Discounts, Codes & Gift Cards

Overview

StretchShop gives you two ways to reward buyers and drive sales: discounts (percentage, fixed amount, or free shipping, applied by code or automatically) and gift cards (prepaid balances customers redeem at checkout). This guide covers both, including targeting, limits, and bulk code generation.

Discount types

• Percentage — a percent off (for example 15% off).
• Fixed amount — a set amount off in cents (for example 1000 = $10.00 off).
• Free shipping — waives shipping charges.

Create a discount

1. Open Discounts and click New discount.
2. Enter a Title (required) — your internal name.
3. Choose the type (percentage, fixed_amount, or free_shipping) and its value.
4. Decide how it applies:
- Code — set a code buyers enter at checkout (for example WELCOME10).
- Automatic — mark it automatic so it applies whenever its conditions are met, no code needed.
5. Set rules: start/end dates, usage limits, a minimum subtotal (min_subtotal_cents), and whether it's stackable with other discounts.
6. Set scope with applies_to: all products, specific products, or specific collections.
7. Save. The discount is now active (you can later disable it, which is a soft delete).

Bulk-generate unique codes

For influencer drops or one-time coupons, generate many unique codes at once:

1. Open a discount and choose Generate codes.
2. Specify how many codes you want.
3. StretchShop creates that many unique codes tied to the discount, each subject to its rules and limits.

How discounts apply at checkout

When a buyer applies a code to an open, non-empty cart, StretchShop validates that it is active, in date, within usage limits, meets the minimum subtotal, and is applicable to the cart's items — then reflects the savings in the totals. A free-shipping discount is honored when shipping rates are calculated. Invalid codes return a clear reason (disabled, not started, expired, usage exceeded, or not applicable).

Gift cards

Gift cards are prepaid balances customers redeem toward orders.

1. Open Gift cards and click New gift card; set its initial balance and currency. StretchShop assigns a code.
2. Look up a gift card by its code to check the balance (for support requests).
3. Adjust a gift card's balance — add value (a promo top-up or reissue) or deduct it — with a recorded reason.
4. Edit a gift card's status to disable a lost or fraudulent card.

A realistic example

For a launch you create a percentage discount LAUNCH15 (15% off, applies_to the "Summer 2026" collection, minimum subtotal 5000, expires in 14 days, one use per customer, not stackable). For a partnership you generate 500 unique codes off a separate 20% discount for an influencer to distribute. Separately, a customer emails about a $50 gift card; you look it up by code, see a $32.50 remaining balance, and adjust it +$10.00 as a goodwill gesture.

Tips

• Set a minimum subtotal to protect margins on percentage discounts.
• Use usage limits and end dates so promotions expire cleanly.
• Mark seasonal offers automatic so buyers don't need to remember a code.
• Prefer disable over deletion so redemption history stays intact for reporting.

Troubleshooting

• "Discount not applicable" — the cart doesn't meet the scope or minimum subtotal; check the products/collections and cart total.
• "Discount expired" / "not started" — the code is outside its date window.
• "Usage exceeded" — the code hit its usage limit; issue a new code or raise the limit.
• Two discounts won't combine — at least one isn't marked stackable.
• Gift card balance wrong — use lookup to confirm, then adjust with a reason to correct it.