Gift Cards &
Liabilities FAQ
This guide answers all frequently asked Integrated Gift Card and liability questions. From becoming familiar with gift card options and the setup process to learning how to accept deposits and gift certificates, we’re here to help you gain a quick understanding and point you toward additional resources.
Table of Contents
General Questions
How much do Integrated Gift Cards cost?
Prices vary based on package and card choice.
Visit our online store to view all available options and prices.
NOTE: Integrated Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
Can Integrated Gift Cards be used internationally?
Integrated Gift Cards are only available in the United States at this time.
NOTE: Integrated Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
How do I order or re-order gift cards?
If you are new to Integrated Gift Cards, contact us here to get started. If you have ordered gift cards before, you can re-order them from our online store. Learn more below.
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
Can gift cards be redeemed at all my locations?
Yes, if you have multiple locations your customers will be able to redeem gift cards at each location. However, each location’s BackOffice will only track its own liabilities. So, if a gift card is purchased at one location and redeemed at another, the liability reporting for each location will appear slightly skewed. We recommend referring to the Gift Card Portal for even liability reporting as all locations will report to one Gift Card Portal account setup under your main account.
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
Note that each location must be individually set up for Integrated Gift Cards if you’d like them to be redeemable at all your locations. See our Gift Card Setup article to learn more about getting started.
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
What’s the difference between personalized and custom cards?
Personalized
For personalized cards, you choose from a list of card design and font options. Note that personalized card styles shown below are subject to change. Visit our store to view your personalized gift card options.
Custom
Custom cards are fully customizable. Purchase our design service to have custom artwork designed for you.
Experienced Photoshop and Illustrator users can follow our design specifications to design their cards.
Do gift card orders include envelopes or card holders?
No, envelopes and card holders are not included with gift cards. These accessories must be purchased at the time of placing a gift card order. View our gift card options and place an order here.
How do I order gift card envelopes or holders?
Envelopes, card holders, and other accessories can only be purchased when placing a gift card order. When ordering gift cards, envelopes and card holders can be added to the order after you select a gift card design and enter your business information. Place a gift card order here.
Why didn’t I receive a proof after placing my order?
Proofs are provided while placing your order. You must approve the proof before submitting your order. Proofs will not be emailed to you unless you’ve chosen to use the Lightspeed Retail Design Service.
Can I return gift cards I purchased through Lightspeed Retail?
We cannot accept returns or provide refunds for gift card orders after they are sent to print.
Is there any setup I need to complete after receiving my gift cards?
No. As long as you filled out the gift card setup form and received email confirmation from our team, you will be able to issue and redeem gift cards at the register.
Do I need a credit card reader to be able to process gift cards?
No. Gift cards can be processed by manual entry, scanning with the built-in camera on the register, and scanning with a barcode scanner, in addition to swiping through a credit card reader.
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
How do I issue and redeem gift cards at the register?
To learn how to issue and redeem gift cards, visit our Integrated Gift Cards article:
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
Can I return a sale to a gift card?
Yes. Returning a sale to a gift card can be used to issue a customer store credit if you do not want to refund their original payment tender. Sales can also be returned back to a gift card if the customer used a gift card for their initial purchase. Learn more in our Integrated Gift Cards article.
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
Can gift cards be reloaded?
Yes! Follow the process to issue a gift card and swipe the card you want to add value to.
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
Can I tip using a gift card?
Yes. Enable gratuity settings in BackOffice to allow your business to accept tips from sales paid with credit cards and gift cards. Learn how to enable gratuity settings here, and learn how to redeem gift cards here.
What kind of reports are available for gift cards?
The Gift Cards & Deposits report in BackOffice shows total issued, redeemed, and net liabilities. The gift card reporting portal contains several other comprehensive reports.
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
How do I cancel my gift card subscription?
Contact Customer Care with your request to downgrade your existing pricing package. Be advised that gift cards and the gift card portal will be unusable after downgrading.
How can customers check their gift card balance?
Balances can be checked in-store at the register or in the gift card reporting portal.
NOTE: Gift Cards are only available for Lightspeed Retail merchants on select pricing packages.
Personalized Gift Cards
How long does it take to receive personalized gift cards?
Personalized cards typically ship within 3-5 business days.
What does the personalized gift cards process look like?
- Select the 'Personalized Card' option when visiting the order form.
- Select from color and font options.
- Provide your business information and approve the proof before submitting the order.
We’ll send you 20 free generic cards to get you started. Your cards will ship in 3-5 business days.
Custom Gift Cards
How long does it take to receive custom gift cards?
Custom gift cards generally ship within 10-15 business days after proof approval.
You can review the entire custom gift card process below.
What does the custom gift card process look like if I design my own cards?
- Select 'Custom Card' option on the order form.
- Upload your design or select a service option.
- Provide all requested information and approve the proof before submitting your order.
We’ll send you 20 free generic cards to get you started. Your cards will ship in 10-15 business days.
What does the custom gift card process look like if Lightspeed Retail designs my cards?
- Select the 'Custom Card' option on the order form.
- Provide your Lightspeed Retail account name and select 'Add Custom Gift Card Service'.
- Upload any necessary files, such as logos or specific imagery (this is optional), then sit back and let Lightspeed Retail do the designing!
A proof will be emailed to you. Carefully review the proof and request a revision (if there are mistakes) or approve it (we cannot make changes after you approve). Once approved, your cards print and ship within 10-15 business days.
What specifications do I need to follow to design my own gift card artwork?
Click here to download our specification guide in PDF format.
Pay very close attention when creating your gift card design. Incorrectly formatted artwork will cause errors and delays in printing.
Do I need to submit a design for both the front and back of my cards?
Yes, you must submit both the front and back design templates.
Deposits & Other Liabilities
Are there other types of liabilities I can accept?
Yes, you can enable gift certificates and deposits in your Tender Settings. After enabling one of these, visit the Liabilities and Redemptions article to learn how to set up a liability item so you can issue and redeem the liability at the register.
Can I return deposits?
Yes, you can easily return deposits at the register. Simply pull up the original transaction from the ‘Sales History’ screen on the register and choose the deposit/liability item to return and proceed with the return like normal.
Are deposits and gift certificates tracked the same way as Integrated Gift Cards?
Yes, visit the Gift Card & Deposits report in BackOffice to view which liabilities are issued, redeemed, or returned.
Can I accept layaway?
We do not currently support layaway as we do not offer the balance tracking necessary for this feature. You can still manually track deposits made using liabilities. Visit the Liabilities and Redemptions article to learn how deposits and liabilities work.