Website promo codes

[Sockpuppet]

MD5 thier credit card number...thats pretty unique. Bugger typing it in though.

[PAH]

Add the discount you're offering to the normal price you charge, then you don't need to worry how widespread the codes get distributed, in fact the wider the better.

[Gros]

I think I have a solution, tell me if you see any flaws in this.

We send out the same code to every customer, and we know the postcodes of the customers we are sending to. So, we keep a database entry mapping the promo code to each postcode sent to. Then when the code is used, the postcode is noted, and we check that it exists in the database.

That should be enough, people need to enter their valid postcode as part of the process anyway, so they would never know anything was going on. And if they got given the code by someone else, they would be presented a message saying "sorry, etc...".

Easy.

[TheBigYinJames]

I think I have a solution, tell me if you see any flaws in this.

Easy.

Since you're awarding a discount based on their postcode, why bother giving them a promo code to enter at all?

Check their postcvode is on your D and then just say something like "you've been awarded an automatic discount"

No need for promo codes at all unless you want them to feel as if they're getting 'something', in which case just any old tulip for the code since you're not using it anyway.

[Gros]

Since you're awarding a discount based on their postcode, why bother giving them a promo code to enter at all?

Check their postcvode is on your D and then just say something like "you've been awarded an automatic discount"

No need for promo codes at all unless you want them to feel as if they're getting 'something', in which case just any old tulip for the code since you're not using it anyway.

Hey, don't question the business logic, that's not my concern! The fact is, the client wants to send out mail to specific customers offering a promo code for a discount, and they don't want it to be used by just anyone.

[Mort]

I think I have a solution, tell me if you see any flaws in this.

We send out the same code to every customer, and we know the postcodes of the customers we are sending to. So, we keep a database entry mapping the promo code to each postcode sent to. Then when the code is used, the postcode is noted, and we check that it exists in the database.

That should be enough, people need to enter their valid postcode as part of the process anyway, so they would never know anything was going on. And if they got given the code by someone else, they would be presented a message saying "sorry, etc...".

Easy.

But doesn't that rely on the fact that Aunt Gladys or whoever gets given the code doesn't live in a postcode area that already has a customer in it??

[Gros]

But doesn't that rely on the fact that Aunt Gladys or whoever gets given the code doesn't live in a postcode area that already has a customer in it??

No, we would be checking the full postcode, individual to them (and possibly a few other people in their street, which isn't a problem).

[Advocate]

Somebody needs to explain to the business why this idea is silly, there are two opposing requirements; that each individual must have a code and that the code must be the same.

Client: "I want the door to be open and closed at the same time..."

What they're aiming to do is possible, but their idea of implementation is fundamentally flawed.

[TheBigYinJames]

No, we would be checking the full postcode, individual to them (and possibly a few other people in their street, which isn't a problem).

Well it is a big problem if Aunt Gladys has the same postcode as Mr Another Customer you want to give the discount to, since when Mr Anotehr Customer logs on to get his discount, he'll be told the code has already been used, and if that doesn't p him off, nothing will.

[Gros]

Well it is a big problem if Aunt Gladys has the same postcode as Mr Another Customer you want to give the discount to, since when Mr Anotehr Customer logs on to get his discount, he'll be told the code has already been used, and if that doesn't p him off, nothing will.

No, you miss my point. The postcodes wouldn't be ticked off the first time they are used. So 20 people with the same postcode could use the promotional code, as long as that was actually their postcode. It just stops them giving the code out to all and sundry, as they will need to enter their genuine postcode when they make their purchase, which will not be valid against the database.