Create promotional discounts and coupon codes to drive sales. You can offer percentage discounts, flat dollar amounts, free shipping, free gifts, and buy-one-get-one promotions with flexible targeting options.
Accessing Discounts Manager
1Click Marketing in the main navigation.
2Under Discounts & Other, click Discounts Manager.
3Click Add New Coupon to create a discount.
Choose from seven discount types:
- Amount ($): Fixed dollar discount (e.g., $10 off)
- Percentage (%): Percentage discount (e.g., 20% off)
- Free Shipping: No shipping charge for qualifying orders
- Flat-Rate Shipping: Fixed shipping cost (e.g., $5 shipping)
- Free Gift: Add a specific product SKU to cart at no charge
- Buy X, Get Y% Off: Buy 1 Get 2nd 50% off, Buy 2 Get 3rd 30% off, or Buy 3 Get 4th 50% off
1. Choose Code Type
- Specific Code: Customers enter code at checkout (e.g., "SAVE20")
- Site-Wide (No Code Required): Automatically applies to all qualifying customers
- Unique Single Use: Generate multiple unique codes with shared prefix for mass distribution
2. Set Discount Value
Enter your Discount Name (what customers see) and select the discount type and amount.
3. Configure Usage Limits
- Unlimited Use: No usage restrictions
- Multiple Use: Limit total uses (e.g., "First 100 customers")
- Single Use: Each customer can use code only once
4. Set Minimum Purchase (Optional)
Require a minimum order subtotal for the discount to apply.
5. Set Expiration Date (Optional)
- Does Not Expire: Active until manually deactivated
- Valid From/Through: Set specific start and end dates
6. Target Specific Products (Optional)
- Include all items: Apply to entire catalog
- Include selected items only: Choose specific SKUs
- Exclude selected items: Exclude specific SKUs
- Include selected categories only: Target product categories
- Include selected manufacturers only: Filter by brand
7. Set Shipping Country Restrictions (Optional)
For shipping discounts, specify which countries qualify:
- Continental USA Only: Limits to ground shipping within continental US
- Include all countries: Available for all destinations
- Include/Exclude selected countries: Choose specific countries
When placing orders through the Admin Panel (such as phone orders or manual order entry), you can apply discount codes and site-wide discounts directly from the order creation page.
Access the Discounts Tab
1Navigate to Orders > New Sales Order
2Complete customer information and add items to the order
3Click the Discounts tab in the order details section
Apply a Coupon Code
1In the Coupon Code field, enter the discount code (e.g., "SAVE20")
2Click Apply next to the Coupon Code field
3The discount will appear in the Discount Name column with the discount type and amount
Apply a Site-Wide Discount
If you have active site-wide discounts configured (discounts that don't require a code):
1Click Apply next to the Sitewide Discount option
2The system automatically applies all qualifying site-wide discounts based on the order contents
3Multiple site-wide discounts can apply simultaneously if they are different types (e.g., one percentage discount + one shipping discount)
Remove Applied Discounts
To remove a discount from the order:
1Clear the Coupon Code by clicking Remove
Common Admin Order Discount Scenarios
Phone Order with Customer's Coupon Code:
Customer calls with a promotional code they received via email. Enter the code in the Coupon Code field and apply it to their order.
VIP Customer Manual Discount:
Create a specific coupon code for VIP customers or special circumstances, then apply it when manually entering their orders.
Order Adjustment or Reorder:
When recreating an order that had a discount applied, use the same coupon code to match the original pricing (if the discount is still active).
Understanding how multiple discounts work together:
What Customers Can Receive
- Multiple site-wide discounts: One of each type (one free gift + one shipping discount + one percentage discount + one amount discount)
- One coupon code: Customers can enter one additional discount code at checkout
Which Discount Applies?
When multiple discounts of the same type could apply, the system automatically gives customers the best discount:
- Amount discounts: Higher dollar amount wins ($20 off beats $10 off)
- Percentage discounts: Higher percentage wins (20% beats 10%)
- Entered codes: Override site-wide discounts of the same type
- Free gifts: More exclusive offers win (specific codes beat site-wide, higher minimums beat lower)
Example Scenarios
Scenario 1: You offer "$10 off orders over $100" (site-wide) and "$20 off orders over $200" (site-wide). Customer has $250 in cart.
Result: Customer receives $20 off (qualifies for both, gets the better discount).
Scenario 2: Customer qualifies for site-wide "10% off" and enters code "SAVE20" for 20% off.
Result: Customer receives 20% off (entered code overrides site-wide).
Scenario 3: You offer site-wide free shipping + site-wide 15% off.
Result: Customer receives both (different discount types).
Edit a discount: Click Edit next to the discount, make changes, and click Update. Changes take effect immediately.
Deactivate a discount: Click Deactivate to pause the discount without deleting it. Click Activate to reactivate.
Delete a discount: Click Delete and confirm. This permanently removes the discount.
Can customers use multiple coupon codes?
No. Customers can enter only one coupon code, but they can receive multiple site-wide discounts simultaneously.
Can I create "Buy 2, Get 1 Free"?
Yes. Use "Buy 2, Get the 3rd" discount type and set it to 100% off. Check "Allow Multiples" if you want the discount to apply more than once per order.
Why didn't my discount apply?
Check these common issues:
- Customer doesn't meet minimum purchase requirement
- Products in cart don't match your product targeting filters
- Discount has expired or hasn't started yet
- Usage limit has been reached
- A better discount of the same type is already applied
How do I limit free shipping to ground shipping only?
When creating a free shipping discount, select "Continental USA Only" under Shipping Country restrictions.
Can I apply Gift Certificates through the Admin Panel Discounts tab?
No. The Discounts tab in the Admin Panel is only for Discount Codes (coupon codes). Gift Certificates and Value Cards must be redeemed through the storefront checkout. To apply a gift certificate to an admin-placed order, you must log in as the customer and complete the order through the storefront. See Gift Certificates and Value Cards for details.