Practical eCommerce

Carlisa7

Am interested in finding out how sites are handling discount and coupon codes during the ordering process. Does the total order get subtotaled, including any sales tax and S&H, and then the discount applied? Or do you ask the purchaser which order (shipping address) they want to apply the coupon code to, and apply the discount prior to calculating the sales tax? What are the pros and cons? Thanks.

123 eCart · **Date:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:46 am **Subject:**

We've always applied the discount before calculating tax. The reason for this is that sales tax is a percentage of what is actually collected from the customer.

Carlisa7 · **Date:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:27 am **Subject:**

So, do you prorate and apportion the discount according to the purchase subtotals for each shipping address? I can see a situation where a purchaser places an order that is being shipped to two different addresses, one address subject to taxes and the other not.

123 eCart · **Date:** Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:10 pm **Subject:**

Hi Carlisa,

You're in an area I've never been. I've not had any experience with multiple shipping addresses. Someone else here may have some experience in that area.

dean0088 · **Date:** Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:37 pm **Subject:** Discount Codes

Hi Carlisa:

You set up your discount for a dollar amount or a percentage amount and that gets subtracted from the total price before tax and shipping are added. Sales tax is only added to the order if the person is ordering from the same state you are in. Your only concern about sales tax is where the billing address is not the shipping address.

I love coupon codes I use them all the time, depending on your shopping cart you should be able to control how many times they can be used, have an expiration date and be able to use them on your entire stock or limited to certain products.

They also help me track where my sales are coming from, so if I'm doing a local mailing I use a certain code, or if I'm listing on Craigs List or Twittering I make separate codes for that. When a customer places a nice order I sometimes send them a code using their name.

Dean
www.asktheidentityguy.com
www.zanzoodle.com

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