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
Corey Creed
shared this idea
124 comments
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jkunrein
commented
Seconding Ian's comments!
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Dmitry Buterin commented
Thank you so much Ian! - this is very helpful in our analysis of this.
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iant
commented
Perhaps it would be useful if I explained the thinking behind our original request for enhancements to the event discount codes.
We are a chamber of commerce and as well as attracting new members and keeping existing members we do need to "incentivise" them to be active members and attend our networking and other events. To do this we have identified several approaches that event codes should be able to help us with.
(1) A Joining offer, e.g. offer "3 free events" to new members to encourage them to get involved in the Chamber from the start. Here we would like to be able to send a unique code to a new member as part of the joining sequence.
This would be valid for the full price of a specific sort of event and would be valid for say 3 or 4 months. It would be valid 3 times and the member should have some way of telling how many he has used/left.(2) Offer an event "season ticket" so that we could offer things like "12 events for the price of 10".
Again this code would be valid for specific event types, be valid for say 12 months and would be unique to the purchaser.
This sort of thing would of course also need a way of being sold and the member would again need a way of knowing his "event balance".(3) Have "single shot" unique codes that would be valid for one use only. These could be used as prizes or as special "thank you"s to members
(4) Offer a permanent discount to members of our executive committee or other special attendees.
This would be something like a 50% discount code but would only be visible to certain membership levelsRegards,
Ian
worthing and adur chamber of commerce -
This is a great input - very helpful in our thinking about this redesign, thanks!
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jkunrein
commented
What I would love to see is the ability to create coupon codes that are not necessarily tied to specific events. For example, we charge for monthly meetings, and we've heard from our members that they would like to be able to buy a package of meetings at once, rather than doing the paperwork to get reimbursed for a $15 meeting every single month.
So I'd like to be able to sell a meeting package, let's say for $90, which would consist of 6 coupon codes that I would then send the member. The coupon codes could be used by any member (it would be the purchaser's responsibility to keep them secret, or give them to friends/coworkers who were also members if they wanted) but they could be limited to specific events, or limited by event category. They would also have expiration dates.
For our purposes, they would provide a $15 discount (so that the meeting would essentially be free), but I could see how it would also be useful to have % discounts.
That's how we would want it to work. Thank you!
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Ian, being on the roadmap means that we intend to implement it within the next 12 months. In terms of specific functionality - this has not been designed yet. Generally we are thinking of creating a uniform discount feature for memberships and events as now exists for new membership applications.
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iant
commented
As this topic is on the "roadmap", are you in a position to give me some indication as to what enhancements you are thinking of implementing and when they might be completed?
Regards,
Ian
worthing and adur chamber of commerce -
No problem! Keep your questions and feedback coming and Happy Holidays!
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Landon
commented
Oh dear, i apologize! I now see how to use the event discount code feature! Please disregard my previous post.
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Landon
commented
May I put in a vote for event discount codes, too? Previous posts on the wishlist and elsewhere appear to say that event discount codes would be implemented. Is this available somewhere? I can't seem to find it. Thanks! My suggestion would be a check box in the Discount Codes set up area wherein one could check "available for events" or "available for membership levels" or both... something like that.
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Ian,
Currently event discounts and membership discounts are implemented in very different ways and thus have different features. I am currently thinking that the best long-term solution is to combine them. This is not a small change so it will be a while.
I would appreciate input from others on this.
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iant
commented
It would be very useful if the event registration code could be enhanced to do the following:-
(1) Have the option to be visible only to certain membership levels instead of always visible to the whole world
(2) Be limited to a number of uses. i.e. I would like to issue a code that can be used say 10 times and then invalidated.
(3) Be able to use multiple codes simultaneously. i.e. If I issue 3 different codes - secret1, secret2 and secret3 to different membership levels, the registration code validation function will accept any of them and if (2) above is active decrement the usage count of the appropriate one.
Regards,
Ian
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James,
I agree that membership discount coupons is a better way to deal with discounts than what we currently have in events.
To change this, we would need to do quite a bit of development so I am really interested in feedback from others.
FYI, you can setup registration types which are hidden until people are logged in/recognized by their email as eligible for these types. It's an option in each reg. type ('If uavailable' field at the bottom)
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James Kerich
commented
It would be great to provide a discount coupon function for event. The advantage of the discount coupon code is that it is more flexible, the discount amount is only know to those individuals that actually have the coupon code and it is an optional field visable during checkout.
Currently events can have a registration type that is a "Code Required" registration type. This isn't really a great way to offer a discount because anyone can see the price offered under this "Code" registration type setup. This also forces what you want to be a discounted rate to a selected group to be a separate registration type when it really isn't, its just a price variance. We REALLY don't like the fact that the registration code option shows everyone (that is authorized to see it) what the discount price is because everyone will call and bug us on how they can get the discounted rate. Having it set up to be a discount percentage or amount available only if you "know the code" is something we prefer over what we can do now with events. We had to do some major work arounds in our last event to offer special pricing to a selected group and keep it hidden from others that would have registered for the same registration type.
Most online "stores" offer a discount code field where you put the code in as you check out. If you have a valid code you get a discount. If you don't have the code you don't get it. Pretty simple to understand and to use.
Is there any way you can either set up the membership coupon function to be available to be used on events (becuase it appears to work the way I'd like it to work for events) or switch the way the registration code function works so that it can work like the membership discount code works?
Hopefully others will vote for this too so you can have a feel for how important this is to WA users.
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Corey, we were not able to schedule it in 2008, sorry.
The good news is that we are working on such discouint codes for membership applications - this should be released in December. This will make it easier to do the same for events .
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Sandy Zohari
commented
Our major annual event offers discounts for early registration and also for leading a workshop. Your current options only allow adding costs for selected features. We would like to subtract costs in order to offer these discounts.
Thanks much,
Sandy - Women Outdoors
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Corey, we will do our best, but as of yet we do not know if this will fit into Q4 or will have to be done later.
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Corey Creed
commented
Ok, thanks for the update. I'll hold my breath for Q4. It's close.
We're looking to do a big ramp up for 2009 so that will work for us.
Corey
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dmainou
commented
Hi,
Can a feature be added to the events area (o member type) where a type of member has automatically an "x%" discount/markup over the standard rate?
We run a university dive club where current students pay 50% less than the rest of the community (alumni, uni staff, lecturers, etc).
It will make SO much easier to set events.
Thanks,
Diego.
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Not yet, sorry. we are discussing now if we can include this in our Q4 work.
