In this review of Lavu, we will provide a detailed overview of the company’s point-of-sale (POS) system designed for the restaurant industry. We will cover the range of features they offer, including order management, payment processing, inventory control, and customer relationship management. The review will identify the types of restaurants that might benefit from these services. Additionally, we will examine client and customer reviews to highlight common trends and potential concerns. The article will also address the company’s pricing structure, contract terms, and specific features provided. By the end of this review, you will have a clear understanding of whether Lavu meets your restaurant’s POS needs.
About Lavu
Founded in 2010, Lavu is a cloud-based, mobile point-of-sale product intended for restaurants and bars. Lavu is currently only available for the iPad. The company offers its own merchant account solution called LavuPay as well as integrations with Heartland, Moneris, Square, PayPal, Vantiv, and EVO Snap. Lavu also offers management features, kiosks, and a loyalty app. 2019 saw Lavu acquire MenuDrive and Sourcery. In 2022, Lavu partnered with Verifone.
Lavu Homepage
Lavu offers an iPad-based POS solution
Lavu Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews Summary
Total Online Complaints
30+
Live Customer Support
Yes
Most Common Complaint
Product Malfunctions
Low-to-Moderate Complaint Volume
We have identified over 30 negative Lavu reviews, with some characterizing the company unfavorably. However, Lavu holds a 3.6 out of 5 rating on the Apple App Store from 27 ratings. Recurring issues raised by customers include sporadic software performance, less responsive customer support, limited features, and a perceived mismatch between monthly cost and product value. On the positive side, several reviewers commend Lavu for its effectiveness in restaurant settings, suggesting its performance may vary with the usage environment. If you have an experience to share, feel free to add your Lavu review in the comments.
Lavu Lawsuits
No major class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints have been found against Lavu. The company was involved in a legal matter regarding office rent, but this does not pertain to its core merchant services and thus isn’t included in this review. Merchants preferring non-litigious resolutions are advised to consider reporting issues to relevant supervisory organizations.
Lavu Customer Satisfaction Ratings
Online Ratings Summary
Total Complaints
7
Resolved Complaints
1
Under 10 Complaints
Lavu has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2015 and its profile is showing an “A+” rating. The company has received 7 complaints in the past 36 months. 1 of these 7 complaints was resolved by the company to the satisfaction of the merchant. The remaining 6 were resolved to the dissatisfaction of the merchant or received no final response.
What Merchants Say
Lavu has also received 6 negative informal reviews through the BBB. The most recent review describes unexpected charges and poor customer service:
Jan 2021, prepaid for a year of software at two locations. Starting February, got charged ~$80 monthly software at both locations. Called, emailed, refunded, made clear to remove my payment info, etc. Happened again in March. (Added a 3% processing fee with no prior disclosure too!) Then every month thru July. Called and emailed them every time, eventually refunded with slower and slower responses.In Aug, I just started disputing transactions as threatened. Random multiple terminal fees now popping up, still charging monthly. (We only have one terminal.) Also a random $50/mth per location charge for using PayPal for processing was added in July; that was never disclosed to or approved by me. I implemented a credit card stop-pay from the merchant. They have multiple merchant accounts; kept charging. Literally put Lavu on an unnecessary card and closed it just to get them to stop charging me random amounts. Now, Dec 2021, switching back to our former POS and processor now that our year is over despite the extra cost per month because Lavu cannot be trusted with credit card information and does not disclose their charges. Do not ever provide Lavu your credit card information.
Merchants may be able to avoid these situations by seeking top-rated payment processors with excellent customer service.
An “A” Performance Overall
In light of the company’s time in business and complaint rate, we agree with the BBB’s rating at this time, but merchants should be aware that there are good reasons to be skeptical of the BBB’s reviews.
Lavu Fees, Rates & Contract
Rates & Fees Summary
Terminal Fee
$69 Per Month
Swipe Rate
1.00% - 4.99%
Early Termination Fee
Variable
PCI Compliance Fee
Variable
Equipment Lease Terms
12 Month
Lavu POS Pricing
Lavu offers three pricing plans for its POS systems: single terminal, multiple terminal, and enterprise. The single terminal plan costs $69 per month per terminal billed annually. The other two plans charge less per terminal depending on the number of locations and devices required. We would encourage merchants to check out our list of the providers of the best merchant services.
LavuPay Pricing
Lavu’s in-house payment processing, LavuPay, appears to come with custom rates based on each merchant’s business type and processing history. Lavu also offers integrated payment processing through Heartland, Moneris, PayPal, Square, Vantiv, and EVO Snap. Merchants can expect the pricing offered by each of these partners to be similar or identical to that company’s standard merchant account pricing. If you have any knowledge of Lavu’s rates, please share it in the comment section below this review.
No Red Flags
We are unable to locate any Lavu complaints that describe excessive fees or unreasonable pricing. To minimize costs, merchants should first secure a merchant account from a restaurant-friendly merchant account provider and then inquire as to whether Lavu can offer a custom integration for that provider.
