Articles on: What's new

Refund to Shopify Store Credit in AfterShip Returns

Plans: Pro, Premium, & Enterprise Platforms: Shopify


Overview


Shopify provides a store credit feature that allows merchants to issue a monetary value to customers or potential customers, which they can spend in the same store. Unlike gift cards or discount codes, store credit is non-transferable and is linked directly to the customer account. Store credit can also be configured with or without an expiration date.


Previously, AfterShip Returns integrated with the Shopify Gift Card API to process “Refund to store credit” resolutions by creating a gift card for the shopper.

Now, AfterShip Returns has integrated with Shopify Store Credit, allowing merchants using Shopify’s native store credit feature to refund directly to Shopify store credit for a hassle-free experience.


Platform requirements


Before you enable the integration, make sure to meet the following platform requirements:


1. AfterShip requirements


  • Enable the Refund to store credit resolution in AfterShip Returns.
  • Update the AfterShip app permissions in Shopify.


2. Shopify requirements and restrictions


  • Enable Store Credit in Shopify.
  • Restriction: Store credit usage per customer account must be less than $15,000 USD.


How to configure Shopify store credit in AfterShip Returns?


  1. Log in to AfterShip Returns.
  2. Go to Return Policy → Refunds & Exchanges.
  3. Find Refund to store credit and click Edit.



  1. Under Store credit processing, select Shopify store credit.



  1. Click Save, then test the configuration.


Add a bonus credit (percentage or fixed amount) to encourage customers to choose store credit over original payment refunds.


Process: Refund to store credit using Shopify store credit


Once a return is approved and the RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) is issued for store credit in AfterShip Returns:


  • Shopify store credit is automatically added to both the original order and the customer’s account.




  • For the returned item value, you’ll see the refund recorded as store credit on the original order.



  • If you’ve offered a store credit bonus, that bonus will be added directly to the customer’s account.


Reason: Shopify limits the maximum store credit refund on an order to the original paid value. If the merchant refunds the full paid amount and adds a bonus, the bonus cannot be refunded on the same order. Therefore, AfterShip adds the bonus store credit directly to the customer’s account.



Example for understanding


Let’s say a customer bought one item for $100. You approve the return and decide to offer a $10 store credit bonus as an incentive. So, the total refund value = $110.


Refund process


  • As Shopify allows refund only up to the paid amount, AfterShip refunds $100 store credit to the original order.
  • AfterShip then adds the extra $10 bonus directly to the customer’s account as additional store credit.


Hence, the customer receives a total of $110 in store credit in their Shopify account.


FAQs


1. Can I offer Shopify store credit to a gift return recipient?


No. Shopify store credit can only be issued to a customer account in your Shopify store. Gift return recipients may not be valid customers in Shopify; therefore, AfterShip will default to the gift card method for gift returns.


2. Why isn’t the bonus value showing as store credit refunded on Shopify?


AfterShip uses the Shopify Refund API for processing refunds. When a bonus is added, the total may exceed Shopify’s maximum refund value for that order.

Therefore, AfterShip adds the bonus value directly to the customer’s store credit account.




Updated on: 14/10/2025