Creating and Managing Discount Codes

Discount codes enable administrators to create promotional pricing incentives for storefront customers. Codes can offer percentage-based or fixed-amount discounts, support time-limited campaigns, and include usage restrictions to control promotional scope. Discount codes enhance marketing campaigns, reward loyal customers, incentivize larger purchases, and drive order volume through strategic pricing promotions.

Requirements

To create and manage discount codes, users must be assigned a security role with one of the following permissions:

• Administrator System Role
• Store Manage Access

Discount Codes List

The Discounts tab within a storefront displays all discount codes in a list view with the following columns:

• Discount Name: The internal name identifying the discount
• Discount Code: The code customers enter at checkout
• Discount Type: Percentage or Fixed Amount
• Value: The discount amount (percentage or currency value)
• Start Date: When the discount becomes active
• End Date: When the discount expires (if configured)
• Actions: Edit and Delete options

The list supports searching and filtering to help locate specific discount codes in storefronts with multiple promotions.

Creating Discount Codes

To create a discount code:

1. Navigate to the Setup Home page and click Create > Stores
2. Click on the storefront name to open the storefront management interface
3. Select the Discounts tab
4. Click New Discount Code
5. Configure the discount fields as described in the sections below
6. Click Create

Discount Code Fields

Basic Information

Discount Name (Required): Enter an internal name to identify the discount. This name is visible only to administrators and helps distinguish between multiple discount codes. Use descriptive names that indicate the promotion's purpose, such as "Summer Sale 20%" or "New Customer $10 Off."

Discount Code (Required): Enter the code that customers will enter at checkout to apply the discount. Codes should be memorable and easy to communicate in marketing materials. Click Generate Code to automatically create a unique random code.

Discount Type (Required): Select the type of discount to apply:

• Percentage: Reduces the order total by a percentage of the purchase amount. For example, a 20% discount on a $100 order reduces the total by $20.
• Fixed Amount: Reduces the order total by a specific currency amount regardless of purchase size. For example, a $15 fixed discount reduces any qualifying order by $15.

Value (Required): Enter the discount value corresponding to the selected type:

• For Percentage discounts: Enter the percentage value without the percent symbol (e.g., "20" for 20%)
• For Fixed Amount discounts: Enter the currency value without currency symbols (e.g., "15" for $15)

Minimum Requirements

Configure optional minimum purchase thresholds that orders must meet before the discount applies.

Minimum Requirements: Select whether a minimum purchase is required:

• None: The discount applies to any order regardless of total
• Minimum Purchase Amount: The discount applies only to orders meeting or exceeding a specified minimum

Minimum Requirements Value: When Minimum Purchase Amount is selected, enter the minimum order subtotal required for the discount to apply. Customers with order totals below this threshold cannot use the discount code.

Usage Limits

Configure optional restrictions on how many times the discount code can be used.

Limit number of times this discount can be used in total: When enabled, the discount code can only be redeemed a specified number of times across all customers. Once the limit is reached, the code becomes invalid for new orders.

Total Limit: When total usage limiting is enabled, enter the maximum number of times the discount can be redeemed. Use this for limited-quantity promotions such as "First 100 customers" offers.

Limit to one use per user: When enabled, each customer can use the discount code only once. Subsequent attempts by the same user to apply the code are rejected. Use this for new customer promotions or to prevent repeated use of exclusive offers.

Active Dates

Configure the time period during which the discount code is valid.

Start Date/Time (Required): Use the date-time picker to select when the discount code becomes active. Customers cannot use the code before this date and time, even if they have the code.

End Date/Time (Optional): Use the date-time picker to select when the discount code expires. After this date and time, customers can no longer apply the code. Leave blank for discounts with no expiration.

