Guide

How to add bonus store credit on top of Shopify refunds

Every refund is cash leaving your business and, often, a customer relationship ending. A bonus in store credit — on top of the refund they already got — gives them a reason to come back. Here's how to do it without annoying anyone.

Why this works

Most customers requesting a refund aren't angry at your product — they bought the wrong size, changed their mind, or found a gift wasn't wanted. For that majority, getting their money back as usual, plus a small bonus in store credit (e.g. a $30 refund plus $3 in credit) feels like a pleasant surprise, and it turns a one-time transaction into a return visit.

The mechanics on Shopify

Shopify's native store credit system (introduced in 2024) lets you issue credit directly to a customer's account via the storeCreditAccountCredit mutation, with an optional expiry date. It shows up in the customer's own account and applies automatically at their next checkout — no gift card codes, no separate wallet to manage.

Doing it manually vs automating it

You can issue store credit manually from the Shopify admin on a case-by-case basis. It works, but it doesn't scale: every refund request becomes a judgment call and a few extra clicks, and nothing prompts the customer to actually use the credit before it expires.

StoreCred automates the whole flow: when a refund is created, you get a one-click prompt to add a bonus percentage of your choosing as store credit, and the customer gets an email confirming their new balance — with a reminder before it expires.

What to set as the bonus

There's no universal number, but 5–15% is a common range: enough to feel like a genuine bonus, not so much that it erodes margin on a return that was already a loss. Test a couple of levels and watch how many of those customers come back to spend it.

Try it

StoreCred issues cashback, refund-to-credit, and expiry reminders on Shopify's native store credit — one flat price, no usage charges.