How To Check Your Shopify Gift Card Balance?

In this e-commerce world, where online shopping has become a trend, Shopify gift card has become an important feature that business owners have to consider when building their e-commerce platforms. 

Shopify gift card has proven vital in boosting sales and enhancing customer loyalty. It is a convenient gifting option that store owners can give to their customers. Hence, every e-commerce website nowadays displays the Shopify gift card feature.

In today’s article, let’s explore every detailed information about Shopify gift cards and ways to manage your Shopify gift card balance effectively.

What is a Shopify gift card balance?

A Shopify gift card balance represents the amount of money available on a Shopify gift card, which can be employed for acquiring goods and services from any Shopify merchant.

These balances are digitally stored and can be accessed either by the gift card holder or the seller. Gift card holders can monitor their balance through the Shopify gift card page or by contacting the merchant. Merchants, on the other hand, can review gift card balances via their Shopify admin panel.

Shopify gift card balances are versatile, as they can cover expenses related to all products and services offered on a Shopify store, encompassing not only the cost of items but also associated shipping expenses, taxes, and duties.

What sets Shopify gift card balances apart is that they do not have an expiration date and can be employed multiple times. If the balance on a gift card is insufficient to pay for a purchase in full, the gift card holder has the flexibility to cover the remaining amount using an alternative payment method.

In essence, Shopify gift card balances serve as a convenient and adaptable means of giving and receiving gifts. Moreover, they play a significant role in supporting small businesses and fostering repeat customer engagement.

Why does checking gift card balances matter?

Checking gift card balances is important for several reasons:

• Managing Finances: For customers, checking gift card balances is a way to keep track of their available funds and make informed spending decisions. It helps them avoid overspending and ensures they have sufficient funds to cover their purchases.
• Avoiding Overdraft: When using a gift card as a payment method, customers need to know the exact balance to prevent overdraft or declined transactions. This is especially crucial for online and in-store purchases where customers may not see the remaining balance.
• Planning Purchases: Customers may want to plan their purchases based on the available balance. By checking the gift card balance, they can decide what items or services they can afford and what they should save for future transactions.
• Providing Customer Service: For merchants, checking gift card balances is essential for providing good customer service. Customers often inquire about their gift card balances, and merchants must be able to provide accurate and up-to-date information.
• Preventing Fraud: Monitoring gift card balances helps in preventing fraud. By verifying balances, both customers and merchants can identify unauthorized or fraudulent transactions and take appropriate action.
• Offering Support: When customers encounter issues or have questions about their gift cards, being able to check and provide balance information demonstrates excellent customer support. This can help build trust and loyalty.
• Compliance: In some regions, there are legal requirements for merchants to disclose gift card balances and expiration dates. Ensuring that balances are accurately checked and communicated helps businesses comply with these regulations.
• Accounting and Reporting: For business owners, keeping track of gift card balances is essential for accounting and financial reporting. It allows them to account for liabilities associated with outstanding gift card balances.
• Inventory and Stock Management: Checking gift card balances assists retailers in handling their inventory and monitoring stock quantities effectively. If many customers redeem gift cards, the business needs to ensure it has enough products or services available.

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How to Check Shopify Gift Card Balance with Shopify  Admin Panel

Shopify offers a simple method to check the remaining balance on any gift card issued in your store. Here’s a streamlined guide to help you navigate the process in just 4 steps:

Step 1: Access Your Admin Panel

Head over to the Shopify website and log in to your store’s admin panel using your credentials.

Step 2: Locate Gift Cards

Once logged in, navigate to the “Products” section on the left sidebar. Under “Products,” you’ll find “Gift Cards” as an option. Click on it.

Step 3: Find the Specific Card

This will display a list of all your issued gift cards. You can either scroll through the list or utilize the search bar to locate the specific card you’re interested in.

Step 3: View Balance and Details

Simply click on the chosen gift card to access its details page. Here, you’ll find the crucial information you need, including the current remaining balance. Additionally, you can review details like purchase date, activation status, and even usage history (if applicable).

Optional extras:

This page also empowers you to manage the gift card further. You can:

• Adjust balance: If needed, you can add funds or even decrease the balance directly from this page.
• Deactivate the card: If a gift card needs to be deactivated for any reason, you can do so here as well.

