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Gift Cards

What it is​

Gift Cards are branded physical gift cards from leading brands, mailed in an envelope with a real postage stamp. The recipient's address is printed on the envelope in a handwriting font. The envelope color cannot be modified. Each card includes a QR code the recipient scans to redeem their gift.

Unlike every other thanks.io mailer type, Duplicate Prevention cannot be disabled for Gift Cards. Even if you turn off Duplicate Prevention in your account settings, Gift Cards always observe the 36-hour window.

When to use it​

  • Customer appreciation sends to high-value accounts or loyal buyers
  • Win-back campaigns for lapsed customers who haven't purchased recently
  • E-commerce post-purchase gifting to encourage repeat purchases or referrals
  • Sales prospecting - a physical gift card in the mail gets opened and remembered in a way that a discount code in an email does not

Tips & best practices​

  • Pair with a short, personal Message Template. A gift card that arrives with a note referencing the recipient by name has significantly higher perceived value.
  • Use for win-back campaigns with a clear CTA: "Here's $X toward your next order."
  • Use a dedicated mailing list for each Gift Card campaign to keep reporting clean.

Gift Card Settings & Gating​

Gift Card settings are found just below the message compose area in the Message Template editor. You can set:

  • Gift Card Brand - choose from available brands
  • Gift Card Amount - set the denomination

What is gating?​

Gating redirects the recipient to complete an action before they can redeem their gift card. When the recipient scans the QR code, they are sent somewhere else first - and only after completing that action are they forwarded to their gift.

You can gate with:

  • YouTube video - paste a direct link to a video (not a playlist). The recipient is automatically redirected to redeem their gift after watching it to the end.
  • Website - paste a URL (such as a booking page, form, or landing page). This works correctly only if the third-party site can redirect the user after they complete the desired action. You must configure that redirect using the Return Link to Redeem Giftcard URL shown in the gray box in your settings.

Examples​

Common uses for website gating:

  • Calendly appointment - paste your Calendly booking page link. Note: Calendly requires a Professional plan to enable post-booking redirects.
  • Typeform - paste your Typeform link so recipients fill out a form before redeeming.
  • SurveyMonkey - gather feedback before the recipient claims their reward.
  • Custom landing page - direct recipients to a product demo, case study, or special promotion.
  • Zoom webinar registration - place your Zoom registration link so recipients sign up before claiming the gift.
  • Google Form - collect feedback, opt-ins, or lead information before unlocking the reward.

Important notes​

  • When a gift card QR code is scanned (or shown after gating), the gift is instantly redeemed - not at the register, but at the moment of scanning or when the gift is shown on the gating redirect page.
  • Once a QR code is printed it cannot be changed. You can still control the gating destination, as long as the URL itself does not change.
  • You are notified when a gift card is redeemed.
  • Starbucks gifts cannot be merged into existing Starbucks accounts. The recipient can still redeem easily at the register.
  • Fraud protections are in place: there is a 30-day limit on gifts to a given address, and gift QR codes are not visible in your dashboard (only placeholders are shown).

Limits & gotchas​

  • Gift Cards are the only mailer type where Duplicate Prevention cannot be disabled, regardless of your account setting.
  • Available brands and denominations vary - check the Send Mail Wizard for current options.
  • Per-piece pricing is in addition to the gift card denomination value. See thanks.io/pricing.
  • Gift Cards use a real stamp (First Class equivalent) for delivery.