email senders exceeding 5,000 emails per day. These requirements will go into effect by February 1st, 2024. Email authentication, once merely a suggestion, is now a crucial element for major email providers. You can learn more about the sending requirements here.

Here's a breakdown of the requirements that Google and Yahoo are imposing on senders:

• Email authentication: Senders must authenticate their emails by implementing robust email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
• Easy unsubscribe: Users should have a seamless experience unsubscribing from unwanted emails, eliminating unnecessary complications.
• Low spam percentage: Senders must ensure minimal spam, delivering only emails that recipients desire. A clearly defined spam rate threshold will be enforced to prevent recipients from being inundated with unwanted messages.

At WineDirect, our team is actively exploring solutions to meet these new requirements, ensuring that your emails reach their intended recipients successfully. We are committed to keeping you informed and will provide updates as we progress. Stay tuned for further developments.

Update: EMV Issues Fixed

We are following up on the recent service interruptions and wanted to provide some updates. The WineDirect team has worked hard to implement a fix for the following issues:

• The issue causing some EMV/ POS card readers to freeze during processing has been resolved
  • You can now use all EMV card readers, including the Vivopay 3300 and the Move 5000
• The issue with split tenders on POS has been resolved

We appreciate your patience and continued partnership. We encourage you to visit our Status Page for the most current updates. Our Client Success team is also at your disposal, ready to assist with any concerns or queries you might have. Please feel free to reach out through the 'Ask a question' feature in the admin panel or by emailing us directly at support@winedirect.com. 

Wishing you all the best for a successful holiday season! 🍷

Recent WineDirect Classic Enhancements and Addressing Bugs

We wanted to provide you with an important update on the recent changes to our payment gateway, ensuring transparency and open communication every step of the way. 

A step forward with upgrades 

Last week, we successfully rolled out a significant upgrade to our payment gateway integration. Our primary goal was to rectify longstanding payment processing issues, such as transactions failing, remaining in a pending state, or returning ambiguous statuses. Additionally, we wanted to enhance the transaction speed in the tasting room, ensuring a seamless experience for all.

We are delighted to announce: 

• POS transaction times have been significantly reduced by 50%, ensuring a smoother experience for your patrons. 
• The issues responsible for pending transactions and incorrect statuses have been successfully rectified. 

With the recent rollout, we encountered several payment issues that might have caused disruptions to your operations, and we sincerely apologize. Rest assured, we have successfully addressed all major issues related to this upgrade and are committed to delivering even smoother experiences with our future updates. 

Currently, we are investigating two issues regarding EMV card readers. We are actively working on these issues and will provide updates as we have them on the Status Page.

Stay updated & engaged 

While we do expect occasional, infrequent bugs, your feedback is invaluable to us in resolving them swiftly. If you encounter any payment issues or have questions, please use the 'Ask a question' feature in the admin panel's bottom right chat bubble. Alternatively, you can always email us at support@winedirect.com.

Thank you for your continued support and trust in WineDirect. We are here for you. 

Follow-up: Payment Processing Upgrades and Fixing Issues

We wanted to provide you with an important update on the recent changes to our payment gateway, ensuring transparency and open communication every step of the way. 

A step forward with upgrades 

Last week, we successfully rolled out a significant upgrade to our payment gateway integration. Our primary goal was to rectify longstanding payment processing issues, such as transactions failing, remaining in a pending state, or returning ambiguous statuses. Additionally, we wanted to enhance the transaction speed in the tasting room, ensuring a seamless experience for all.

We are delighted to announce: 

• POS transaction times have been significantly reduced by 50%, ensuring a smoother experience for your patrons. 
• The issues responsible for pending transactions and incorrect statuses have been successfully rectified. 

With the recent rollout, we encountered several payment issues that might have caused disruptions to your operations, and we sincerely apologize. Rest assured, we have successfully addressed all major issues related to this upgrade and are committed to delivering even smoother experiences with our future updates. 

Currently, one known issue appears sporadically with manually entered cards. We are actively working on this issue and will provide updates as we have them on the Status Page.

Stay updated & engaged 

While we do expect occasional, infrequent bugs, your feedback is invaluable to us in resolving them swiftly. If you encounter any payment issues or have questions, please use the 'Ask a question' feature in the admin panel's bottom right chat bubble. Alternatively, you can always email us at support@winedirect.com.

Thank you for your continued support and trust in WineDirect. We are here for you. 

Payment Update: Zeamster & VivoPay EMV Device Issues

Update 10/13/2023: Please read our latest blog post about the recent payment processing upgrades and bug fixes.

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Following our latest Zeamster enhancement deployment, we've identified some functionality concerns for VivoPay EMV devices and Zeamster Gateway users. We understand the potential disruption and inconvenience this might cause, and we sincerely apologize.

Our team is working diligently to rectify the situation. While we are eager to resolve this promptly, our main priority is ensuring any updates' stability and reliability. Therefore, we won’t rush any solutions that might introduce new defects. To expedite the process, we've redirected resources, and our team is working through the weekend to provide a resolution as soon as possible.

Here are updates on the current payment issues:

VivoPay EMV Device Issues

If you currently use a VivoPay EMV device, you may have noticed two issues recently:

1. Only manual credit card entry will be possible.
2. Any club order made with VivoPay before October 4, 2023, cannot be refunded or canceled.

Important Note: Do not use the Dip or Swipe payment method with the VivoPay card reader until the issue is resolved

Both issues are actively being worked on, and we will push for an update as soon as it is completed and tested. ETA for the fix is Monday, October 9 - Wednesday, October 11. 

Zeamster - Refunding Issue

We have identified an issue preventing clients from processing refunds on club orders originally processed before October 4. Good News! We have pushed an update to fix the refund issue today (Friday, October 6th, 2023). We will update the status page with the latest updates.

If you need to process refunds ASAP: 

WineDirect Payments will process these refunds for you in bulk. Please download and fill out the spreadsheet below, then email it to payments@winedirect.com.

▶ Refunds Needed Spreadsheet

Important Note: If you manually issue a payment through the gateway, the refund amount will not be reflected in WineDirect for reporting purposes. As a workaround, you can use the "Order History Importer" tool to import the refund order so that it appears in WD reporting. For information on how to use the tool, please read more here.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this challenge. We will send a follow-up email with updates next week. For real-time updates, you can visit the status page. For any additional concerns or questions, please use the 'Ask a question' feature on the bottom right chat bubble on the admin panel or email support@winedirect.com.

Important: Update on Text Message Marketing (SMS)

SMS marketing is an increasingly important part of B2C communication, and as mainstream adoption grows, it's also becoming more regulated and complex. Recent regulatory changes have made it even more imperative that businesses — especially highly regulated wineries — centralize their SMS within dedicated texting platforms designed for their specific and complete texting needs. With these most recent A2P 10DLC changes, we've made the decision to discontinue our ancillary SMS marketing services and recommend our customers transition to one of our partner SMS providers, such as RedChirp or SimpleTexting. Both stand out with a specialized offering tailored to wineries, ensuring your marketing campaigns remain impactful and compliant.

We appreciate your understanding. Our focus remains on equipping you with the best tools to thrive. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact support through the wine glass icon in the bottom right of the admin panel or support@winedirect.com.

If you use text messaging for Multi-Factor Authentication on your SiteAdmin, please visit our newly updated blog.