Gift cards FAQ

Answers to common questions about selling gift cards.

Last updated August 31, 2024

Gift cards are a special product that recipients can use as payment for orders from your online store. Here are some frequently asked questions about gift cards.

Gift card limitations

  • Gift cards are sold as unique digital codes. Squarespace doesn’t create or ship physical gift cards.
  • At checkout, a gift card’s value is subtracted from the order total. This includes taxes and shipping.
  • Gift cards never expire.
  • When purchasing a gift card, customers go directly to checkout after clicking Purchase. Gift cards don't support custom forms or fields.

Can I sell physical/plastic gift cards?

No. Gift cards are only available through your store as an email.

How do customers redeem a gift card?

To learn more about gift card purchases and redemption, visit How customers redeem gift cards.

Do gift cards cover taxes and shipping?

Yes.

Can I charge tax on gift card purchases?

Purchasing a gift card isn't subject to tax. However, your store's tax rules apply to any order made with a gift card.

Can I gift a gift card to a customer?

If you purchase a gift card from your store, you can have it sent to your customer. It's not possible to gift a gift card without purchasing it. 

How do I stop selling gift cards?

To remove a gift card from your store, open the gift card on its store page and click Delete. This prevents new customers from purchasing the gift card. Previously sold gift card codes remain active. You can also unlist gift cards temporarily.

For more help, visit Deleting and unlisting products.

Can I set an expiration date?

No. Gift cards never expire.

Can I create a custom gift card code?

No. It's not possible to edit or customize a gift card code. 

Can I move gift cards between sites?

No. Gift cards can only be used to buy products on the site that created them.

What happens to gift cards if my site expires?

Gift cards won't expire if your site expires. If you reactivate your site, customers can spend the balance of any existing gift cards.

Can customers split an order between a gift card and a credit card?

Yes. If their order total exceeds the value remaining on their gift card, they can pay the balance using standard payment methods.

Can customers use more than one gift card on an order?

Yes. Customers can apply multiple gift cards to an order.

Can I use less than the full value of my gift card?

When using a gift card, the full value of the gift card is always applied. It's not possible to partially redeem a gift card unless the order total is less than the gift card balance.

Do sale pricing and discounts apply to purchasing gift cards?

No. Sales pricing and discount codes can’t be applied to purchasing a gift card. However, these discounts apply to orders made using a gift card.

Can I refund a gift card?

Yes. You can cancel and refund unused gift cards. Partially used gift cards can't be refunded.

Can I refund purchases made with a gift card?

Yes. Refunding a purchase made with a gift card adds the refunded amount to the gift card's balance.

Can customers buy multiple gift cards in one order? Or purchase a gift card with other products?

No. When purchasing a gift card, customers go directly to checkout after clicking Purchase, similar to express checkout.

Can I duplicate a gift card?

No. It's not possible to duplicate a gift card.

Can I restrict gift cards to certain items?

No. Gift cards can be used for any order of physical, download, or service products, and fixed-amount pricing plans for Digital Products. Gift cards can't be used for subscription products or subscription pricing plans.

Can I let customers set custom values?

No, but you can set multiple gift card values to give your customers more options.

Can customers use gift cards to make purchases through point of sale?

No. You can't accept gift cards in point of sale, but you can redeem some or all of a gift card’s balance in the iOS Squarespace app. To learn more, visit How customers use gift cards.

Can customers buy gift cards through point of sale?

No. Point of sale supports selling physical and service products.

How does the recipient check their balance?

The recipient receives an initial email with the gift card balance. After entering the gift card code at checkout, the remaining balance appears.

What do I do if a customer loses their gift card code?

You can resend the gift email notification from the Orders panel.

Why doesn't the gift code field display during a test checkout?

When you sell a gift card, the gift code field displays at checkout. To make this field show up in test checkouts, you can purchase a gift card and then refund yourself. Even if you refund a test purchase, the gift code field will still be visible at checkout. You can also learn more about the customer experience by visiting How customers use gift cards.

Are gift cards I sold still valid if I leave a plan that supports Commerce?

Before you switch to the Personal plan, we recommend refunding any unused gift card balances because customers won’t be able to redeem them through your site.

Can customers add value to a gift card?

No. It's not possible for customers or merchants to add value to a gift card after it's sold.

Can I change my store's currency after selling a gift card?

No. Ensure your store's currency is correct before you sell a gift card. It's not possible to change your currency later.

Can customers set a specific time to send the email to the recipient?

No. Customers who want to send the email to the recipient later should select the Email to You delivery option at checkout. They can then forward the email or .pdf at the desired time.

Can I accept gift cards from a different eCommerce platform?

No. If you switched to Squarespace from a different platform and your customers have unused gift cards, create discounts with unique promo codes so they can use their remaining balance in Squarespace.

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