Modules > Point of Sale > Coupon Accounts

Defines a specific coupon to iMerchant. 

The properties of the coupon account define how it can be used, the dates the coupon is valid, the items allowed, and the coupon value.  

When a coupon is created, iMerchant will assign the coupon ID and barcode number. 

The following other properties are controlled by the user:

• Coupon Name – Used to identify the coupon. This name will also be used in POS.
• Alternate ID – A secondary ID that can be entered by the user to locate or identify the coupon. This value will default to the coupon ID but can be changed by the user. 
• Coupon to Print  - identifies the coupon design that will be used when printing a coupon.
• Start/End Dates – Identify the dates the coupon can be used.
• Single/ Multiple Usage – Indicates if the coupon can be used for many sales, or only one.
  • When a coupon is coded as single use, the active flag will be set to not active after it is redeemed.
• Use with other coupons – Allows or disallows this coupon to be used with other coupons in a sale.
• Allowed Discounts – A drop down list that controls how discounted and sale items are handled by the coupon.
• Regular Priced Items only – Does not discount sale or discounted items.
• Exclude Discounted Items – Items with a discount are not valid for the coupon, but sale items are.
• Not on Sale Items – Sale items are not valid for the coupon, but discounted items are.
• Any Item – All items are valid.
• Maximum Discount allowed – A dollar amount limit for the coupon.
  •  A value of zero indicates there is not a limit.
  • This field is not used for coupons that apply standard item discounts.
• Display Prompt – Shows the prompt message and logs the response in the coupon history record.
  • None – Does not show the message.
  • Optional – Shows the message, but does not force a response.
  • Required – Shows the message and a response must be entered.
• Type of coupon - Defines how the coupon will calculate a value.  The selected setting will enable and disable the calculation fields appropriate for the option.
  • Dollar amount off total sale - The entered amount is taken off all qualifying items up to the dollar limit.
  • Percent off total sale - The entered percentage is taken off all qualifying items up to the dollar limit.
  • Coupon Rule applied – The coupon rule selected will be used to identity qualifying products and the value of the coupon. The coupon maximum amount applies to this type of coupon.
  • POS Automatic Discount Code/Rule applied – the selected POS discount rule will be applied to all product items in the sale. This is equivalent to the user pressing the add discount to all function in POS. The coupon maximum does not apply to this type of coupon.
  • POS Discount percent applied to each item – the selected discount percentage will be applied to all product items in the sale. This is equivalent to the user pressing the add discount to all function in POS. The coupon maximum does not apply to this type of coupon.
  • Dollar amount off as Service – The service associated with the coupon is added as a credit to the sale with the dollar amount defined. POS does not check to see of the coupon exceeds the current sale amount
• Discount as Service – This identifies the service that is added to the sale when the “Type of coupon” is “Dollar amount off as Service”.  The field only applies to a “Dollar amount off as Service” coupon type.
• Tender – This identifies the tender that will be used in POS to identify this coupon. The selected tender must be defined in tender properties as a coupon tender. Multiple coupons can reference a single tender.
• Valid On – A drop down list that controls if the coupon can be applied to products and/or services. This filed is only user controlled with the total sale discount options.
  • All Products and Services  - discount applies to all items.
  • Only Products  - discount only applies to products.
  • Only Services  - discount only applies to services.

Modules > Point of Sale > Coupon History

Records the details of each use of a particular coupon. 

The POS sale ID, date, user/cashier, amount and prompt information are recorded.  

The amount indicates the actual discount dollar amount given in the sale. 

When a POS item discount type coupon is used the discounts are shown and applied to each line in POS, however the history record will show the total of these individual items.

The coupon history finder is accessible from the Modules > POS menu or from the coupon accounts finder. 

When launched from the coupon accounts finder the form is automatically populated for the coupon selected in the finder.

Tools > Parameters > Coupon Usage Rule

The coupon rule parameter allows the user a very flexible method of controlling a coupon. The rules are a series of lines that define the qualifying products via a query, and the type of discount to apply. One rule can have several calculations one for each product query. iMerchant will review these rules, calculate the amount for each line item and then sum these together to determine the total coupon amount. The coupon total is then subject to the coupon maximum. iMerchant tests the rules from the top of the list to the bottom to see if a product qualifies and stops on the first successful entry. Each rule line is made up of the following fields:

• Discount Type – A drop down that controls the discount calculation.
  • Percent Off – Calculates a percent off the sum of qualifying items and applies the amount as a total sale discount.
  • Dollar Off – Creates a total sale discount for the dollar amount entered. The dollar amount will not exceed the sum of qualifying items.
  • Discount schedule – Uses the discount schedule parameter to determine the total sale discount amount.
  • Item Discount Code/Rule – Applies an automatic discount rule to each qualifying item. The coupon maximum does not apply to this type of coupon.
  • Item Discount Percent – Applies a discount percentage off each qualifying item. The coupon maximum does not apply to this type of coupon.
• Discount $ or % – The discount amount or percentage for the percent off and dollar off discount types.
• Discount Schedule / Item Discount Rule – The discount schedule or automatic discount rule to apply. The selection list represents the discount type selected.
• Selection – The query used to identify products that apply to this discount type.

