Discount coupons for event registrations
I tried implementing the arrangement for coupon codes for events this week.
I'm sorry, but I really don't like the way it currently works.
To explain, I wanted to setup a coupon code in WA for 25% off a registration for any event. To start with, I needed to edit every single event one at a time to do so. Then, when I logged in and practiced going through the process of registering, it showed the 25% off rate as an option. Anyone could see the amount of the coupon, even if they did not know the code and therefore could not complete the registration.
For me, this defeats the whole purpose of it being a "code". If I have 25% off and 50% off showing as an option, everyone is going to ask for the code. I don't want everyone to know there even is a code.
I would greatly prefer that coupon codes be an option sitewide for registrations.
It should also not be an option for registering, but rather a code that you enter when completing the registration. It should not be obvious codes even exist except that there is an optional box when completing the registration.
This seems to be more in line with what most e-commerce websites do, right? For example, isn't this basically how gift cards work at Target, Staples, etc?
Corey

128 comments
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NAIFA Oregon commented
This would be a great feature to add. Currently having to create 12-16 different types of registration to accommodate rate changes and member, non-member, student and board discount rates is not only overwhelming for the creator, but also for the potential attendee who don't know which one they should be selecting, and gets frustrated. Also a discount option would be great for those who are a returning attender or sponsor, they get a certain discount off of their general registration price. Another discount if more than 5 people come from the same office and want to register all at once. Hoping this is considered soon to make wild apricot a more enjoyable experience to use, rather than a headache when create conference registration.
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Oregon Dental Executives' Association commented
This is a very big deal! The capability is already there for memberships, can it be transferred over to event registration as well?
I currently have to create about 10 registration types for my conference, with a secondary event created to hold the other 10.
A discount event code section would be very beneficial.
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Evgeny Zaritovskiy commented
Can registration types with code help?
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itwm7719 commented
We need this also!
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WSRID Webmaster commented
My organization would also like to see discount codes as an option for events. I am chairing our annual conference this year, and I currently have 27 different registration types because of how Wild Apricot is set up:
There are 3 different registration groups: member, non-member, or student.
There are 3 different registration types: single workshop, single day, or full conference.
There are 3 different registration times: early, regular, or on-site.
Now if I want to give volunteers or presenters a discount on registration, I would have to create a separate discount for each type of discount that I want to give, instead of coupon codes that could be for a specific amount, and would still allow me to track those volunteers or presenters under the correct registration categories.
A discount code would greatly simplify the process for me, because instead now I'm planning on having those volunteers or presenters register for the event, and then I'll manually adjust their invoice before they make a payment, which is a huge pain for me.
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Master John Kim commented
+1 for this discount code feature for event registrations.
It appears this wishlist item has been discussed since 2008. Instead of the current method of creating a "Special Guest" registration type for all members to see, I'd like to see a "discount code" field under each of the current registration types I create (or better yet, under certain registration types that I choose). This way, the discount pricing is not visible publicly (only the full price) and only those who have received the code will then see the discounted pricing once they have entered the code. We have sponsors for some events and we would like to give members from their organization a discount. Also if we have 2 sponsors with 2 levels of discount (i.e.: 25% and 50%), then once they enter either of the discount codes, the discount would be applied. But, I'll take the ability to even enter a single discount code by this method as a starting point. :)
Thanks,
John.
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kirkcraig commented
We need discount codes for events as well with certain features
1. The ability to create member specific discount codes
-This helps in ensure only members get those discounts
2. The ability to limit those code uses: Again limiting the use
3. Different membership levels could receive different codes
All Sponsors get 2 100% discounts, all Partners get 1 100% discount
4. Discount codes could also apply to addons like vendor tables, etc.
5. Group Discounts. The discount doesn't apply unless a certain number are added.
Please put this high on your priority list.
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jessica commented
Having just posted yet another discount code 'wish' for the wishlist, I wonder why it's taking 3 years to get this sorted out. Since many people have this request, it should be high on the list.
In my post I simply want the ability to have the registrant tick a box that says 'Discount Coupon'? and enter the code. I don't want to have to create a registration type for every event discount possibility.
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jessica commented
Why can't you just have a 'Do you have a discount code' field for events and let the code we have set up determine the amount or type. The current way of adding registration type(s) is not only cumbersome, but very awkward looking on a page if you have more than one discount - or if you don't want the world to know how much of a discount certain groups get.
