Use and understand store credit

Store credit is value held for one customer in one StoreMink store. It is a payment method, not a coupon or discount, so invoices still show the goods value and calculate GST on the correct taxable amount.

How a customer receives credit

The shipped merchant workflow issues store credit as a refund destination. StoreMink adds a ledger entry and updates the customer's balance together. There is no general gift-card feature, expiry rule, or merchant screen for granting arbitrary promotional credit.

Where it can be spent

• Online checkout: an authenticated customer can apply available credit. If a small remaining amount cannot be charged safely online, StoreMink can hold back enough credit for the gateway minimum.
• Point of Sale: attach the customer, then choose store credit as a tender. It can be combined with another allowed tender.
• Pickup: attach the correct customer and use store credit for the amount due at collection. Store credit is applied as a completed payment, not as an unsecured deposit.

Balance protection

StoreMink checks and spends the balance atomically. Two tills or checkouts cannot both spend the same value successfully. If the balance changes while payment is open, the later attempt is refused and staff should refresh before trying again.

Cancellations and refunds

When checkout or payment failure cleanup, or a supported cancellation, reverses an order that spent store credit, StoreMink restores the eligible amount exactly once. A later dashboard refund does not automatically reinstate previously spent credit; it issues new credit only when staff explicitly choose Store credit as the refund destination. Restocking physical goods and restoring customer value remain separate decisions.

Important limits

• Credit belongs to one store and cannot be transferred to another merchant.
• A customer must be identified before credit can be used.
• Store credit is not cash and is not automatically paid to a bank account.
• Changing a customer's email or later claiming a till-created profile does not create a second balance.

Check a balance

The customer can see their available balance in the store profile. Staff can see it after attaching the customer in an allowed checkout. Use the ledger and related order or refund reference when investigating a difference; do not adjust an amount only from memory.