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Gift Cards and Promo Codes
Several different things reduce what a shopper pays, and they are easy to confuse. They are not the same and they do not behave the same way.
What you can do with it
Redeem a gift card
A gift card carries a balance and is redeemed against an order at checkout.
Create and share a gift card
Where a store enables it, shoppers can create a gift card from their account area, and copy its code to pass on.
Enter a promo code
Promo codes are entered at checkout and checked against the order. A code can be refused because it has expired, because it does not apply to what is in the cart, or because its conditions are not met.
Copy a deal code
Deal codes can be copied from the store with a tap, ready to paste at checkout or share.
Telling them apart
| What it is | Where it comes from | |
|---|---|---|
| Gift card | A balance to spend | Bought or created, then shared |
| Promo code | A rule that discounts an order | Published by the brand |
| Deal | A promotion with its own page | Browsed or linked to |
| Reward | Something earned | Loyalty campaigns |
| Points | A balance earned by shopping | Accumulated over time |
The practical distinction: a gift card is money, a promo code is a rule. A gift card with a balance works on almost anything; a promo code works only where its conditions are met.
All of it happens at checkout
Browsing a deal page, holding points or having earned a reward does not by itself change a total. The reduction is applied during checkout.