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Understanding Trade Credits

Understanding Trade Credits

Trade credits are store credit balances that customers build up by trading in firearms. When a customer trades in a gun, you agree on a dollar value, and that amount is added to the customer's trade credit balance. They can then use that credit toward future purchases at your shop.

How Trade Credits Are Tracked

CloudFFL uses two related records to manage trade credits:

  • Customer Credits (trade.history) — Shows each customer's current trade credit balance. Think of this as the customer's "account balance."
  • Transactions (trade.history.line) — Shows every individual transaction: credits added (from trade-ins) and credits used (applied to sales). Think of this as the "transaction history."

Where to Find Trade Credits

  • Customer balances: Go to FastBoundTrade CreditsCustomer Credits. This shows a list of customers with trade credit, along with their current balance.
  • Transaction history: Go to FastBoundTrade CreditsTransactions. This shows every credit added and every credit used, with dates and amounts.

How Credits Are Added

Credits are added automatically when you process a trade-in through FastBoundAcquisitionsTrade-In. You do not need to manually create trade credit entries. The trade-in value you enter on the trade-in form becomes the credit amount.

How Credits Are Used

Credits are applied to sales orders using the Trade Discount Wizard. When a customer with trade credit makes a purchase, you can apply some or all of their balance as a discount on the sales order. The next page covers this process in detail.

Example: Tracking a Customer's Credits

Here is how trade credits might look for a customer named Sarah Williams:

DateTypeDescriptionAmountBalance
Jan 15Credit AddedTrade-in: Remington 870 Express+$250.00$250.00
Feb 3Credit UsedApplied to SO#1042 (Glock 43X purchase)-$200.00$50.00
Mar 10Credit AddedTrade-in: Taurus G3c+$175.00$225.00

Sarah currently has $225.00 in trade credit available for her next purchase.

Tip: You can quickly check any customer's trade credit balance before starting a sale. Just go to FastBoundTrade CreditsCustomer Credits and search for their name. This helps you let the customer know what they have available.

Note: Trade credits are store credit only. They cannot be cashed out or refunded as money. They can only be applied toward future purchases at your shop. Make sure your customers understand this at the time of trade-in.