How do you use a gift card

Q: How does a gift card get activated?

Many gift cards are activated when theyre purchased, so they dont need to be activated by the recipient. However, some do need to be activated by the recipient before they can be used. You can activate a gift card by calling the merchant or accessing the provided URL and inputting the correct activation numbers.

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Table of Contents Show

Purchasing a gift card
Step 1 - Choose a gift card
Step 2 - Choose a delivery method
Step 3 - Complete checkout
Redeeming a gift card
Redeeming gift cards in person
How do you pay with a gift card?
How do you use gift card in store?
How does a gift card get activated?
How do I use a gift card for full balance?

Note: While our most popular guides have been translated into Spanish, some guides are only available in English.

How customers use gift cards

Last updated December 27, 2022 14:01

Sections

Gift cards are unique digital codes that recipients can use as payment in your online store.

When purchasing a gift card, customers will go directly to checkout after clicking Purchase, similar to express checkout. At checkout, the purchaser can choose to email the gift card code to the recipient or themselves.

This guide shows how customers purchase and redeem gift cards. For help creating a gift card, visit Selling gift cards.

Tip: To experience buying and redeeming gift cards like a customer, run a gift card test order.

Purchasing a gift card

Step 1 - Choose a gift card

After you create a gift card, customers can purchase it from your store with these steps:

The customer can click the gift card from its store page, and the gift card’s item page will open.
If you set multiple values, the customer will select a value from the drop-down menu, then click Purchase.
The customer will go directly to the checkout page.

Step 2 - Choose a delivery method

In the Gift Card Delivery box on the checkout page, the customer will choose Email to Recipient or Email to You.

Email to Recipient

If the customer wants to email the gift card to the recipient, they’ll enter this information to include in the email sent to the recipient:

Recipient name
Recipient email (required)
Message (80 character limit)
Sender name

Email to You

If the customer wants to email the gift card to themselves, they’ll enter this information to include in the email:

Recipient name
Message (80 character limit)
Sender name

Step 3 - Complete checkout

To complete checkout, customers will:

Enter their email address and billing information.
Review their information.
Click Purchase.

After the purchase is complete, the gift card will be delivered using the chosen method.

Email to Recipient - The recipient will receive an email with the gift card message and code.
Email to You - The purchaser will receive an email with the gift card details, which they can print. To preview and customize the email customers receive, visit Customer email notifications.

Redeeming a gift card

After the recipient receives their gift card, they can redeem it by purchasing products and entering the gift card code at checkout. They can apply the gift card to any physical, digital, or service product. Customers can't use gift cards to buy subscription products.

If you subscribe to Member Areas, site visitors can use gift cards to purchase memberships to member areas with one-time membership fees. Gift cards can't be used to pay recurring membership fees.

Gift cards apply to the order total, including tax, shipping, and any transaction fees. If the order total exceeds the gift card value, they'll pay the remaining amount using your store's supported payment methods or another gift card.

If their order total is less than the gift card value, they can complete checkout without another payment method. The amount applied and remaining value displays in the gray box and in the order receipt.

Redeeming gift cards in person

Redeeming gift cards is only available in the iOS Squarespace app.

You can redeem a customer's gift card in person using the Squarespace app. Your customer needs to know their gift card code, which they can find in their gift card confirmation email.

Tip: To apply the gift card amount to an in-person sale, follow the steps in Selling in person with Squarespace point of sale.

To redeem some or all of the gift card balance:

Tap Commerce, then tap the + icon in the top-right corner.
Tap Apply gift card code.
Enter the gift card code.
Enter the amount to redeem. The remaining balance displays below it.
Tap Redeem.

You and your customer will receive email receipts for this transaction. The email displays the purchased item as "Gift card redemption," and shows the remaining gift card balance.

How do you pay with a gift card?

If you want to spend your gift card in a store, you hand the card over and they scan it or type in the card number.

How do you use gift card in store?

If you receive a plastic gift card:.

You can swipe or tap the gift card on your POS machine..

Gift card details will be shown on the screen..

Enter the code you have on the gift card..

Enter the value you want to deduct from the card..

You can now checkout to complete the transaction..

How does a gift card get activated?

Many gift cards are activated when they're purchased, so they don't need to be activated by the recipient. However, some do need to be activated by the recipient before they can be used. You can activate a gift card by calling the merchant or accessing the provided URL and inputting the correct activation numbers.

How do I use a gift card for full balance?

If you have a remaining balance on a gift card issued by a retailer, and there isn't anything in the store you want to buy, you have some alternatives: Ask the retailer to give you cash. Some states have laws that require retailers to cash out balances on gift cards they issue.

gift card