The Store Credit Import from File feature allows you to bulk add store credit to customer accounts using a CSV file. This powerful tool enables you to credit multiple customers at once, set expiry dates, specify currencies, and automatically send notifications to customers.
When to Use This Feature
Bulk Refunds: Issue store credit to multiple customers at once
Loyalty Rewards: Credit loyal customers as part of a rewards program
Compensation: Quickly compensate customers for order issues
Promotional Credits: Launch promotional campaigns with store credit incentives
Account Migrations: Transfer credit balances from external systems
Seasonal Campaigns: Set up time-limited store credit offers
Getting Started
Step 1: Prepare Your CSV File
Download one of our templates to get started:
Simple Template - Basic store credit with email
Advanced Template - All available options
Step 2: Fill in Your Data
Edit the CSV file with your store credit data. See the Column Reference below for details on each field.
Step 3: Upload and Import
Navigate to Bulk Operations → New Bulk Operation
Review any validation errors
Configure email sending (optional)
Click Import now or Schedule for later
CSV Column Reference
Required Columns
These columns must be present in your CSV file:
Column
Description
Format
Example
Amount of store credit to add
Decimal number (positive)
Customer identifier (at least one required)
Valid email or numeric ID
Optional Columns
Add these columns to customize your store credits:
Column
Description
Format
Example
Shopify customer ID (alternative to email)
Currency code for the credit amount
Expiration date for the store credit
amount (Required)
Must be a positive number
Can use decimal points (.) or commas (,) as decimal separators
The system will automatically convert commas to dots
Examples: 25, 25.00, 25,50 (becomes 25.50)
email or customer_id (At least one required)
email: Must be a valid email address. The system will look up or create a customer with this email
customer_id: The Shopify customer ID. If provided along with email, customer_id takes precedence
If the customer doesn't exist and only email is provided, a new customer account will be created
currency_code (Optional)
Must be a valid 3-letter ISO 4217 currency code
If not provided, uses your shop's default currency
Must match one of the currencies enabled in your Shopify store
Common codes: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY
expires_at (Optional)
Store credit will expire on this date
If not provided, store credit never expires
Accepts multiple date formats (see below)
Supported Date Formats:
YYYY-MM-DD (recommended): 2027-12-25
Note: If your file contains ambiguous dates (like 01/05/2027), you'll be asked to specify if the first number represents day or month.
Example 1: Simple Store Credit
Add store credit to customers with just amounts and emails:
Example 2: Store Credit with Expiry
Set expiration dates for promotional credits:
Example 3: Multi-Currency Store Credit
Specify different currencies for international customers:
Example 4: Using Customer IDs
Use Shopify customer IDs instead of email addresses:
Example 5: Mixed Approach
Combine email and customer ID for flexibility:
Note: Leave columns empty when not needed (use consecutive commas).
Customer Creation & Lookup
How the System Identifies Customers
If customer_id is provided: The system uses this ID to look up the customer in Shopify
If only email is provided: The system searches for a customer with this email
If customer doesn't exist (email only): A new customer account is automatically created with that email
Important Notes on Customer Creation
New customers created during import will receive a "Welcome" email from Shopify (if enabled in your store settings)
If you're importing for existing customers, consider using customer_id to avoid potential duplicate accounts
Email addresses must be unique per customer in Shopify
Email Notifications
You can optionally send email notifications to customers when store credit is added to their account.
Enabling Notifications
In the import form, check "Send store credit notifications to customers"
Your CSV must include either email or customer_id columns
Select an email sender (Klaviyo, SendGrid, Mailchimp, or Store Email)
Choose or customize an email template
Email Template Variables
When composing your notification email, you can use these variables:
{{store_credit_amount}} - The amount of credit added
{{store_credit_currency}} - Currency code (e.g., USD)
{{store_credit_expires_at}} - Expiration date (if set)
{{customer_first_name}} - Customer's first name
{{customer_last_name}} - Customer's last name
{{shop_name}} - Your store name
Example Email Template
Scheduling Store Credit
You can schedule store credit to be added at a future date using the scheduled_on column.