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Aaron Whittenberger, CBAP, CSPO, AAC commented
This is number ONE on our wishlist and desire a solution within six months. There doesn't seem to be much effort put in the design and development of this feature, but upon reading this thread it is a highly desired feature.
We hold a few different types of events. One that we will hold in fall 2015 will require a % or $ discount for companies that send us 10 registrants from the same company. We wish to incent these companies to send multiple employees to our event.
My suggestion for design of this feature is that along with event details, registration form, registration types, emails; I can define "Discount codes". I can define a discount code name (which I will give to the company to use during registration, a discount % or $, and which registration types this discount can be applied to. An option to round the resulting registration fee to the nearest dollar would be a super benefit as well.
Then as people register for an event, a "Discount" box appears during the registration process. There should be a "Apply" button next to the discount box. So they register all their people to attend, enter a discount code and click the "Apply" button. This will present them with their total amount of the registration with the discount applied.
Since many of your community has requested this feature and continue to post on this feature since 2008, can we put this on the top of the list of features to be developed? What is the current activity of working on this feature, when might it be introduced? We need to plan for our 2015 and 2016 events that require this feature, and need to know if we can use WA for the registration of these events. If not, we need to look into alternative registration methods for these events.
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meldrum commented
Our organization is trying to convert to Wild Apricot and really like the membership features, but our main emphasis is on large events. We need to give speakers free event admission. My vote is for this feature. I would vote for this feature way above any web site feature improvements.
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Evgeny Zaritovskiy commented
I can answer on behalf of her - no, unfortunately. It's almost impossible to guess actual timeline for any feature as it depends on too many other things. We used to try and almost always missed it do we decided not to do this anymore.
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Michele commented
Maia-
Can you give an estimated timeline for this to be completed?
Thank you.
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Maia commented
Sorry that this had been lower on our priority list than other things, some of which took longer to implement than anticipated.We are now working on analysis and design of discount codes to be used throughout the system. It is high on priority to be addressed this year. I will share more details as the work progresses.
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Michele commented
After reading this thread it seems this has been on the radar for years now. There is a very simple option for discount codes for membership. Why not for events?
I use WA for a couple of clients and this is a real problem. The entire point of a discount code is so that the discount amount isn't advertised to everyone. I can't use a Registration Type with a code, which is then visible to everyone registering, even if they can't register for it. Registrants will automatically ask why they can't get that lower pricing.
I hate to state what has already been stated but what is the hold up on this issue?
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jay naumann commented
I would like to be able to use a discount coupon code for events and not just memberships.
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Evgeny Zaritovskiy commented
Not in 2013, sorry - but we are currently performing analysis and design.
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Veronika Noize commented
Here's my vote to add to the support for more professional coupon codes that only show the amount of the discount upon completing the checkout process for event registration.
Right now, when I post an event coupon code, it shows as a separate registration, which is messy and confusing to the folks trying to register, and since all discounts are visible, it suppresses registrations from those without codes/discounts. NOT A GOOD THING!!
Sure, sometimes they call to complain about not getting member pricing, or what's happening is that people are using codes they got from other folks to "beat the system," which defeats the purpose of having discount codes to reward certain populations.
Is this functionality going to be implemented in 2013? It has been requested for the past 5 years, and I thought it was coming or I would not have kept my site here.
As others have noted, this is a real deal-breaker.
Thanks.
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Briony commented
Hi Guys,
We're new to Wild Apricot and reading this thread I'm thinking I'll have to vote for the event discounts set up as other people have suggested in line with most other ecommerce sites.
Our upcoming conference offers discounts for...
Early Bird Rego
Members
Pensioners
Sponsors etc.
Plus there are options for full registration for the 2 days, Day 1 only or day 2 only.
and combinations of the above.... so using unique registration types for all different combinations suggests we would need a huge number of registration types instead of just a couple then offering coupon codes to apply universal discounts to basic registration types.
If anyone had any suggestions on the best way to set up our conference registration types, it would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Briony
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Michele commented
Wondering how the progress on this post is coming along? We also have multiple registration prices for events, all based on membership level. I would like to be able to provide a discount code that offers the same discount (for example, 10%) to registrants without it being a registration option. The code would be used during checkout so that anyone, regardless of membership level/event registration fee, receives 10% off their price.
This also simplifies the administrative end because the administrator can email the discount code.