Tools > Parameters > Coupon Discount Schedule

The coupon discount schedule parameter allows the user to define the coupon amount based on the sum total of the qualifying items. 

This allows a tiered discount structure where the amount of the discount can vary based on the sum of the qualified items. 

This also allows for a minimum that must be met before calculating a discount. 

The schedule consists of the following fields:

• Sale Amount From – The net amount of the qualifying items that must be equal to or greater than to use this line item.
• Discount – This is the dollar amount or percentage that will be applied.
• Amount or Percent – A drop down list that identifies the discount as a dollar amount or a percentage.

The coupon designer defines the print layout for a coupon. 

The designer is similar to the label designers in iMerchant. 

The coupon can be printed from the Coupon Accounts property form. 

Sometimes the coupon design must be exported so that it can be sent to a newspaper for an ad or a more sophisticated drawing application will want to take advantage of the barcode image created by [i]merchant. 

This can easily be done using a printer utility program that will appear as a printer device, but will email or create a PDF document from the print request. 

One such utility is called PDF Creator and is available for free.

Coupons can be redeemed at any point in the sale once an item has been entered. 

The coupon barcode containing the coupon id can be scanned just like a product label. 

If the coupon cannot be scanned, the coupon finder is available via the find menu. 

The coupon finder can also be configured on the POS user defined button control and as a Quick Key.

The coupon value is recalculated as items are added to the sale. 

If the coupon is a total sale coupon, the value will be displayed on the coupon tender line. 

For item discount coupons, the coupon savings for each product is displayed next the item as a standard discount. 

The coupon discount items can be identified by the lower case “c” following the discount sign. 

If the coupon is removed from the sale, the line item discounts are automatically removed.

Coupons are supported in offline pos. Coupon accounts are sent to the POS server and updated via the POS server update process. The update offline sales process will update the coupon history for the coupons redeemed.

Coupon totals appear in the sales and receipt summary as a tender, the tender assigned to the coupon. 

The coupon tender is treated as a regular tender for reporting and accounting postings. 

The particular coupon that was used in the sale is not directly accessible via the tender. 

That detailed information is accessible via the coupon history finder. The coupon history entries can be searched by sale ID or by coupon tender.

Coupons can be created and issued within the POS if desired. 

When enabled, each store is assigned a coupon creation rule used within the POS to generate coupons. 

The coupon creation rules allow different coupons to be created based on the sale total, similar to how the discount schedule works when redeeming a coupon.

Coupons can also be created in POS via a service. 

The coupon creation settings parameter controls how the coupon will be created and if it is associated with a service. 

When the service associated with the coupon creation parameter is sold, POS generates a coupon. 

This feature can be used to generate a coupon for a customer reward premium.

The coupon creation rule parameter allows the user to define the coupon that will be issued based on the pre-tax net sale total of a POS transaction. 

This allows a tiered structure where the value of the coupon can increase as the sale increases. 

This structure also allows for a minimum sale amount that must be met before issuing a coupon. 

A Coupon Rule consists of the following fields:

• Sale Amount From – The net amount of sale before taxes that must be met to create a coupon.
• Coupon Creation Setting – A parameter that contains the specific details for creating the coupon.

Tools > Parameters > Coupon Creation Rule

This defines how a coupon will be created when attached to a coupon rule.  

A new coupon can be created for each qualifying transaction, or an existing coupon can be selected for use. 

This is controlled by the Use Existing Coupon check box.

A Coupon Creation Setting consists of the following fields:

• Issue as a Service – A check box that indicates a coupon will be created when the service in the “Issue with Service” field is sold at POS. When this box is checked, a service is required.
• Existing Coupon to Use – Identifies the coupon that will be printed when the “Use Existing Coupon” option is checked.  The user must make sure the coupon selected will be valid when issued by POS. 

Print Settings Area 

• Coupon To Print – A coupon design that will be applied to the coupon being created. This option is only enabled when the “Use Existing Coupon” check box is checked.
• Print Coupon on Receipt Printer – Controls printing at POS.  When checked, a coupon will print on the POS receipt printer. Unchecked, the coupon is created, but not printed. This option is usually checked.
• Receipt Image – The file path of the receipt logo to be printed.  This path should be accessible to all POS units.
• Receipt Message – A user defined message that will be printed on the coupon.
•  The coupon will automatically print the coupon name, start date, end date and a barcode with the coupon ID. When the Discount type is set to “Dollar amount off of total sale”, [i]merchant will also print the coupon value.
• The coupon is validated before being printed in POS so that expired coupons do not print. POS does not display a warning message to the user if an invalid coupon is detected.

Usage settings for new coupon Area 

• This area is only enabled when the “Use Existing Coupon” option is not checked.  These fields are placed into the corresponding fields of Coupon Accounts to define the coupon.
• Calculate Start Date check box – When checked, the start date of the coupon will be set to the POS date plus the number of days entered in the “days” field.
• Fixed Start Date – A specific starting date. This field is only available if the “Calculate Start Date” file is not checked.
• Calculate End Date check box – When checked, the end date of the coupon will be set to the POS date plus the number of days entered in the “days” field.
• Fixed End Date – A specific ending date. This field is only available if the “Calculate End Date” file is not checked.