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question
To help promote my latest product, I'm sending out an email batch to all of my customers, announcing the new product. I've also created a coupon code for a 25% discount on this product for the next week. Can I add a link to my email template, so that right from the email, customers can add the product to the basket AND apply the coupon code?
answer
Yes! The shopping cart automatically creates a set of "Add to Cart" links that may be used with any product, and even with combinations of multiple products. The shopping cart also supports certain URL variables, including one for coupon codes. Combining the coupon code URL variable with an "Add to Cart" link will result in a link that adds the product to the basket, and simultaneously applies the coupon code.
When an "Add to Cart" link contains the coupon_codes URL variable, accessing the link will add the specified product to the basket, apply the coupon code to the shopping session, and then load the destination page.
Before learning how to include the coupon_codes URL variable in "Add to Cart" links, it may be helpful to learn how to include the coupon_codes URL variable in less complicated links to store pages, such as a simple link to a product page.
Including the coupon_codes variable in a link to a store page
When a link to a store page contains the coupon_codes variable, clicking the link will load the store page... and when the store page loads, the shopping cart will automatically apply the coupon code referred to in the coupon_codes variable!
The basic structure of a link that includes the coupon_codes variable is as follows:
URL?coupon_codes=COUPON
URL indicates the page to load when the link is clicked, such as:
http://demostore.modularmerchant.com/zebra-plant-p161.php
coupon_codes=COUPON indicates which coupon code to apply when the above page is loaded, for instance:
coupon_codes=ZEBRA tells the shopping cart to apply the event which has the coupon code text ZEBRA.
try it!
The coupon_codes URL variable may even be used to apply multiple coupon codes at once! Simply add all of the coupon codes in a comma separated list.
The structure of a link that includes the coupon_codes variable with multiple coupons is as follows:
URL?coupon_codes=COUPON1,COUPON2,COUPON3
URL indicates the page to load when the link is clicked, such as:
http://demostore.modularmerchant.com/zebra-plant-p161.php
coupon_codes=COUPON1,COUPON2,COUPON3 indicates which coupon codes to apply when the above page is loaded, for instance:
coupon_codes=ZEBRA,FREESHIP tells the shopping cart to apply the event which has the coupon code text ZEBRA, and to apply the event which has the coupon code text FREESHIP.
If the store's Event Engine Module Settings are configured to restrict coupon usage to one coupon per order, then only the first coupon listed will be redeemed, and the shopping cart will ignore the rest of the list.
see it in action!
The coupon_codes URL variable overrides any coupons that may have already been applied. If the customer already manually entered a coupon for free shipping, and then the link for a 50% off coupon, the free shipping coupon would be dropped from the order, and the 50% off coupon would be applied instead.
try it!
1. Click the link below to open the "Zebra Plant" product page of the Modular Merchant demo store:
http://demostore.modularmerchant.com/zebra-plant-p161.php
2. Add the "Zebra Plant" to the basket, and proceed to checkout.
3. On the checkout page, log in to the demo customer account:
Email demo@demo.com
Password demo
4. Select a shipping method.
5. Then enter the coupon code FREESHIP and click the Submit Coupon Code.
6. The free shipping coupon has now been applied to the current demo order.
7. Next, click the link below to apply the ZEBRA coupon code to the same order:
https://demostore.modularmerchant.com/checkout.php?coupon_codes=ZEBRA
8. The ZEBRA coupon for a 50% discount on Zebra plants replaces the FREESHIP coupon code, with the result that the price of the Zebra plant in the order is reduced by 50%, and shipping is no longer free!
The coupon_codes URL variable is only compatible with coupon codes of active events. If an event has been deactivated, deleted, expired, or has already been redeemed the maximum number of times, it will not be applied to the order. Instead, an error message will be displayed, indicating that event is not available.
In this situation, if a valid coupon had already been applied to the order, attempting to apply the unavailable coupon code will not overwrite the currently active coupon code.
see it in action!
Including the coupon_codes variable in an "Add to Cart" link
recommended reading
Including the coupon_codes variable in an "Add to Cart" link is a little more complicated, because "Add to Cart" links already include variables... that's how the shopping cart knows which product(s) to add to the cart when an "Add to Cart" link is accessed.
The basic structure of an "Add to Cart" link that includes the coupon_codes variable is as follows:
URL?id1=X&qty1=Y&coupon_codes=COUPON
URL indicates the page to load when the link is clicked, such as:
http://demostore.modularmerchant.com/quick_checkout.php
id1=X&qty1=Y indicates which product(s) to add to the basket, for instance:
id1=161&qty1=1 tells the shopping cart to add one unit of product SID 161 to the basket.
coupon_codes=COUPON indicates which coupon code to apply when the above page is loaded, for instance:
coupon_codes=ZEBRA tells the shopping cart to apply the event which has the coupon code text ZEBRA.
try it!
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