GC keeps replicating - user account shows full amount even after ordering

I'm using version 1.3.8. I'm having a problem that I haven't seen listed (or I've missed).

I set-up everything according to the tutorial for Gift Certificates and made a dummy purchase. All worked great...until I decided to do a few things I thought customers may do.

First off, I made a purchase, but "forgot" to fill in the GC amount to apply to order. It immediately took me to Paypal. So I went back and in the Admin panel it showed the GC had been redeemed, but a new code was created under "Admin" and that initial validation code was now invalid.

So, I went shopping again with the new validation code. This time I did everything right and was able to download my product, but it still showed the same balance available after the purchase and the GC did show as being redeemed in Admin CP. I logged out of that account and back in, but still showed having the same balance as if I had never redeemed the GC. (Again the validation number was invalid if I tried to purchase another item.)

Next, I wanted to see what would happen if I tried to e-mail the amount to someone. So I did. A NEW validation number was then created and the "new customer" (me again) was able to purchase something and yet it showed that the amount of GC had not diminished at all. In Admin, it showed as being redeemed.

I then sent to another one of my e-mail accounts and sure enough, a NEW validation number was created.

Obviously, this could be an issue, though the only validation number ever sent out to the customer was the initial one that was not actually ever used (because it took me to Paypal instead).

So I guess what I need is to find out how to make sure the validation number is only redeemed when someone actually APPLIES the amount to sale and also it needs to show as being used on the customer side of things. Otherwise, it's just a mess for me to have to keep track of.

Can someone please help me?

I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense, it's 4:00 AM for me and I'm tired. :wink:

Thank you in advance.

Hi,

You have me confused as well.

Firstly an explanation of the 'flow' of events when someone purchases/receives a Gift certificate.

Method 1.

A customer purchases a Gift Certificate from your store.

If queueing is disabled. The value of the Gift Certificate will be available immediately otherwise it will only be available once admin has 'released' the value in admin.

No Validation code will be created.

Method 2.

A customer uses there own Gift Certificate balance to send a GV to some one else.

The customers GV balance will be reduced.
An entry will appear in admin noting that a GV has been sent, a new redemption code will be created.

Once the recipient redeems the GV, the GV will be marked as invalid in admin, so that it cannot be redeemed again.

Method 3.

Admin sends a gift certificate to a customer.

An entry will appear in admin detailing the GV and its redemption code. Once the customer redeems the GV, it will be marked as such in the admin, and the GV value will be assigned to the customers account.

To recap. Whenever a GV is sent to someone, whether via admin or by a customer who has som GV value in their acccount, a new redemption code will be created. This is necessary so that redemptions may be tracked and the value assigned to the correct person.

However, you also seem to suggest that when purchasing via paypal, and using some GV balance to fully/partly pay the purchase, the GV amount was not reduced.

If this is the case, can you.

1. Tell us which paypal payment module you used.

2. Tell us the total value of the order, the amount of GV used. The balance owing after applying the GV amount.

3. What does your 'My Account' entry show for the order. (ie does it show that a GV was used for the purchase.

4. did you receive emails from both Paypal and the store for the purchase made, and what details do these show for the transaction

Thanks

So sorry for the confusion.

1. I do not have the GC's set to automatic. I have to approve them.

2. I did not actually use Paypal to purchase product, but went in and put the redemption code for purchase, but did NOT put the applied amount, so said amount was $0. That is why I was taken to Paypal (Module: PayPal IPN), but did NOT actually purchase anything. However, in admin, it showed the redemption code had been redeemed, when the dollar amount was $0 that should have been applied to the redemption code. Apparently, this triggered some sort of automatic redemption code in Admin (I didn't create it) and the original redemption code was rendered "redeemed" and could no longer be used. In the customer account, it still showed $5 available (the original amount), but the code was no good.

3. Next I used the new code to purchase a book and get a notice that my GC was applied. All is well. I get my download and think everything works, but in my account, it still shows I have a $5 balance (the original amount) on my GC (customer view). In Admin. the redemption code is now showing as redeemed.

4. As the customer, I test this to see if I can redeem again and I can't. Invalid code - which is good. However, I can e-mail my $5 balance which shows in my account to another recipient and sure enough a new code is created in Admin AND (I told you this wrong last night) an e-mail was automatically generated to new recipient of GC with new redemption code listed. NOT good!

5. Basically, if someone knew there was this glitch, the replicating could go on forever.

HELP!

Thanks in advance.

~ D

uhdayna:

2. I did not actually use Paypal to purchase product, but went in and put the redemption code for purchase, but did NOT put the applied amount, so said amount was $0.That's perfectly normal.
   When you type in a redemption code, that's ALL it does ... it redeems the code and increases your GV balance in your account.

Perhaps you're simply confused because you expected that entering a redemption code would also choose to use the full balance as payment ... but that is NOT an automatic process. You must always manually specify how much GV balance you wish to claim on a given purchase.

uhdayna:

That is why I was taken to Paypal (Module: PayPal IPN),I'm guessing it auto-selected PayPal because you only have PayPal available as payment method. And, since the Submit button on that page is the SAME button that also acts on redeeming your GV code, it automatically did what it was told to do: redeem a GV code, use $0 GV for payment, AND select PayPal as your choice of payment for the outstanding amount.

uhdayna:

in my account, it still shows I have a $5 balance (the original amount) on my GC (customer view). In Admin. the redemption code is now showing as redeemed.
Exactly. That's all normal, since you never actually "spent" any of the GV balance yet.

As DrByte has suggested, I think you are confusing redeeming a Gift Voucher with actually using the Gift Voucher to pay for a purchase.

If in checkout, you enter a gift voucher redemption code, that gift voucher WILL NOT be applied against the balance, you have to redeem the GV first.

Thats why I asked for you to look at the order details in your 'My Account' section, to see whether any GV value, had actually been applied against the order.

Please read the contents of the gv faq, a link should be in your store in the Information sidebox

Thanks to both of you, but I figured out what the problem was.

The actual GC process worked perfectly...what messed me up was that for some reason the default in the GV Coupons for New Signup Gift Voucher Amount was set to $5. So when I e-mailed the GC to my new e-mail address, I had to create a new account and when I purchased an item with the GC, an ADDITIONAL $5 was added to my account because I was a new customer.

I didn't even read the e-mail that was received in my e-mail until later this afternoon stating this and then I hurried and turned that option off!

Thanks so much!

~ D

lol - don't ya just love having so many handy features available!