How to handle Store Credit and/or Gift Certificates?

[joel.goodhart]

Hello,

I'm not sure if I know the correct way to phrase this idea, but here goes!

My organization has a pottery studio, and there are a lot of people interested in buying credit/gift certificates to our pottery classes as gifts to friends and family. However, I'm having a hard time figuring out what the best way to start implementing gift certificates and/or credit for the studio might be.

Is it possible to create a category in Virtual Terminal called something such as "Gift Credit" which becomes associated with a Contact if purchased? This person would then be able to apply this credit towards a pottery class later in the year?

Alternatively, is it possible to have someone buy a 100% off coupon code for an event such as "pottery class signups"? A function where they don't actually sign up themselves, but they can buy the 100% off coupon then give it to someone else to use later? That would be really helpful!

Any thoughts??

Joel

[CnP.Support]

Good day @Joel,

Interesting idea.

I have a few ideas on how to do this. Let us brainstorm on this and add it.

This will require coming up with a disposable token for the payment. Something that can be used once - hopefully by the intended person.

[joel.goodhart]

I'd love to have a brainstorm session on it. I'm not sure if it could be incorporated into the Discount Plans section of an event, but I feel like it would make sense to be a component there. Maybe have a check box for the entire event or specific levels that allows you to purchase a 100% off coupon to be shared with someone else.

If the box is checked for a level, then perhaps a second button is placed beside the "Add" button? So instead of adding it for yourself, you'd add a coupon code which is emailed to you. You could then share this email or print it out and give it to someone.

That's what I'm thinking right now at least!

[CnP.Support]

Joel,

We worked on a similar idea for "Gift Cards" and this works well with that idea. We have the idea designed but never deployed it as other ideas were moved to the top.

This idea can move in there.. let us spend a little time and possibly include it in release 10.

[joel.goodhart]

I think that'd be awesome! I understand that other things can take priority over this, but I'm really glad to see it being considered. What's the tentative launch date of release 10?

[CnP.Support]

Good day!

It will be end of Q1 or early Q2 in 2016.

It is a major (did I say major?) release - almost 90% of the core code is being re-written with inclusion of Lightening framework. It was scheduled to be released in Q1 but that was before Salesforce introduced its new framework. We had been working on this for over 1 year and just when we had our framework finished they introduced Lightening. Based on that we were forced to redo the entire UI. Did not have much choice there.

Hope that answers your question.