Which products is a gift certificate valid for? (validation parameters)
A gift certificate is not always meant for your whole range. A certificate for a canal cruise should not work for a meeting room, and a certificate for "2 hours of sailing" should not work for a full day. You control this with the validation parameters of the gift certificate type.
You find them under Configuration > Modules > Gift certificates: open a gift certificate type and go to the Validation parameters block. When a customer enters a code, i-Reserve checks every criterion that is filled in. If one criterion does not match, the certificate is invalid. An empty field is no restriction.
The four parameters
| Parameter | What it does |
|---|---|
| Product | The certificate is valid for one product, or for all products. |
| Product field value | The certificate is valid for a group of products. Choose an object field on the left and enter a value on the right. The certificate is valid for every product that has exactly this value in that field. |
| Valid duration in minutes | The certificate is only valid for a booking of this duration, for example 120 for a 2-hour booking. |
| Can be combined | Yes: the customer may use several certificates on one booking. No: one certificate per booking. See Can vouchers be used multiple times? |
Use case 1: one certificate for one product
An escape room sells a certificate for the room "The Laboratory". Select that product under Product. The certificate does not work for the other rooms.
Use case 2: one certificate for a group of products
A boat company runs ten cruises in the Netherlands and four in Belgium. The Dutch certificate must work for all ten Dutch cruises, but not in Belgium. Product only lets you pick one product; with Product field value you create a group.
- Create an object field. Go to Configuration > Forms > Object fields and create a text field, for example named Gift group. See How do I set object fields?
- Enter the value on the products. Open each Dutch product and enter the value
KadoNLfor Gift group in the Product features block. Give the Belgian productsKadoBE, for example. - Set up the gift certificate type. Leave Product on all products. Under Product field value, choose the field Gift group on the left and enter
KadoNLon the right.
The certificate is now valid for every product with KadoNL. When a new cruise is added, you enter KadoNL on that product and the gift certificate type does not need to change.
KadoNL, and type it the same way everywhere.Use case 3: a certificate for a fixed duration
A boat rental rents per 2 hours, 4 hours or a full day. The "2 hours of sailing" certificate must not be used for a day rental. Enter 120 under Valid duration in minutes. The certificate is then only valid for a 2-hour booking.
You can combine this with a group: KadoNL plus 120 gives a certificate for 2 hours of sailing at any Dutch location. Create a separate gift certificate type per duration, so the customer sees on the certificate what they get.
Good to know
- All parameters that are filled in must match. If you select one product under Product and also enter a group, the product must meet both. For a group, therefore use all products under Product.
- The validation parameters determine what a certificate is valid for. Until when it is valid is set with the validity period of the gift certificate type.
- Test a new gift certificate type with one certificate on the customer pages before you sell or send the certificates.
