Do you have to purchase the Shopify gift cards from Shopify Hardware in order for them to be compatible with Shopify POS and can you purchase gift cards for your customers from a different vendor?
Topic summary
Main issue: Whether Shopify POS requires Shopify-branded gift cards and if third‑party vendor cards can be used.
Key information:
- Official guidance: Shopify-branded cards are not required. Third‑party cards can work if they are compatible with Shopify’s gift card system, but their codes must be manually entered into Shopify POS. Buying from Shopify may be more convenient and can include reporting/analytics.
- Practical feedback: Community members have not found vendors that provide truly “Shopify‑compatible” physical gift cards. Common approaches are: (1) purchase Shopify gift cards, or (2) print gift vouchers on the receipt printer and place them in custom printed wallets.
Open questions/concerns:
- Sourcing for “custom printed wallets” was asked and not answered.
- Frustration expressed about manual entry for non‑Shopify cards, especially since Shopify gift cards are not available in all regions, pushing some to external vendors.
Status: No confirmed third‑party vendor solution or automated integration surfaced. Discussion remains open with unresolved sourcing and regional availability concerns.
Hi, @WaterWayLocal .
Thank you for reaching out!
No, you do not have to purchase Shopify gift cards from the Shopify Hardware store in order for them to be compatible with Shopify POS. You can purchase gift cards from any vendor as long as they are compatible with Shopify’s gift card system. However, if you purchase gift cards from a different vendor, you will need to manually enter the gift card information into your Shopify POS system. This may require additional setup and maintenance, so purchasing gift cards directly from Shopify may be more convenient. Additionally, purchasing gift cards from Shopify may provide you with additional benefits, such as access to gift card reporting and analytics.
Please let me know if you have any further questions! I would love to learn more about your business. What type of products do you sell?
Talk soon,
I have yet to come across any vendors that offer Shopify compatible gift cards. My clients use one of two options:
-
Buy Gift Cards from Shopify
-
Have custom printed wallets to hold a gift voucher from the receipt printer.
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Where do you get the custom printed wallets?
This was helpful, however I dont understand why Shopify would restrict it in that way where codes from non-shopify card vendors must be manually entered. Especially because shopify gift cards arent available in all regions. Therefore we have no choice but to opt for a external vendor to provide the cards.