Configuring description settings for gift certificates (custom amount to expiry date)

Customize your Gift Certificates with clear names, categories, and summaries to help Customers easily understand and purchase them. These description settings control how Gift Certificates appear in your inventory and on your booking page.

Learn how to allow your Customers to specify a custom amount, discount gift certificates, price the gift certificate, and configure start and expiry dates.

New to Gift Certificates? Read the first article in this series for an introduction to the Gift Certificates feature.

Accessing the features mentioned in this article

Where can I find this feature using the top menu?

• Inventory > Gift Certificates > Create Gift Certificate (button) > Details
   

What more do I need to use this feature?

• A plan that includes Gift Certificates.
• The Gift Certificates feature is activated within your account (Manage > Integrations).
• Admin or restricted permissions to Manage Gift Certificates and Manage Gift Certificate Templates.
   

Which Checkfront version supports this feature - classic items, classic products, or both?

• This feature is available in both our classic items version using classic items (Inventory > Items) and our classic products version using classic products (Inventory > Products).  → Learn more about products

The following configuration settings are available related to...

By default, the system offers gift certificates at a fixed price. If you want the Customer to specify the gift certificate amount:

1. Turn ON the Custom Amount setting. This action turns off and hides the single Price amount setting.
2. Determine the acceptable range for the custom amount by specifying the Minimum amount of Gift Certificate and Maximum amount of Gift Certificate, for example, from $25 to $500.

This custom amount field appears as a single amount input field for the Booker. In the next step of the Gift Certificate Template Builder, you can preview what this looks like.

Would you like to offer gift certificates at discounted rates during the off-season or select sales promotions throughout the year? The Gift Certificate Sales settings allow you to do just that. 

1. Start by entering the Sales Dates for your offering.
2. Specify the Percentage off, e.g., 10%. A preview of the amount displays next to your entry, e.g., $10.00 $9.00.
3. Repeat this process for every unique discount offer by clicking the +Add a Discount button.

Date ranges must not overlap Gift certificate discount date ranges must not overlap.

The discounted rate is displayed on the Booking pages and on the Booking Invoice to communicate the savings to your Guests.

Reporting of gift card balances You can report on the Paid Balance and Bonus Balance of issued Gift Certificates via the Gift Certificates page. Learn more here: Reporting on issued gift certificates

Redeemable for given value Gift certificates are redeemable for their given value, not for the amount of the purchase price.

By default, the system offers gift certificates at a fixed price. You can enter the amount in the Price field. The price is then redeemable for bookings at a future date. For example, if the Customer rents a boat for $200, a $100 gift certificate would cover half of that! The Customer can then pay the remaining balance with their credit card.  

This option is disabled if you have the Custom Amount setting enabled.

When determining the date the gift certificate is valid by default, you have two choices under the Gift Certificate Start Date setting: Purchase Date or a Specific Date.

• Purchase Date:
  • If you opt for the Purchase Date, the system automatically sets the date as the time of purchase.
• Specific Date: 
  • If you opt for the Specific Date, a small calendar picker opens, enabling you to select any Date in the future. The gift certificate is not redeemable until this date. This option is excellent if you want the gift certificates to be redeemable only during a specific period of the year, for example, during your off-season.

Delivery date as start date If you Allow customized delivery dates under Additional options, the Purchase Date option is replaced with Delivery Date. See below under Additional Options for more information.

The Gift Certificate Expiry Date setting enables you to specify the date after which the gift certificate becomes invalid. Gift certificates are valid until the end of the day on this date.

• Never: Selecting Never leaves the gift certificate expiry date completely open.
• Specific Date: You can also use the calendar date picker to select a Specific Date.
• Days after Purchase: If you selected the Purchase Date for the template's valid from setting in the previous step, a third option becomes available for the expiry date. This option allows you to select the number of Days after Purchase that the gift certificate expires.  
  
   

Days after delivery as expiry date If you Allow customized delivery dates under Additional options, the Days after Purchase option is replaced with Days after Delivery. See below under Additional Options for more information.

• Can I charge tax on a gift certificate purchase?

  Gift certificates in Checkfront are non-taxable. Instead, booked inventory paid for with a gift certificate can be taxed according to your settings.

Next Steps

Next, we examine the configuration of settings within the additional options of the Gift Certificate Builder.

< Configuring description settings (category, name, and summary)     |   Configuring description settings (additional options) >