HELP-Coupon problem

[TouchOfSilver]

I'm running a sale this weekend for 20% off all gemstone, ceramic and glass necklaces with a coupon code FFAW20. Someone just bought a bracelet and applied the 20%off. I guess I just expected people to use it correctly....or was it risky to only have the coupon available for certain items??

I could just let the customer have the discount or explain to her that it was only for necklaces....what would you do??

[TouchOfSilver]

Oh, and I see that she's new to Etsy and just joined today....

[TouchOfSilver]

Anyone have this experience before?

[Former_Member]

I suppose I would give her the discount and re-work how I run my sales because the coupons are shop universal not item specific and pretty often people don't read the small print.

[TouchOfSilver]

Thanks Patricia.....as it's her first Etsy purchase, I surely want it to be a positive one for her so letting the discount apply seems like the right thing to do....and next time I'll think twice about the wording for my sales...live and learn:)

[Former_Member]

You are welcome!

[greengrass2]

No matter how well you word your coupons, expect that people won't read the instructions!

[TouchOfSilver]

I think you're right Liz....just got another purchase of a bracelet and they applied the necklace 20% off code. I've seen other sellers have sales on specified items...but never heard about problems with that. Well, sales are sales and I don't discount very often (obviously I'm not too good at it), so I'm very happy people are looking:)

[Former_Member]

The way I have seen people run a 20% off (for example) only on certain items is to change the price on the listings and put the original price in the title or first line of the description.

[ScytheAndStemFarm]

I don't think I'd ever apply a coupon that allows for user error... I don't think that many customers really read through things terribly carefully, and I don'f fault them for that. I'd suggest only offering coupons (that you can afford to offer) that apply to the whole shop for the time you can afford to offer them - since the coupon button really doesn't allow you any more control than that.

[TouchOfSilver]

Well said, Abbey....I just never thought about user error....it's been a good learning experience, though so that's not a bad thing....I'll love having all this hindsight next time around!

[Former_Member]

I wish the coupon code was for specific item of choice. It would be a great added feature at checkout.

[greengrass2]

True - a sale is a sale! To be celebrated no matter what.

[Former_Member]

Plan ahead for coupons- if you only want necklaces to be "on sale" what I have done is move all the necklaces to a section titled NECKLACES. You can use Etsy on Sale to discount that section only with the 20% and the customer does not need a coupon- it wont be used incorrectly.

For this customer- thank her for the purchase and consider it a sale!

[InspiredJewelryShop]

A lot of people dont read and just want to save money and will still use the codes even if they are for ceritan items. Nothing you can do about it. You could cancel the transaction and tell her that the code wasnt for that but then you lose a sale.

[Former_Member]

This is how SqueakyCleanSoapCo has seen listings- ETSY on sale adds to the product description and alters the price automatically to adjust for the 20% savings.

You can find out more about EtsyOnSale here
www.etsyonsale.com/sellers

Enter this referral code when linking your shop to Etsy On Sale to claim your free credits: PQHICQE8EV

Etsy On Sale gives each new member 5 free credits to use toward creating a sales event, it also auto renews items, and helps you change your tags. A sales event "costs" 4 credits so basically the first one you try will be "free".

[Former_Member]

It seems difficult to limit a coupon- I would just give her the discount. Make the customer happy, if you afford it.

It seems like it would help you if she knew you were giving her the discount despite the error, but do others think that would be cheesy?