Do Gift Certificates Expire

I issued three GCs back on 4/5/06 to a friend to give away as a prize. She finally gave one of these out over the weekend, but when the customer went to the checkout, it wouldn't take the code. I did some checking, and all three of the codes were showing that they were redeemed on 5/5/06. I checked my orders for that day, and none of them had been used. That all leads me to believe that GCs expire after a month. Anyone know for sure?

No- Gift Certificates do not expire.

I just think it's pretty weird that all three of the GCs I issued show as being redeemed exactly one month from the date they were issued? They had not even been given out to anyone until yesterday, 5/8, so there is no way someone could have used the code on 5/5. Plus, I checked all of my orders for 5/5, the day it says they were redeemed, and there we no GCs used on that day.

Are you sure you made Gift Certificates and not Coupons?

No, they were defintely gift certificates, because I had to email them to myself to get the codes.

I was trying to create these gift certificates but I can't find the feature on how to create one. I instead created a discount coupon. :unsure:

Can you show how to make one (that do not expire)? You see I am still trying to establish our shopping cart.

Thanks:smile:

Trying to locate guide on how to start selling gift certificates within zencart.
Unsure if I add gift certificate as I would normal product.
Thanks for your help,
BB

Creating Gift Certificates or Gift Vouchers does take a little thought as these are a special kind of Product ...

1 Make sure that you have installed the Modules ... Order Totals ... Gift Certificates

2 Create a Product

NOTE: Gift Certificates need to be marked as -

Product is Virtual: Yes, Skip Shipping Address

NOTE: Gift Certificates must have a Model number that starts with the word: GIFT

This much also be written in uppercase as GIFT not gift or Gift or gIFt ... use the start of the products_model as: GIFT

You may include anything you like, not case sensative, in the Model providing that the first 4 letters are exactly: GIFT

Did I mention that the model must start with the word: GIFT in all CAPs? :blink:

3 Gift Certificates are CASH - this means there is no expiration on them

4 Gift Certificates can be emailed from one customer to another

NOTE: this could happen 100 times ... but first customer to claim the Gift Certificate wins!

This means even if 1 person emailed the Gift Certificate redemption code to 27 people ... only 1 person will be able to claim that Gift Certificate amount

Thank you Linda for the advise.:thumbsup:

I will follow your instruction and see if it's going to work.

jordymacsmom:

I issued three GCs back on 4/5/06 to a friend to give away as a prize. She finally gave one of these out over the weekend, but when the customer went to the checkout, it wouldn't take the code. I did some checking, and all three of the codes were showing that they were redeemed on 5/5/06. I checked my orders for that day, and none of them had been used. That all leads me to believe that GCs expire after a month. Anyone know for sure?

I think I have figured out what has happened here. You need to find out exactly how your friend gave the Gift Certificate. They have to sent from the cart using the program so that they are validated properly.

Here's how it works - you sent her a GC from the Admin.

Friend gets the notification she has a GC. She redeems the GC and the money is credited to her GC Account. She needs to go to your shop and use the system to send the money to someone else who then has to redeem the GC and it will be credited to their account and then they can spend it.

As usual, I'm probably missing something obvious, but where/how does one allocate the Redemption code for a Gift Certificate which the customer can buy, as opposed to a Coupon which the shop owner can award?

I believe they are system generated when the Gift Certificate is purchased.

Also make sure you don't have any other products have a model name that starts with GIFT or you'll end up with a big mess like me. I was selling physical gift cards and virtual gift certificates. model numbers GIFT_CARD and GIFT_CERT. Guess what? we mailed them their cards and they also got credited with a gift cert value for the same amount.