> 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/spending-store-credit-and-rewards/how-customers-spend-their-credit.md).

# How customers spend their credit

{% embed url="<https://dollarlabs.neetorecord.com/watch/56c75d6d3b1a7b47b7aa>" %}

This page walks through the customer side of DollarBack: where shoppers see their balance, how they pay with store credit at checkout, and how they trade credit for rewards in the marketplace. Nothing here requires admin work. It's the journey your customers experience once your programs are live.

## Where customers see their balance

A signed-in customer can check their store credit in several places:

| Surface                  | What it shows                                                              |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Floating cashback widget | Balance, ways to earn, rewards, and transaction history in a tabbed panel  |
| Customer account pages   | A credit balance block with a banner and filterable transaction history    |
| Loyalty page             | Balance alongside earning options, tiers, and reward history               |
| Thank-you page           | Credit earned on the order just placed, with an expiry note if one applies |

Store credit in DollarBack is Shopify-native store credit, so it also appears in the customer's Shopify account like any other store credit balance.

## Option 1: Pay with store credit at checkout

The most direct way to spend credit:

1. The customer adds products to the cart and proceeds to checkout.
2. In the payment section, store credit appears as a payment option showing the available balance.
3. The customer applies it. If the balance covers the whole order, no other payment is needed; otherwise the remainder is charged to their card or other payment method.
4. The order completes and the spent amount is deducted from their balance immediately.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you've set a visibility condition (for example, only show credit on carts over $50), the payment option is hidden until the cart qualifies. See [Hide store credit at checkout](/dollarback-store-credit/spending-store-credit-and-rewards/hide-store-credit-at-checkout.md).
{% endhint %}

## Option 2: Redeem a reward from the marketplace

If you've set up the reward marketplace, customers can trade credit for order discounts, product discounts, or free shipping:

1. The customer opens the reward marketplace: in their account pages, in the floating widget's rewards view, or in the checkout marketplace block (Shopify Plus).
2. Each reward card shows what it gives and what it costs in credit, say $5 off an order for 500 credits.
3. The customer redeems a reward. DollarBack mints a unique discount code for them and deducts the credit cost from their balance at that moment.
4. The customer copies the code and applies it in the discount-code field at checkout, on that order or a later one.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Credit is charged when the reward is claimed, not when the code is used. If the customer never uses the code, or the code's value is larger than their cart total, the difference is not returned automatically. Encourage customers to redeem rewards when they're ready to use them.
{% endhint %}

## Verify it works

Sign in to your storefront as a test customer who has a credit balance:

1. Open the floating widget and confirm the balance matches what the admin credit log shows.
2. Start a checkout and confirm store credit appears as a payment option.
3. Redeem a low-cost reward from the account marketplace, apply the code at checkout, and confirm the discount applies and the balance drops by the credit cost.

## Common issues

* Store credit doesn't appear as a payment option: see [Store credit isn't available at checkout](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/store-credit-isnt-available-at-checkout.md).
* A redeemed reward code is rejected at checkout: see [A reward discount code isn't working](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/reward-discount-code-isnt-working.md).
* The widget or account block isn't visible on the storefront: see [A widget isn't showing on my store](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/widget-isnt-showing.md).

## Related articles

* [Set up the reward marketplace](/dollarback-store-credit/spending-store-credit-and-rewards/set-up-the-reward-marketplace.md)
* [Hide store credit at checkout](/dollarback-store-credit/spending-store-credit-and-rewards/hide-store-credit-at-checkout.md)
* [Credit expiry & reminders](/dollarback-store-credit/spending-store-credit-and-rewards/credit-expiry-and-reminders.md)
* [Customer account blocks](/dollarback-store-credit/widgets-and-storefront/customer-account-blocks.md)