[ic] Discount Specifications

[Rick Bragg]

On Mon, 2010-11-22 at 02:20 -0800, Paul Jordan wrote:
> 
>  > From: peter at pajamian.dhs.org
> > On 22/11/10 19:49, Rick Bragg wrote:
> > > On Wed, 2010-11-17 at 09:16 -0800, Marty Tennison wrote:
> > >> Starting a new thread for discount specs....
> > >>
> > >> I just got done implementing this in our system so it's fresh in
> my mind. If 
> > >> this is something anyone is interested in I'll be happy to
> elaborate and/or 
> > >> collaborate on the spec and share my experiences. 
> > >>
> > >> ================================================================
> > >>
> > >> Discounts have 3 major parts. 
> > >> 1) Discounts
> > >> 2) Rules
> > >> 3) Actions
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> DISCOUNTS:
> > >> Discounts have one or more rules.
> > >> Discounts have one or more actions.
> > >> Discounts can be active or inactive
> > 
> > Great idea
> > 
> > >> DISCOUNT_ACTIONS:
> > >> Actions have a type, operator and value
> > >> Action types are actually modules (subs) that can be plugged in
> as new actions 
> > >> are needed
> > >> Action types: (ideas)
> > >> 1) Percentage of subtotal
> > >> 2) Fixed amount
> > >> 3) Free Shipping
> > >> 4) Discount sku by fixed amount
> > >> 5) Discount sku by percentage
> > >> 6) Discount sku by (amt * qty)
> > >> 7) Display message
> > >> 8) Log something
> > >> 9) Deactivate discount (make discount a single use coupon)
> > >> Action Operator:
> > >> 1) (only used to enter SKU if needed for item 4,5,6 above)
> > >> Action Values:
> > >> <user defined input> ie: .65, 5 etc...
> > 
> > percentage and fixed amounts can be combined into a single action. I
> > usually just use the % character at the end of the amount to
> > differentiate, and I do something like this to normalize it:
> > 
> > if ($amount =~ s/%$//) {
> > $amount = $price * $amount / 100;
> > }
> > 
> > Of course there are also ways to make this infinitely more complex,
> with
> > sales such as, "buy two t-shirts (could be any of 50 distinct
> t-shirt
> > skus) and get a free cap", or even, "get this perfume set for only
> $10
> > with your order of $100 or more" (what do you do if the perfume set
> is
> > not in the cart, do you add it automatically, prompt the customer,
> or
> > discard the discount?), etc.
> 
> Automatically put something that is not free in their cart? ZOINKS!
> Naaaa, I know what you saying :-)
>  
> Our system has these kind of deals, and invariably the best thing to
> do is keep the customer informed. Like I mentioned, we have this
> perpetual deal so the cart is always egging the customer to buy
> more... just a little bit more and you can get this too! or, now you
> qualify for...
>  
> I've been meaning to reply to Marty's thread when I get more time. I
> should have time on Friday to add something meaningful to this.
>  
> Paul
>  

I agree, don't do anything to surprise a customer in any way at all!
They will run away.  Auto-anything on behalf of the customer is just a
bad idea.  However, certainly give them all the cross-selling and
up-selling that you possibly can.  Just make sure all these kinds of
links are no-follow so as not to dilute your g-uice!

rick