Editing Discount Codes

To edit an existing discount code:

1. Navigate to the storefront and select the Discounts tab
2. Click on the discount code name to open the edit form
3. Modify fields as needed
4. Click Save Changes

When editing discount codes:

• All fields can be modified after creation
• Changes take effect immediately for new orders
• Existing orders that already used the discount are not affected by changes
• Extending end dates reactivates expired codes
• Reducing usage limits may immediately invalidate codes if current usage exceeds the new limit

Deleting Discount Codes

To delete a discount code:

1. Navigate to the storefront and select the Discounts tab
2. Locate the discount code in the list
3. Click the Actions dropdown next to the discount code
4. Select Delete
5. Click OK to confirm deletion

How Discounts Are Applied

Checkout Process

During checkout, customers enter discount codes in the designated discount code field. The system validates the code against the following criteria:

1. Code Validity: The entered code must match an existing discount code for the storefront
2. Active Date Range: The current date and time must fall within the code's start and end dates
3. Minimum Requirements: The order subtotal must meet or exceed any configured minimum purchase amount
4. Usage Limits: The code must not have exceeded its total usage limit or per-user limit

If all criteria are met, the discount is applied to the order subtotal before tax calculation. The discounted amount is displayed to the customer before order confirmation.

Discount Calculation

Percentage Discounts: The percentage is applied to the order subtotal (sum of product prices × quantities). For example, 20% off a $150 subtotal = $30 discount, resulting in a $120 subtotal before taxes.

Fixed Amount Discounts: The fixed amount is subtracted from the order subtotal. For example, $25 off a $150 subtotal = $125 subtotal before taxes. If the fixed discount exceeds the order subtotal, the order total is reduced to zero (plus any applicable taxes on the remaining amount).

Best Practices

Promotional Strategy

Clear Naming Conventions: Use descriptive discount names that indicate the promotion's purpose, target audience, and timeframe. This helps administrators identify and manage multiple concurrent promotions.

Memorable Codes: Create codes that are easy to remember and type correctly. Avoid ambiguous characters (0 vs O, 1 vs l) and keep codes reasonably short for ease of entry.

Appropriate Discount Levels: Balance discount attractiveness with profitability. Test different discount levels to identify optimal values that drive conversions without excessive margin impact.

Usage Control

Set Reasonable Limits: Use total usage limits for promotional campaigns with budget constraints. Calculate expected redemption rates to set appropriate limits.

Per-User Restrictions: Enable one-use-per-user limits for welcome offers, first-purchase discounts, or exclusive promotions to prevent abuse.

Minimum Purchase Requirements: Use minimum thresholds to encourage larger orders. Set minimums that make business sense while remaining achievable for customers.

Time Management

Advance Planning: Create discount codes before promotional campaigns launch. Verify start dates align with marketing communications and advertising schedules.

Clear Expiration: Set end dates for time-limited promotions. Communicate expiration clearly to customers to drive urgency and prevent confusion.

Grace Period Consideration: Consider setting end times at the end of the day (11:59 PM) rather than beginning of day to give customers full access on the final promotional day.

Troubleshooting

Issue: Customer reports discount code is not working

Solution: Verify the code is spelled correctly (codes are case-sensitive). Check that the current date falls within the active date range. Confirm the order meets minimum purchase requirements. Verify usage limits have not been exceeded.

Issue: Discount code shows as expired but end date hasn't passed

Solution: Check time zone settings. The end date/time is evaluated against the portal's configured time zone. Verify the total usage limit hasn't been reached, which would invalidate the code regardless of dates.

Issue: Cannot delete discount code

Solution: Verify you have Administrator System Role. Users with only Store Manage Access cannot delete discount codes. Contact an administrator to delete the code if needed.

Issue: Discount not appearing on order total

Solution: Confirm the discount was successfully applied at checkout (customer should see the discounted amount before confirming). Verify the discount type and value are configured correctly. Check that the discount applies to the product types in the order.

Issue: Multiple customers reporting same code doesn't work

Solution: Check if total usage limit has been reached. Review usage history to confirm the code has reached its maximum redemptions. Either increase the limit or create a new code for continued promotion.

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