Offer Codes allows you to give customers a special pricing or additional service if they provide you with a "special code." This special code is the offer code. For example, your company wants to offer a special promotional offer or discount when customers sign up themselves or a friend during the Christmas season. However, the customer must specify the word "Christmas" when they sign up. The word "Christmas" would be considered the offer code. For example, your ads may mention it saying "Type ‘Christmas’ in the offer code section to get our special Christmas offer!" Selecting the Offer Codes configuration section displays the following form:
· Offer Code - This field specifies the code used to refer to a particular package offered. This is the code the customer will specify if applicable. For example, if you run an advertisement for a Christmas special offer, you might provide the offer code "CHRISTMAS," or something similar in the ad so customers know what to specify in order to receive that special offer. These offer codes are mapped to a Promotion available, so when a customer specifies the "CHRISTMAS" offer code, for example, the system knows which Promotion and service type, including any special pricing, duration, et cetera, to associate with this offer.
· Description - Enter a description of the offer code. For example, you may have an offer code of "AV" and have "anniversary special" entered in this field.
· Start Date - You can have some offers applicable only during certain times, like a Christmas special, for example. By entering a Start Date, you specify that customers can sign up for this special offer starting from this date. You may enter an End Date to specify when the offer expires.
· End Date - You can have offers expire after a certain time by entering an end date here. This is usually used along with entering a Start Date.
The Start Date and End Date fields, as you will notice, require a year. Therefore, if you want to have a recurring special every year, like a Christmas special, you must re-configure the dates each year to reflect the correct year.
· Status - There are a total of four status options. Use the drop-down arrow to select the status you want to give the offer code.
1. Available – the offer code is available for use by customers. However, keep in mind that the start and end date range must be met.
2. Unavailable – the offer code is not available to your customers, even if the date range is met.
3. Available: one time – the offer code an only be used one time. Once a customer uses the offer code configured with this status, the status will switch to "Unavailable: used by customer" and will not be available to any other customer. This option is most useful if you want to give a special to the first customer to sign up using the offer code, or if you want to give special offer codes to particular customers.
4. Unavailable: used by customer – this status means that the offer code had a status of "Available: one time" and was already used. Because the customer used an offer code that was available only once, the status will change to "unavailable: used by customer."
· Promotion ID - use the drop-down arrow to select a Promotion the customer will receive when they provide the appropriate offer code. For example, if you created an offer code called "Christmas" you might select a discount promotion that offers all possible services, but at a discounted price. If you do this, you must remember to configure the rates according to how you want to discount those promotional services.