Lavu’s advertised pricing tiers
Lavu Employee Reviews & Sales Practices
Jobs & Marketing Summary
Employs Independent Resellers
Yes
Advertises Deceptive Rates
No
Discloses All Important Terms
No
Lavu Features
Lavu offers multiple features optimized for all restaurant operations:
Front of house – Layout and menu customization, menu item hotkeys, hold and fire, offline orders, order status updates, custom discounts, and preauthorized drink tabs
Back of house – iPad kitchen displays, integrated ticket printing, paid and unpaid identifiers, and order timers
Management – Shift scheduling, QuickBooks integration, labor and sales reporting, customer database, multi-language support, access levels, and a pizza-building module
Inventory – Consolidated vendor relationship management, real-time menu integration, location transfer, and warehouse management
Tracking – Real-time reporting of earnings, labor, inventory, and long-term trends
No Deceptive Advertising
Like most other POS providers, Lavu markets itself primarily through an in-house sales staff, a referral program, and resellers. The company does not publicly list any promotions or rate quotes that we consider to be deceptive. We have found no Lavu reviews that mention deceptive sales techniques. This compares favorably to our list ofbest credit card processors. If you suspect that Lavu has misrepresented your rates and fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to find and eliminate billing errors.
Lavu Review Summary
Lavu currently rates as a reliable point-of-sale system for restaurants. The company maintains a generally positive reputation, avoiding predatory sales tactics or unfair contractual conditions. However, it has faced a moderate number of public complaints specifically regarding the product’s functionality and user experience. Therefore, it’s essential for merchants to meticulously review the terms of their agreement with Lavu to ensure it aligns with their specific needs.
Given the competitive landscape of iPad POS systems, restaurant owners should compare Lavu’s offering against other leading options to identify the most suitable solution. This due diligence can help businesses strike a balance between cost and feature set, ultimately securing a POS system that streamlines operations and enhances customer satisfaction. By staying informed and proactive in their selection process, merchants can ensure they choose a system that will best support their restaurant’s unique workflows and growth objectives.
Contact Lavu
Contact & Customer Support
CEO
Saleem S. Khatri
Headquarters
2632 Pennsylvania St NE, Suite D, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110
Please note that we only suggest providers that adhere to strict ethical standards and offer top performing support at extremely competitive pricing. We may earn revenue if choose one of our recommendations.
Reader Comments, Testimonials & Complaints
2 User Reviews
Debrah
Dairy Mart LLC
I’ve notice .05 percent added to my menu items cost before taxes then the extra fee for use of credit card in lieu of cash. My menu you prices are inconsistent because of this causing loss of customers
Thiago Debbie
I am thrilled to share my amazing experience with Lavu! This innovative restaurant management system has truly revolutionized the way we run our business. The seamless integration of ordering, payments, and inventory management has boosted our efficiency and eliminated any operational hiccups.
With Lavu’s user-friendly interface and robust features, our staff quickly adapted to the system, resulting in improved order accuracy and faster table turnover. The real-time analytics and reporting tools have given us valuable insights into customer preferences and sales trends, allowing us to make data-driven decisions that have positively impacted our bottom line.
Beyond the excellent software, Lavu’s customer support team has been outstanding. Their prompt and knowledgeable assistance ensured a smooth transition during the setup process and continued to provide timely support whenever needed.
Lavu is undoubtedly a game-changer for any restaurant looking to streamline operations and enhance customer experience. Kudos to the team for creating such a fantastic product!
Sharing your experience influences our rating and helps other business owners make informed decisions. Promotional content and contact information will not be published. Please provide a detailed summary of your experience.
Any unauthorized copying and reproduction of the content of this page, including all meta data and computer code, is strictly prohibited. While the information in the above article is believed to be accurate as of its publish date, the author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents. The author and publisher shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of this material, which is provided “as is,” and without warranties. Any and all use of trade names and/or marks are for identification purposes only and shall not be construed as a claim of affiliation, or otherwise, with CardPaymentOptions.com, Inc. ("CPO") in any form. The sole purpose of the material presented herein is to alert, educate, and inform readers. It is not intended as legal or financial advice. We may earn revenue if you obtain services from a provider that we recommend. See this page to learn how we support our operations.
Debrah
I’ve notice .05 percent added to my menu items cost before taxes then the extra fee for use of credit card in lieu of cash. My menu you prices are inconsistent because of this causing loss of customers
Thiago Debbie
I am thrilled to share my amazing experience with Lavu! This innovative restaurant management system has truly revolutionized the way we run our business. The seamless integration of ordering, payments, and inventory management has boosted our efficiency and eliminated any operational hiccups.
With Lavu’s user-friendly interface and robust features, our staff quickly adapted to the system, resulting in improved order accuracy and faster table turnover. The real-time analytics and reporting tools have given us valuable insights into customer preferences and sales trends, allowing us to make data-driven decisions that have positively impacted our bottom line.
Beyond the excellent software, Lavu’s customer support team has been outstanding. Their prompt and knowledgeable assistance ensured a smooth transition during the setup process and continued to provide timely support whenever needed.
Lavu is undoubtedly a game-changer for any restaurant looking to streamline operations and enhance customer experience. Kudos to the team for creating such a fantastic product!