Add a scheduled_on column to your CSV with dates when each credit should be processed:
The system will automatically:
Group credits by scheduled date
Create separate import jobs for each date
Execute each job on its scheduled date
Scheduling Notes
scheduled_on accepts the same date formats as expires_at
You can mix scheduled and immediate imports in the same file
Rows without scheduled_on are processed immediately (or on the date/time you select in the form)
Scheduled jobs appear in your Bulk Operations list with "Scheduled" status
Test with a CSV file containing 5-10 customers to ensure everything is configured correctly before importing hundreds or thousands of credits.
Always include decimal places for clarity: 25.00 instead of 25
Use consistent decimal separators throughout your file
Avoid currency symbols ($, €, £) in the amount column
3. Set Appropriate Expiry Dates
Consider your business goals:
Promotional Credits: Set expiry dates 3-6 months out to create urgency
Refund Credits: Consider no expiry or 12+ months
Loyalty Rewards: Align with your loyalty program terms
4. Choose the Right Currency
Multi-currency stores: Always specify currency_code to avoid confusion
Single currency stores: Currency code is optional (defaults to shop currency)
Ensure the currency is enabled in your Shopify payments settings
For existing customers: Use customer_id when possible for accuracy
For new customers: Verify email addresses are correct
Clean your email list to avoid bounces and failed deliveries
6. Plan Email Notifications
Write clear, friendly notification messages
Test email templates with sample data before bulk import
Consider timing: Don't send thousands of emails during peak hours
Include clear instructions on how to use store credit
7. Keep Records
Save your CSV files for audit purposes
Include a reference column (like order number or campaign name) for tracking
Export store credit balances from Shopify before and after large imports
Common Use Cases
Use Case 1: Holiday Loyalty Program
Reward loyal customers with store credit during the holidays:
Use Case 2: Order Issue Compensation
Quickly compensate multiple customers for shipping delays:
Use Case 3: Tiered Rewards Program
Issue different credit amounts based on customer tiers:
Use Case 4: Referral Program Credits
Credit customers who referred friends:
Use Case 5: Store Migration
Transfer store credit balances from your old system:
Troubleshooting
Issue: Import fails with "No file uploaded"
Solution: Make sure you've selected a CSV file and the file is not corrupted. Try re-saving the CSV from your spreadsheet application.
Issue: "Row X: amount is required"
Solution: Every row must have an amount. Check that the amount column is filled in for all rows and contains valid numbers.
Issue: "Row X: email or customer_id is required"
Solution: Each row must have either an email address or a customer_id. Fill in at least one of these columns.
Issue: "Row X: amount must be a positive number"
Solution: Store credit amounts cannot be negative or zero. Use positive numbers only.
Issue: "Row X: currency_code 'XYZ' is not valid"
Solution: The currency code must be a valid 3-letter ISO code (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP). Check the currency is enabled in your Shopify store.
Issue: "Row X: customer not found"
Solution: If using customer_id, verify the ID exists in Shopify. If using email, the system will create a new customer (this is normal behavior).
Issue: Dates are interpreted incorrectly
Solution: Use the YYYY-MM-DD format (e.g., 2027-12-25) or specify your date format when prompted during import.
Issue: Credits not sent to customers
Solution:
Check that "Send store credit notifications" is enabled in the import form
Verify email addresses or customer IDs are valid
Ensure you've selected an email sender and template
Check your email service (Klaviyo, SendGrid, etc.) is properly configured
Issue: Decimal amounts are wrong
Solution: Ensure you're using a dot (.) as the decimal separator, not a comma. The system converts commas automatically, but it's best to use dots for clarity.
Maximum File Size: 10MB per CSV file
Processing Time: Large imports (10,000+ rows) may take several minutes
Currency Restrictions: Currency must be enabled in your Shopify store settings
Customer Creation: Only basic customer information (email) is set for new customers
No Partial Credits: Amount is added once per row; cannot schedule recurring credits in a single import
Additional Resources
If you have questions or need assistance:
Contact support via email or in-app chat
Join our community forum for tips and best practices
Last updated: January 2026
