Gift cards and certificates are an excellent way to get new and existing customers into your store, and PayGo makes the selling and application of gift cards and certificates simple. 

What’s the difference between a gift card and a gift certificate?

Gift cards and gift certificates are very similar, with just a few minor differences. A gift card is typically an item that has a set dollar range and its own serial number, just like gift cards you can purchase at any big box or department store. A gift certificate, on the other hand, is a little bit more personal. A gift certificate is typically generated on the spot; it can be personalized, purchased for nearly any amount of money, and you can set up your PayGo Software to print it out with a customer’s receipt.

How to Set Up Your PayGo Software to Accept Gift Certificate Sales

It’s worth noting that gift cards and certificates are already set up and ready to sell as items in your PayGo software.

• The default Gift Certificate Item ID is 994
• The default Gift Card Item ID is 999
• The default Store Credit Item ID is 997

For more information on default items, see PayGo’s Default ID Numbers.

You do have the option of changing how you manage your gift certificate sales and tracking; more specifically, you can either have PayGo handle printing and managing gift certificates, or you can use your own system.

To change this preference, go to your central Admin Central screen, accessed through the Menu button. On this screen, click the Workstation Setup button. This will bring you to the Workstation Setup screen.

In the Workstation Setup screen, click on the Invoice tab. In the Invoice Settings box, you will see line 10, which will ask you to set your Gift Certificate Type. You have two choices in the drop-down box: PayGo or External. If you choose PayGo, your software will handle all printing and management of gift certificate serial numbers. However, if you have pre-printed gift certificates, or you would like to track your own serial numbers for gift certificates, then select External.

How To Sell a Gift Card

From your Sales Screen, search for a gift card in your Search Inventory field.

• The default Gift Card Item ID is 999

When a gift card is selected, a pop-up window will ask you to enter a serial number for the card. Once that is entered, another pop-up window will ask you how much the gift card will be sold for.

After all information is entered, you will be directed back to your Sales Screen, where you can either continue adding inventory to the invoice or complete the sale.

How To Sell a Gift Certificate

From your Invoice Screen, search for a gift certificate in your Search Inventory field.

• The default Gift Certificate Item ID is 994

When selected, a window will pop up asking you to fill out the gift certificate’s amount. If you want, you can also add who the certificate is from, who it is to, and an optional message.

NOTE: if you have selected an External tracking system for your gift cards and certificates in your Workstation Setup, a dialog window will pop up requiring you to scan or type the serial number of the gift certificate before it is added to the sale.

After all information is entered, you will be directed back to your Invoice Screen, where you can either continue adding inventory to the invoice or complete the sale.

If you are using the PayGo internal gift certificate system, it will print a copy of the gift certificate after your receipt prints (if you have elected to use External gift certificates/cards, nothing will print).

How to Apply A Gift Card or Certificate to a Transaction

In your Invoice Screen, hit the Redeem GC button located with payment types. A pop-up window will appear and ask to enter or scan the gift certificate or gift card number. Follow those instructions, and the balance on the gift card or certificate will be applied to the transaction.

How to Reload an Existing Gift Card

To reload a gift card, first add a gift card (item number 999) to the Sales Screen as though you’re selling a new gift card. In the pop-up window for entering the gift card’s serial number, you will add the number of the card you’re reloading in the ID # field. Once that is entered, another pop-up window will display the card’s current balance, and ask you to enter the Amount you’ll be adding to the card. After all information is entered, you will be directed back to your Sales Screen, where you can either continue adding inventory to the invoice or complete the sale.