A Miscellaneous Customer is defined in this chapter as a common customer ID used to identify a group of customers. This feature should be used sparingly based on the reasons listed below.
Whenever a sales invoice is processed or whenever a payment is received, EBMS requires that a customer ID be used to identify the invoice recipient or the source of the payment. The need may arise to process a sales invoice to a customer that you never expect to do business with again and about whom you do not wish to maintain detailed information.
A Miscellaneous Customer may also be created in a point-of-sale environment where customer information is not entered for individual sales orders. For example a generic customer may be created for all sales recorded on POS station 1. Enter the Miscellaneous customer ID into the Sales > Options as shown below so that the sales invoice defaults to the Miscellaneous customer each time the invoice is opened.
Miscellaneous customers may also be used for e-commerce website sales. Review the Configuring the Shopping Cart > Creating a Generic Customer section of the e-commerce documentation for more details on creating a miscellaneous customer for an e-commerce site.
It is recommended that you do NOT use a miscellaneous customer for the following situations:
If the sales invoice is not being paid in cash but is charged and will be paid later.
If customer address, telephone numbers or other contact information needs to be recorded for mailing purposes.
If this customer is expected to purchase products again.
If a sales order has been printed and given to the customer.
If the customer is sales tax exempt.
If the product sold includes a warranty or additional services will be rendered relating to the product sold.
If a down payment or deposit was received from the customer for a product listed on the sales order.
If detailed customer history is required.
To maintain customer activity detail such as charges and payments.