Reward codes are the discount codes customers get when they redeem points. By default they never expire. With reward code expiration, an unused code stops working after the time you set, so customers use their rewards sooner. You can also give customers their points back when a code expires unused.
Reward code expiration needs a plan that includes Points expiry. If your plan doesn't include it, you'll see Reward code expiry needs a higher plan with a See plans link. Give points back when a code expires unused works on every plan.
Turn on reward code expiration
In the Appstle Loyalty app, click Ways to redeem.
In Rules for every reward, click Change in the editor. The Points program editor opens on Settings.
Open Reward code expiry.
Turn on Reward codes expire.
In After, enter a number and choose days, months or years.
Click Save.
The time is counted from when the customer redeems the reward. If the reward has a Code starts working after delay, it's counted from the day the code starts working instead, so the delay doesn't use up any of that time.
For example, with After set to 30 days, a code a customer redeems today stops working 30 days from now if they don't use it.
The Rules for every reward card on Ways to redeem shows your current settings.
Give points back when a code expires unused
Turn on Give points back when a code expires unused, in the same Reward code expiry group, and click Save. When an unused code expires, the points it cost go back to the customer's balance.
This setting also covers rewards that have their own expiry, and works even if Reward codes expire is off. It applies to every code that expires while it's on, including codes customers got before you turned it on.
Set a different expiry for one reward
A reward can use its own expiry instead of the store setting. Never expire and Expire after need a plan that includes Advanced redemption settings. If your plan doesn't include it, the editor says A reward's own code expiry needs a higher plan with a See plans link.
In the Appstle Loyalty app, click Ways to redeem, then click the reward.
Open Reward code. In Code expiry, choose Use the store setting, Never expire or Expire after. If Code expiry isn't listed, click the Show … more link at the bottom of the group first.
If you chose Expire after, enter a number and choose days, months or years.
Click Save.
Here's what each option does:
Option | What happens |
Use the store setting | The reward follows Reward code expiry. This is the default. |
Never expire | The reward's codes never expire, even when Reward codes expire is on. |
Expire after | The reward's codes expire after the time you set here, even when Reward codes expire is off. |
Remind customers before a code expires
Appstle Loyalty can email customers before their codes expire. The Discount Expiring Reminder email is off by default. To turn it on:
Go to More → Email Templates.
Next to Discount Expiring Reminder, click Edit.
On the Global tab, select Enable Email Notification.
Click Save.
Each code gets one reminder, 3 days before its expiry date. You can't change the number of days.
What customers see
Signed-in customers see how many days each code has left, for example 12d, next to the code in their rewards in the loyalty popup and on the loyalty page. On the loyalty page, a code's details also show its expiry date. Once the date has passed, the code no longer shows in their rewards.
Things to know
Codes are turned off once a day, so a code can still work for up to a day after its date.
Changing when codes expire doesn't change codes customers already have. They keep the expiry date they were given.
Months and years are calendar months and years. A code redeemed on March 15 with After set to 1 month expires on April 15.
Store credit rewards follow Store credit expiry, in the same Settings list, instead. VIP and referral rewards don't expire.
These settings used to be in Advanced Settings. They're now in the Points program editor under Settings. Your existing settings carry over.
Points that expire have their own settings. See Set up point expiration.
Customers can also return an unused code for its points before it expires, if you let them. See Let customers return unused rewards for their points.
Troubleshooting
A customer used a code after its expiry date: codes are turned off once a day, so a code can still work for up to a day after its date. To see a code's date, open the customer in Customers and check Expire Date on the Rewards tab.
Codes still expire after you turned off Reward codes expire: codes customers already have keep the expiry date they were given, and rewards set to Expire after in their own Code expiry keep expiring. Codes customers get after you save follow the new setting.
A customer didn't get their points back: points come back only if Give points back when a code expires unused was on when the code expired, and never for a code the customer used up. On the customer's Rewards tab, an expired code shows Refunded if its points came back and Expired if they didn't.
Customers don't get the reminder email: check that Enable Email Notification is selected in the Discount Expiring Reminder template and that the Appstle Loyalty app embed is on in your theme (Online Store → Themes → Customize → App embeds). The email goes out on the day a code is 3 days from its expiry date, so codes that expire within 3 days of customers getting them may not get one.