Before you put your storefront in front of customers, place one real order yourself, start to finish. It's the quickest way to know that payment works, the order reaches your staff, and the confirmation email goes out. Ten minutes now saves an awkward first night.
Place a test order
- Open your storefront. Use the View storefront link in the top bar of the admin panel, or just visit your address (
you.menudock.co.uk). - Add an item to the basket and go through checkout exactly as a customer would.
- Pay. If your provider is live, use a real card and keep the order small. You'll refund it in a moment, so it won't actually cost you.
- Finish the order and watch for the confirmation email landing in your inbox.
Check it arrived
Back in the admin panel, open Orders. Your order should be sitting at the top, marked Received once payment cleared.
Now check the other side. On the MenuDock mobile app, signed in with the same account, the same order should have popped up in real time with a sound alert. That's what your kitchen or counter staff will actually use during service. Live orders on mobile covers it.
While you're here, try moving the order through its statuses (received, preparing, ready) so you've seen the flow your staff will follow. Managing orders explains each status.
Refund your test order
Once you're satisfied, refund the test order so you're not charging yourself. Open the order and use its refund option, which sends the money back to the card. Cancel and refund an order walks through it.
What this proves
A clean test run confirms the things that matter most on day one: your payment provider is taking money, your storefront checkout works, orders arrive on both the web panel and the mobile app, and customers get their confirmation email. With that done, you're ready to share your link and take real orders.
Related articles
- Getting started: the 10-minute checklist
- The onboarding checklist and going live
- Managing orders
- Cancel and refund an order
- Live orders on mobile
Need a hand?
Paid but the order never showed in Orders? Don't panic, the payment is safe. Check my order didn't arrive, or email support@menudock.co.uk with your store name and the order time and we'll trace it.