> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dollarlabs.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dollarlabs.io/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/referrer-rewards-vs-referee-discounts.md).

# Referrer rewards vs referee discounts

{% embed url="<https://dollarlabs.neetorecord.com/watch/cc294dae6d8d91a31ae6>" %}

*This article's section starts at 0:28 in the video.*

Every referral config has two sides that are easy to mix up: what the **referrer** (the customer sharing the code) earns, and what the **referee** (the friend using it) gets. This page explains who receives what, in what form, and when.

## The two sides at a glance

|                          | Referrer reward                                                   | Referee discount                        |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Who gets it              | The customer whose code was used                                  | The new customer placing the order      |
| What it is               | **Store credit** (Shopify-native, spendable at checkout)          | A **discount code** applied at checkout |
| Value types              | Percentage of Order · Fixed Amount                                | Percentage of Order · Fixed Amount      |
| When it's applied/issued | After the referee's order is processed (see below)                | Immediately, at the referee's checkout  |
| Currency                 | Converted to the referrer's own currency                          | The referee's checkout currency         |
| Expiry                   | Set by the config's **Expires after** value                       | Follows the shared referral discount    |
| Where it shows           | Widget balance, account balance, "referral reward credited" email | The checkout discount line              |

## The referrer side: store credit

Under **Referrer Reward** you set a **Cashback Type** (**Percentage of Order** or **Fixed Amount**) and a **Cashback Value**.

* **Percentage of Order** pays a share of the referee's eligible order amount. Say the referee places a $60 order and the reward is 10%: the referrer earns $6 in store credit. What counts as "eligible" follows your global cashback base settings (total vs subtotal, shipping, credit/gift-card deductions); see [How referral rewards are calculated & tracked](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/how-referral-rewards-are-calculated-and-tracked.md).
* **Fixed Amount** pays the same flat credit per successful referral regardless of order size, e.g. $10 per friend.

The reward is store credit, not a coupon: it lands on the customer's Shopify store-credit balance and appears as a payment option at their next checkout, alongside any cashback they've earned.

**When it's issued:** the reward is triggered by the referee's order. If the order isn't captured or fulfilled yet, the credit can sit as *pending* first and releases when payment is captured or the order is fulfilled. Refunds claw the reward back.

## The referee side: a discount code

Under **Referee Discount** you set a **Discount Type** (**Percentage of Order** or **Fixed Amount**), a **Discount Value**, and a **Minimum Order Value**.

The referee doesn't receive credit or wait for anything: the referral code itself *is* their discount. They paste the referrer's code into the discount field at checkout and the discount applies on the spot, provided the order clears the minimum order value and any other conditions ([Referral conditions & limits](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/referral-conditions-and-limits.md)).

Because the discount is a code on the order, it's also what makes attribution work: DollarBack knows who referred whom because the code was used. No code on the order, no referral.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you run the Dollarlabs Ultimate Discounts app, you can hand the referee side over to one of its discounts instead of the built-in percentage/fixed options. See [Referral + Ultimate Discounts integration](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/ultimate-discounts-integration.md).
{% endhint %}

## Choosing values that work together

A common pattern is asymmetric: a fixed, easy-to-say discount for the friend ("give $10") and a percentage reward for the referrer ("get 10%"), so the referrer's upside grows with bigger referred orders. Whatever you choose, remember the referrer reward is also capped by your global **Maximum cashback per order** setting.

## Verify it works

Place a test referee order with a referral code, then check both sides: the discount line on the referee's checkout, and the referrer's credit in **DollarBack admin → Analytics → Referral** (and in their widget balance once released).

## Common issues

* Discount applied but no referrer credit → the order may have been fully covered by store credit or gift cards, or the reward is still pending; see [How referral rewards are calculated & tracked](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/how-referral-rewards-are-calculated-and-tracked.md).
* The code was rejected at checkout → conditions; see [A referral wasn't tracked](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/referral-wasnt-tracked.md).
* The referrer expected a coupon, got credit → expected behavior; the referrer side is always store credit.

## Related articles

* [Set up your referral program](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/set-up-your-referral-program.md)
* [How referral rewards are calculated & tracked](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/how-referral-rewards-are-calculated-and-tracked.md)
* [Referral conditions & limits](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/referral-conditions-and-limits.md)
* [Referral + Ultimate Discounts integration](/dollarback-store-credit/referral-program/ultimate-discounts-integration.md)