# Why is the free gift charged at checkout?

> First tell a cart gift from a bundle gift. A cart gift needs the Section Store Cart discount. A bundle gift needs its offer.

First find out which gift it is. Each one has its own causes.

- **Cart gift:** it's a **Free gift** tier on the cart drawer's **Reward bar**. The **Section Store Cart** discount makes it free. If that discount can't apply, the shopper pays. The usual causes are a discount code that doesn't combine, or a discount that is off.
- **Bundle gift:** you set it under **Free gifts** in a bundle offer's **More settings**. It's free only when it was added with its offer and the cart still reaches that offer. A bigger offer takes over, and only gifts added with that offer count.

## Cart gift: causes, most common first

1. **A discount code doesn't combine with the cart's discount.** The drawer warns: "Discount applied, but some free gifts are now charged." The gift row gets a remove button. Set the code to combine with product discounts. See the steps below.
2. **The discount is off or missing.** Open the cart's editor. It repairs the discount, or a banner tells you what to do.
3. **Plus has ended.** Checkout gives no rewards. A shopper who built the cart before keeps the gift line and pays for it.
4. **The cart no longer meets the threshold at checkout.** For example, the shopper removed items on another tab.
5. **The shopper has more units than the tier gives.** Only the gift's set **Quantity** is free. The drawer resets the quantity, but only where it runs.
6. **The shopper added the product themselves.** That line is a normal sale. Only the line the drawer added is free.

## Let the code combine with the gift

1. In Shopify admin, open **Discounts**.
2. Open the discount code.
3. Under **Combinations**, tick **Product discounts**.
4. Click **Save**.
5. Test it: unlock the gift in your cart, then enter the code at checkout. The gift stays free.

## Repair the cart's discount

1. In Shopify admin, open **Apps** → **Section Store** → **Cart Drawer**.
2. Click **Edit** on your live cart.
3. Read the banner at the top, if there is one.
4. If it offers **Try again**, click it.

## Bundle gift: causes

- **The cart dropped below the offer.** The shopper lowered the quantity.
- **The cart moved up to a bigger offer.** The bigger offer takes over, and only gifts added with that offer count. To keep the gift free, use [Gifts to unlock](https://section-store.orka.help/a/145-unlock-free-gifts-with-bigger-bundle-offers).
- **The gift was added by hand.** Only a gift added with its offer is free.
- **The shopper raised the gift's quantity.** Only the allowed number is free.
- **Plus ended.** Checkout gives no bundle discount then.

To check it, open the bundle, then the offer's **More settings**. See [Why is my free gift missing or charged at checkout?](https://section-store.orka.help/a/why-is-my-free-gift-not-showing-or-charged)

## Refunds

If a shopper paid for a gift, refund that line in Shopify.

## Still stuck?

If shoppers were charged on real orders and you can't see why, open the chat bubble in the Section Store app or email help@section.store. Send the order number.

## Related

- [Do cart rewards work with discount codes?](https://section-store.orka.help/a/do-cart-rewards-work-with-discount-codes)
- [What is the Section Store Cart discount?](https://section-store.orka.help/a/what-is-the-section-store-cart-discount)
- [Add a free gift to the cart reward bar](https://section-store.orka.help/a/add-a-free-gift-to-the-cart-reward-bar)

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