Apply a coupon at the register

Use this process when a customer has a coupon code for a Promotion v2 offer and is buying in store. Automatic promotions need no action: the register works them out on its own as items go into the cart.

Before you start

• The offer has to be set up as a Promotion v2 with a Coupon Code. See About Promotions v2.
• The promotion records have to be synced to the register. A promotion created moments ago may not have reached it yet. See Manage POS data sync.
• The register needs a connection. A coupon cannot be entered while offline.

Apply the code

1. Build the cart as usual.
2. Select Manage cart, then Coupon code. The option shows how many coupons are already applied, for example 1 applied.

3. On the Add coupon code screen, type the code in the Coupon code field. Case and surrounding spaces do not matter.

4. Select Apply coupon.

The register works out every applied coupon and every automatic promotion together. A promotion on particular items is named under each line it discounted, and a promotion on the whole cart gets a separate row in the totals, under Subtotal. See POS cart for how to read each row.

For example, a customer buying a $60 jacket gives the code WINTER10, a promotion with the Display Name “Winter 10% off” that takes 10% off the whole cart. After you apply it, the totals show Subtotal $60.00, then Winter 10% off -$6.00, and the Order total is $6.00 lower.

To remove a coupon, open Coupon code again and dismiss it from the Applied coupons list.

When a code is turned away

The register gives one of these messages.

While the coupon stays on the cart

A coupon that is applied but not currently discounting anything, such as one beaten by a larger coupon, shows as CODE (not applied). It still counts toward the coupon limit, and you can still remove it.

The register takes a coupon off by itself when its promotion stops qualifying, expires, or is deleted. If you empty the cart by removing items one at a time, coupons that need items go and any always-applies coupon stays. The cart’s Empty action clears every coupon.

:::note A coupon that qualifies but works out to no discount is still accepted at the register and sits as not applied. It is not an error. :::

Coupons on a parked or returned sale

A parked sale picks its coupons back up from the discounts left on its lines when it is resumed. A coupon that left no discount there is lost, and has to be entered again: one that only gave a free product, one that was showing as not applied, or one whose promotion this register does not have. See Park an order at the POS.

On a cart holding returns, promotions are worked out on what the customer is actually buying, after the returned items are netted off. A cart holding only returns gets no promotion and will not take a coupon. See Returns, refunds and exchanges at the POS.

If the register loses its connection

Automatic promotions keep applying, checked against what the register holds. A coupon already on the cart keeps discounting. You cannot enter a new coupon until the connection is back.

A coupon tied to a delivery zone is the exception: the register cannot place a delivery in a zone on its own, so the coupon stays on the cart giving nothing until the connection returns. If it still cannot be checked when you press Pay or Fast Checkout, checkout is blocked with “Couldn’t check a coupon with the server. Try again, or remove the coupon to continue.” Removing the coupon lets the sale go through. See Offline sales at the POS.

Once the coupon’s promotion shows on the cart with an amount against it, under a line or in the totals, the discount is on the sale and is kept on the order.