Greatest Shopify Gift Card Balance Apps

Checking Shopify gift card balances is made even easier and more efficient with the help of various apps available in the Shopify App Store. These apps offer additional features and functionalities beyond the built-in Shopify Panel options, enhancing your gift card management capabilities.

1. Gift Card Pro: Gift Card Suite

Gift Card Pro is a comprehensive gift card solution for Shopify that emphasizes customization and advanced features. It caters to merchants looking for a flexible way to manage and design gift cards.

Key Features:

• Scheduled delivery for special occasions
• Customizable gift card designs with various themes
• Ability to add video messages to gift cards
• Bulk gift card creation
• Automatic balance tracking
• Integration with loyalty programs
• Gift card codes for physical cards

Pros:

• High degree of customization for branding
• Unique video message feature
• Advanced scheduling options
• Supports physical gift card printing

Cons:

• Can be overwhelming for users who need a simple solution
• More expensive than some basic gift card apps

Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month with a free trial available.

Ideal for: Merchants who prioritize custom branding, want to offer a unique gift card experience (e.g., with video messages), and need advanced features like scheduling and bulk gift card creation.

2. Go Gift Cards

Go Gift Cards is a user-friendly app that focuses on making it easy for customers to purchase and send gift cards. It’s a good choice for merchants who want a simple, streamlined solution.

Key Features:

• Easy-to-use interface for customers
• Quick purchasing and sending process
• Customizable gift card templates
• Option to send gift cards via email or SMS
• Balance tracking

Pros:

• Very user-friendly for both merchants and customers
• Affordable pricing
• Focuses on core gift card functionality

Cons:

• Lacks some of the advanced features found in other apps
• Limited customization options compared to Gift Card Pro

Pricing: Starts at $4.99/month with a free trial available.

Ideal for: Merchants who want a simple, affordable gift card solution and prioritize ease of use for their customers.

3. GiftKart: Cashback & Gift Card

GiftKart offers cashback rewards and the ability to issue refunds as store credit, expanding beyond gift cards. It’s a good option for merchants looking to enhance their customer loyalty programs.

Key Features:

• Gift card functionality
• Cashback rewards for customers
• Store credit for refunds
• Referral program integration

Pros:

• Combines gift cards with other loyalty incentives
• Encourages repeat purchases through cashback and store credit
• Can help boost customer engagement

Cons:

• Might not be suitable for merchants who only need basic gift card features
• Requires more setup and management compared to simple apps

Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month with a free trial available.

Ideal for: Merchants who want to offer a comprehensive loyalty program that includes gift cards, cashback rewards, and store credit.

4. iziGift – Gift Cards & Rewards

iziGift emphasizes personalization and creating a unique gifting experience for customers. It’s a good choice for merchants who want to focus on custom designs and targeted delivery.

Key Features:

• Customizable gift card designs
• Personalized messages
• Delivery via email or SMS
• Gift card balance tracking
• Rewards program integration

Pros:

• Strong focus on personalized gift cards
• Easy delivery through multiple channels
• Integrates with rewards programs for better customer engagement

Cons:

• Might lack some of the advanced features of other apps
• Pricing can be higher than some basic options

Pricing: Starts at $14.99/month with a free trial available.

Ideal for: Merchants who want to offer highly personalized gift cards, focus on customer engagement, and are willing to pay a bit more for these features.

Best Practices for Gift Card Balance Checking

As a store owner, managing gift card balances and ensuring a positive experience for your customers is crucial. Here are some best practices for gift card balance checking:

1. Quick and intuitive process

A quick and intuitive process is needed to prioritize the customer experience. In the fast-paced world of online shopping, customers expect efficiency and ease of use. 

By offering a process that is both quick and intuitive, you reduce friction and frustration, encouraging customers to check their balances and continue shopping on your platform. This not only enhances the user experience but can also lead to increased sales and customer loyalty. 

2. Secure authentication

Secure authentication adds a layer of protection for both customers and the business. For this reason, it is important to maintain best practices for checking Shopify gift card balances.

By implementing authentication, such as requiring customers to log in to their accounts or verify their identity before checking a gift card balance, you can safeguard against potential fraud and unauthorized access. 

This instills trust and confidence in the process, reassuring customers that their financial information is handled securely. It also helps protect your business from potential losses due to unauthorized use of gift cards. 

3. Multiple check methods

Implementing multiple check methods is a great choice if you want to cater to diverse customer preferences and needs. Not all customers may be comfortable or familiar with the same checking methods. 

