Andrew, you wrote:
 
" I would also be interested in facility to mass generate order coupons and gift certificates.
 
e.g export / import coupon codes we can send out single use unique coupons to thousands of customers much quicker than having to manually create codes. "
 
If I understand you, and what Viart offers, this is not a problem. A customer's coupon reference will be their unique customer number which could be distributed in a mailing, etc.?
 
Or is it something else you want?
 
Chris

seems this makes things limited as only 1 discount can be used at a time using their 'id' as the coupon...

Dan, I am not sure why you would want one customer to have more than one coupon for this feature.
 
Let's remember that this is an introduce a friend feature.
The whole idea is that you can have an "introduce a friend" link on site - or the customer can have a link to put in their e-mails.
 
The same coupon can be used by any number of introduced friends.
 
Then there is reward for either customer or introduced friend - or both - for this introduction having been made.
Result = success?
 
Give the customer more than one coupon code and all you get is confusion?
 
I am a fervent believer in keep it simple - make it work!
 
Does this help?
 
Chris

Hiya, thanks for the reply,
 
Here is what ideally I would like in my situation:
 
Brief:
 
We would really like to take advantage of coupon facility better.
 
What we would like to be able to do is to mass create coupon codes - for example, in the admin panel to select what discount we would like to offer. e.g 10% off order and then say we want 50 different codes created in the system but all for 10% off.
 
We could then export these codes, use a mail merge programme and then these different codes could be used in a mailing to our target mail out audience.
 
 
Ideally, we could also have an option to import a whole selection of codes we generated and assign them to a discount amount / option
Does this make sense?

I think we are all looking at different features here. I like what both of u are saying. I like the importing and exporting of coupons, however same code could be used for every customer and customer could be set up where customer can only use it once. reporting on coupons to me is crucial. I want downloadable coupon reporting. as for what chris is saying, I do agree completely. Iwas looking at what you're saying a different way, but now I understand and agree with what you want. again I mention reporting capabilities.

Are we mixing two distinctly different features?
 
1 - Introduce a friend with incentives
 
2 - An improvement to the way coupons are managed
 
This is probably the problem with trying to get a collaborative outcome. I also fear this then results in the proverbial camel designed by a committee?
 
I would like to stick with getting an excellent introduce a friend facility first. Then, if it needs further development, get more work done on the coupons. Do you agree?
 
I feel this will keep better focus with a clearer outcome - broad in our brief
 
Chris

I believe this started with the need to generate coupons in mass... then it was changed to do more of an incentive coupon, which in turn became a refer a friend deal.
 
I think if we wanted a customization to generate coupons in mass, this would not be expensive. What you're doing is creating an entire marketing system to be implemented. I agree with what you're saying and how it should work, but that's not what Andrew is looking for I don't believe. What he's looking for is quite simple and is minimal amount of customization. You're then saying... let's get what I want and then deal with what he wants. I think he just wants ability to massivly add coupon codes, and allow each customer ability to use it only once, and be able to run a report on who has used it...

Hi Dan and Chris,
 
I've heard back re the costings for the coupon import facility - not as simple as I would have thought apparently -coming in at $300

Dan - it started with MY thread -
"
Introducing friends is a great way to grow sales (this is not recommend a friend as currently in the site)- in a niche market.
 
What I want is to get customers to send a link to a friend and, when the friend buys for the first time, I can reward the friend and/or the introducer. Could be with a free gift or with bonus points.
"
The original ethos has NOT changed.
 
This will be my custom coding to which two fellow user expressed an interest in sharing; I understand what Andrew wants but it is not part of my feature request
 
When I get the quote I will offer it for sharing with anyone interested.
 
Chris

OK guys, here is the Viart response
The cost means $200 each for the three of us if Dan and Andrew are happy with this.
If any one else wants to have this it will bring the cost each down to $150.
 
This is an exciting marketing feature and I would like to know who is interested so that I can organize for Viart to charge us and get on with it.
 
-----------------------------------------------------------
From Viart:
 
Let summarize:
 
1. When any user of the site use 'Tell a Friend' function and send some invitation to his friend an additional parameter will be appended to the url with user login or id information like http://www.example.com/some_link.html?friend=friend_name
 
2. We can create new settings for the Coupons Discount systems like:
 
- Option to apply discount for friends visits:
Apply discount if:
( ) for all friends visits (o) only for friends from the list of customers below:
[x] Chris
[x] Dan
...
[x] Dick
 
- Another option to apply discount for a customer who invites friends:
Apply discount if customer's friends bought some products:
Minimum Amount [ 100.00 ]
Maximum Amount [ 1000.00 ]
 
The total cost for the functionality above will be $600.
-----------------------------------------------------------
 
My only response is that:
A: I want to be sure that customers can be sent a link with their code that they can e-mail on to friends.
B: I would like to be able to add an introduce a friend link to order confirmations.
I expect these are there - just not mentioned above - but worth checking
 
Chris
 
Andrew/Dan (anyone else interested) please let me have your response.

Guys,
 
I may be interested in this as well. Send me an email.
 
viart.customer [at] gmail [dot] com

As of right now, that's not what I was truly looking for. I was more interested in something more simplistic such as coupon reporting. A customer could use a coupon and only once. Once that customer used it, they would be added to the report of users that have used that coupon. Then, we could run reports for marketing benefits as to who, when, and where.

