Gift Cards At a Glance

We have a variety of Gift Card options available for IndieCommerce and IndieLite users who want to offer Gift Cards to customers this holiday season!

Please note: Gift Cards on IndieCommerce and IndieLite cannot be used to purchase ebooks and audiobooks.

Please also be sure to enable a payment method that matches the gift card or online gift code option of your choosing, as mentioned below, to allow customers to pay with their gift card or online gift code.  This can be done at Store > Configuration > Payment methods; if you don't see the appropriate payment method available, please email [email protected].

PRODUCT OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE

1. Gift Card (IndieCommerce & IndieLite) - For stores that have their own store gift cards: This feature creates a custom gift card product for the site, which customers can purchase to receive a physical gift card for your store.  IMPORTANT: These gift cards cannot be redeemeed in real-time on the website. Stores selling store gift cards online should use the Custom Checkout Pane 1 option (see below)
   1. Can customize the gift card product by uploading a photo of your store gift card
   2. Can add mulitple gift card products, one for each design
   3. Add an accompanying block, linked to the product
   4. Offer FREE gift card shipping method
   5. Can have any denomination

• Examples of IndieCommerce stores: McLean and Eakin, Watermark Books
• Examples of IndieLite stores: The Galaxy Bookshop, Homer Bookstore

2. Givex (IndieCommerce only) For stores that use Givex gift cards: Givex is a third-party company that IndieCommerce has integrated with. Customers can purchase the physical gift cards online or in-store and use the gift cards for payment online or in-store. The main advantage of this feature is the real-time redemption.  Customers can check the card’s balance from within the site during checkout.  In order to sell Givex gift cards, you will first need an account with Givex.  Physical and e-gift cards can be sold on the site; please note that Givex has additional set-up and fees for e-gift cards.   More information on Givex is available here.
   1. Can customize the gift card product by uploading a photo of your store gift card
   2. Can add mulitple gift card products, one for each design
   3. Add an accompanying block, linked to the product
   4. Offer FREE gift card shipping method
   5. Can have any denomination
   6. Real-time online balance check
   7. Real-time online redemption

• Example of e-gift cards and physical gift cards with Givex: Warwick's
• Example of e-gift card: Flyleaf Books

3. Online Only Gift Codes (IndieCommerce only) - For stores looking for an e-gift card option with real time redemption:  This feature provides an online-only gift code product, along with management tools to handle balance adjustments and creating codes in bulk.  These codes also allow for real-time redemption at checkout when used as a payment method.  Please see full details on Online Only Gift Codes at our Help Center.

1. Can customize the online gift code product by uploading a photo of your store gift card or other image
2. Can add mulitple gift card products, one for each design
3. Add an accompanying block, linked to the product
4. Can have any denomination
5. No shipping required; the code is emailed to recipient upon order completion
6. Real-time online balance check
7. Real-time online redemption
8. Stores can create codes in bulk for distribution

• Example of Online Only Gift Codes: Flying Pig Books, The Last Bookstore

Stores looking to have multiple gift options can use a combination of these options to fit the store's needs.

• Example: Brilliant Books uses Option 1 for physical store gift cards on the site and Option 3 to offer e-gift cards to customers.

GIFT CARD PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS AT CHECKOUT

1. Online Only Gift Code (IndieCommerce only): This method is tied directly to the Online Only Gift Code feature above and allows customers to pay using a gift code sent to them. The gift code balance is verified and redeemed during checkout and can be combined with credit card payment.
    
2. Givex Gift Card (IndieCommerce only): This payment method is only for stores that work with Givex.  Customers enter their gift card number(s) and if the balance total does not cover the balance of the order, they are prompted to enter credit card information for the remaining balance.
    
3. Custom Checkout Pane 1 (IndieCommerce only): For stores that offer store gift cards, one of the custom checkout panes on IndieCommerce can be configured to collect gift card numbers at checkout.  Customers enter their gift card number but also pay with a credit card or other payment method, should the balance not cover the order total.  More on using this payment method is available here.

For IndieLite stores: IndieLite stores can now use the new Store Gift Card pane on their site to collect Store Gift Card information, similar to the Custom Checkout Pane 1.  This is a custom pane that can be used on the checkout page for customers to enter their gift card number, rather than the number being entered into the order comments, making it easier to keep track of information. We have more information on this feature here.

ORDER PROCESSING

• For Online Only Gift Code order processing, please see our Help Documentation.
• We have additional information on processing orders with gift cards as well.

If you have any questions, please write to [email protected].