By offering various options, such as online checking, in-store checking, or even mobile app-based checking, you ensure that customers can access their balance in the most convenient way for them. 

Multiple check methods cater to diverse customer preferences and needs

This flexibility enhances the customer experience, making it easier for everyone to engage with their gift cards. It also demonstrates that your business is adaptable and customer-focused, which can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, ultimately benefiting your Shopify store’s reputation and bottom line.

4. Real-time balance updates

Real-time balance updates provide customers with the most accurate and up-to-date information. This guarantees that customers can make well-informed choices about their purchases and minimizes the risk of discrepancies. 

With real-time updates, customers can confidently use their gift cards, knowing exactly how much value remains on them. This not only enhances the customer experience but also reduces the likelihood of disputes and errors. 

It shows that your business is committed to transparency and accuracy, ultimately building trust and satisfaction among your customers, which can result in increased sales and customer loyalty.

5. Email and SMS alerts

Email and SMS alerts actively engage customers and remind them to use their gift cards. Sending periodic notifications about gift card balances not only encourages customers to check their balances but also prompts them to consider making purchases. 

These alerts serve as a valuable marketing tool, keeping your brand as the primary focus in customers’ thoughts and potentially leading to increased sales and customer loyalty. 

Moreover, it enhances the overall customer experience by providing timely and convenient reminders, which can positively impact your business reputation and customer retention.

6. Integration with loyalty programs

Integration with loyalty programs is a way to add value for customers by creating a seamless and rewarding experience. 

When gift card balances are linked with loyalty programs, customers can earn rewards or points through their gift card usage, fostering loyalty and incentivizing further engagement with your store. 

This integration encourages customers to check their balances, use their gift cards, and make repeat purchases, all while enjoying the benefits of a comprehensive loyalty program. 

It creates a win-win situation: Customers receive additional incentives, and your store gains increased sales, customer retention, and a strong brand reputation as a customer-focused business.

7. Transaction history

Including a transaction history in your gift card balance-checking process can enhance transparency and accountability for customers and your business. 

Transaction history allows customers to review their previous gift card usage, track purchases, and verify the accuracy of their balance. It provides peace of mind and helps in resolving any discrepancies or concerns. 

For your business, transaction history is a valuable tool for auditing, customer support, and fraud prevention. It demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction, fosters trust, and ultimately contributes to a positive customer experience, which can result in higher sales and greater customer loyalty.

8. Accessibility and inclusivity

Accessibility and inclusivity are important to ensure that the Shopify gift card balance checking process is open to all customers, regardless of their abilities or preferences. 

A diverse customer base may have varying needs, including individuals with disabilities who depend on assistive technologies to access digital platforms. 

Ensuring that your gift card balance checking process complies with accessibility standards, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and is compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies, enables a wider audience to engage with your business. 

This commitment to inclusivity meets legal requirements. Plus, it showcases your brand as customer-focused and socially responsible, potentially broadening your customer base and fostering a positive reputation.

9. Multilingual support

If you aim to serve a wide customer demographic and expand your reach to international markets, you should consider multilingual support.

By offering the option to check gift card balances in multiple languages, you eliminate language barriers, making the process accessible to a wider range of customers. This demonstrates cultural sensitivity and inclusivity, which can attract a global audience and promote a positive brand image. 

Additionally, it minimizes potential misunderstandings or errors during the balance-checking process, ensuring that customers can confidently engage with their gift cards. Thus, it enhances customer satisfaction and potentially leads to increased sales and loyalty in both local and international markets.

10. Feedback mechanism

Lastly, you can not miss the feedback mechanism, as it enables customers to share their experiences and voice any concerns or suggestions. Offering a channel for customers to offer feedback on the balance-checking process enables you to continuously improve and refine the user experience. 

Customer input can uncover pain points, technical issues, or potential enhancements that may not be immediately apparent, thus allowing you to make necessary adjustments to the process. 

This commitment to actively listening to customers and acting on their feedback fosters a culture of continuous improvement. It demonstrates that your business values their input, which can result in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Conclusion

In conclusion, managing and checking your Shopify gift card balance effectively is essential for your customers and your business’s growth and reputation. By implementing the best practices outlined in this article, you can streamline the gift card process, enhance the customer experience, and drive sales.