Apply Coupon or Discount to Any/All Purchases?

[timjamz]

I've done a little digging, and found that I can either modify individual "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart" buttons with advanced form fields to apply a discount, or add a relatively complicated bit of Java script to the HTML head section and buttons for coupon codes.

What I want to do is log in to my PayPal Merchant account, and be able to apply a discount to any and every purchase someone makes with that account.  For example, with the holidays, I want to add a blanket 25% discount on EVERYTHING I sell through my Merchant account... is this possible???

If this is not currently possible as a simple setting change in the Merchant Accounts, I think it would be a pretty cool feature to add (HINT! HINT! Dev Team!)

It would be uber-convenient for us small-time PayPal merchants to be able to throw up a banner on our website that says "woo-hoo discount on everything", click a setting in PayPal, and be done.... without having to modify/recreate a slew of buttons or inject Java script on our webpages (which some people turn off in their browsers anyway).

I hope someone finds this post and has a definitive answer... I have a client asking, and I need to know if I can tell her PayPal is just super-awesome and has a simple setting, or if I have to update all her buttons. 🙂  Happy 2010!

[skier]

Presently with PayPal's Website Payments Standard, the use of promo coupons and/or discounts can only be done with individual item buttons and some custom scripting as there are no features or options to support what you have in mind through your PayPal Account.

As for a suggestion, you need to open a Support Ticket here.  Under the Severity Dropdown selection, choose "Feature Request" and complete the form.   This method ensures that your suggestion and/or comments gets to the right people.   Posting via the forum is OK however, it does not always get seen by the folks who can make things happen.

Regards,

skier

[timjamz]

Thank you for the quick response!  I appreciate the info, and the link for the feature request.  I will use both 🙂

[sassipantsbouti]

How do I allow a discount/coupon WITHOUT using the paypal buttons?? We have a store that allows their "Add to cart" & "Checkout Now" buttons (& we don't want to have to create separate buttons via paypal for each and every item: we have hundreds of items!) to be directed to Paypal but I don't know how to create a coupon code to allow customers to put a coupon code in the designated field on the paypal checkout site.

Any help??

[skier]

At the present time, PayPal's Website Payments Standard does not have any built in features or options for implementing a coupon or promo code for the entire shopping cart.    It can be done manually however, it would take quite a bit or custom programming as you would need a custom mini-cart type application developed specifically for you.   All of the needed logic would have to performed on your web site first and then only the end results would be passed on to PayPal to complete the transaction.   Your other option would be to find a 3rd party shopping cart that has the features you're looking for.

Regards,

skier

[sassipantsbouti]

Thank you for your suggestions -- great & helpful information!! Also you said "Presently with PayPal's Website Payments Standard, the use of promo coupons and/or discounts can only be done with individual item buttons" in an earlier post... how do I use a discount with individual items or where can I find the steps or info for walking myself through the steps? " The use of promo coupons and/or discounts can only be done with individual item buttons": This is what we are looking for.

Thanks again for your help already!!

🙂

[skier]

See the tips and examples here.

Regards,

skier