How gift certificates work

A gift certificate (shoppers see it as a gift card) is a code with a value, for example GC-7KQM-… worth ₹500. Whoever has the code types it at checkout, and the amount is taken off what they pay.

• It is a payment, not a discount. The order keeps its full price and tax; the certificate part shows as Paid by gift certificate on the order and the invoice, and the customer pays the rest with any payment method. If the certificate covers everything, nothing else is needed.
• It can be used more than once. If an order uses only part of the value, the rest stays on the code for next time, until the balance reaches zero.
• Anyone with the code can use it. Treat a code like cash.
• It is applied after discounts. Coupons and promotions come off first; the certificate then pays from what is left.

There are two ways a certificate comes to exist:

1. Shoppers buy one on your store at /gift-cards and pay online. The code is emailed to the person they are giving it to (see Sell gift cards on your store).
2. You create one in the admin, for example after selling one in person or as a prize (see Create a gift certificate).

Gift certificates are different from vouchers (a discount code) and the wallet (credit tied to one customer's account).