Hi Dan
 
Well I think we are going to find that this is why trying to collaborate on projects my be difficult.
 
I am talking about rewards for introductions, to encourage these, and you are talking about coupon statistics.
 
My opening message was clear about what this customisation is about and if you want something quite different it probably kills this off?
 
I suspect that Andrew may be interested in your requirements.
 
Chris

Hi Chris,
 
I'm just making a final decision - is anyone else in on this?

Well, Andrew, I am now not sure whether Dan will - he is in the US so he will not pick up this one until later.
 
I guess then it will be down to you and me. I could not fund $600 alone but I am sure that the feature has so much potential to develop business that I would still go 50/50, STG150 is affordable as the ROI will justify this fairly quickly.
 
Chris

Dan / Andrew [any others]
 
I do need your answer.
Would you go ahead if it were just two of us - all three of us - nota at all?
 
If it is no, I cannot finance this solo.
I do need to know so that I can respond to Viart.

I responded above. I'm just looking for import/export of coupon codes and reporting on them...

Ideally I was bidgeting for 100 / 150 USD

I'm still interested in this but maybe we should do a screen mockup to be sure we will be getting what we want. I'm a little confused about:
 
(o) only for friends from the list of customers below:
[x] Chris
[x] Dan
 
Why would one choose friends from a list of customers? How or why to choose certain friends?

What I will do is ask Viart for a list of features. I can't see that we can get a meaningful screen shot on this one as it is mainly code to drive coupons under pre0defined conditions.
 
I will also ask Viart to clarify you point viart.customer as I do agree it does appear unneccessary
 
Chris

Hello,
 
This sounds brilliant. I would be interested in such a feature if the cost comes to around $100. Can we get others onboard with it?
 
I don't even own Viart cart yet, but I can see a huge potential, and will purchase the cart if I see that this may go through. It's amazing to see this type of collaboration with the company on features/development.
 
Please keep us all posted...
 
Thank you,
-Brett

Hi Brett - very pleased to have your interest.
 
The total cost is $600. For me I would be happy to fund this at $200+.
 
Andrew at your-shoppingcouk is interested
viart.customer seems interested
 
I have responded to Viart as below and am awaiting response.
If you bought in on Viart and this project we would each be in for $150. Perhaps others will join us?
 
------------------------------------------------------------
I am trying to get other users to understand what we are doing so that I can get them on board and share the cost of this.
 
We have had plenty of correspondence but it is important to understand now where we have ended up. Is it possible, please, to give me -
 
a list of main elements of this feature
a summary of what actions can be taken by the customer - eg e-mail link, link on-site when registered, etc
a summary of what benefit options we will be able (choice by admin) to customer and to friend
whether/how admin can send the link to customer in newsletters
any other practical matters that can help us all to understand how this will actually work in practice.
 
I want to sell this feature so that I can get you an order to proceed.
 
Many thanks
Chris
---------------
Not sure about this - doesn't seem to be needed:
 
- Option to apply discount for friends visits:
Apply discount if:
( ) for all friends visits (o) only for friends from the list of customers below:
[x] Chris
[x] Dan
...
[x] Dick
 
------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,
 
Why not just email out a Gift Certificate to the referring Friend, that should do it.
 
Thanks,
-Brett

Thank you for your suggestion, but I don't see how that can achieve the objective.
 
Who mails the certificate?
 
If you mean me then
1: how do I know when and who to mail to?
2: how does this makes it *easy* for the existing customer to make the referral?
 
The whole idea is to be totally automatic and to be able, also, to reward the referring customer. I see this as much more sophisticated and effective than ad hoc rewards for an introduction.
 
Chris

I now have final clarification from Viart. This is what they offer.
 
There is no pick-n-mix on elements. This is one whole feature that enables a real step forward in business promotion through recommendations.
 
Just 4 people sharing means only $150 each; $100 shared by 6,
so please let me know whether you want to share in this and, given enough sharing, we can get this going.
 
Chris
======================================================
 
 
'Introduce a Friend' functionality - $600:
 
1. When any user of the site use 'Tell a Friend' function and send some invitation to his friend an additional parameter will be appended to the url with user login or id information like http://www.example.com/some_link.html?friend=friend_name
 
This 'additional parameter' can be used by admin in newsletters to those customers
(eg admin can send a message to each customer with their individual codes)
 
BOTH customer and friend can get benefits** from the introduction.
** such as discounts, free product, free shipping
Apply discount if customer's friends bought some products:
- - this could include selection by product / category to limit rewards this way
 
 
2. We can create new settings for the Coupons Discount systems like:
 
- Option to apply discount for friends visits:
Apply discount if:
( ) for all friends visits (o) only for friends from the list of customers below:
[x] Chris
[x] Dan
...
[x] Dick
 
- Another option to apply discount for a customer who invites friends:
Apply discount if customer's friends bought some products:
Minimum Amount [ 100.00 ]
Maximum Amount [ 1000.00 ]
 
This would be used when you as administrator decide to limit some discount rules to apply only for certain users to have more flexibility.
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