How to send a 10% (etc.) coupon to customers via the Customer Directory messaging portal?

[UsernameHere]

Hi, how can I send a 10% (or another increment) coupon to customers via the Customer Directory messaging portal?

Upon trying to send "30" the first time to a customer, assuming a "coupon" meant a % off a purchase, the customer received a $30 gift card, instead. I was shocked, and the customer wasn't thrilled with my "oops" explanation based on Square's incorrect title wording 😥

So is there a way to send a percentage-based reward for their next purchase?

SEE BELOW:

[UsernameHere]

???

[Ria]

Hi @UsernameHere - Thank you for stopping by The Seller Community😊

Great Question.

To send a coupon to customers via the Customer Directory Messaging Portal, follow these steps:

Customer profile > click on the elipses > Send Message > Press the + at the bottom left of the screen > Choose Coupon.

Note: You will need the customer's consent before sending the coupon. This method is technically a way to use Square Messages. The customer will need to respond "Yes" to receiving marketing texts and emails. 

Let me know if this helps. 

As always, feel free to stop by The Community with question, concerns and even feature requests. We are more than happy to assist. ✨

[UsernameHere]

Hi @Ria those steps you shared are the steps I followed originally, which is what my question was about. I am able to send "coupons," but please read an excerpt from my original post which I'll paste below from the OP a week ago:

"Hi, how can I send a 10% (or another increment) coupon to customers via the Customer Directory messaging portal?

Upon trying to send "30" the first time to a customer, assuming a "coupon" meant a % off a purchase, the customer received a $30 gift card, instead."

I need to know how to send a coupon, which is why I included the attached screenshot... but a coupon means a certain % off -- not a dollar amount toward the customer's next purchase.

How do I choose a % off to award customers for their next purchase?

[UsernameHere]

Please click HERE to view a screen share video from my Square Terminal Dashboard, providing insight into the nature of my question, below:

Hi, how can I send a 30% coupon to customers via the Customer Directory messaging portal? Upon trying to send "30" the first time to a customer, under the "coupon" heading, I assumed "coupon" meant a % off a purchase, however the customer received a $30 gift card, instead of the 30% next-visit coupon I was attempting to send.

Based on the video above, how can I send a coupon, meaning a certain % off their next purchase -- not a dollar amount?

[Ria]

@UsernameHere 

Thank you for providing me with such clear concise information to be able to get you the most accurate answers. Your depth and detail is much appreciated 😊✨

I'm working on a solution for whether what you're experiencing is a BUG or a feature that just needs to be suggested for implementation.

As soon as I get more information on this i'm happy to follow up,. 

[UsernameHere]

Thanks so much I'm looking forward to the information you find out!

[UsernameHere]

Hi @Ria and or Square Support,

Have any data or answers been found that might help resolve this issue, please? Thank you.

[JJ_]

Hey there @UsernameHere

I've been investigating this case closely and my findings are that (while you may be correct on the verbiage being a little confusing), on Square Coupons have a Dollar value while Discounts can be % or $ based. At this time you may only send Dollar amount coupons using this tool like the prompt says whenever you click on coupon action. 

A workaround that Sellers have used is to Send a message giving the customer the discount and have customers mention a keyword when in store, then employees at the register would honor the Discount. 

I hope this information is helpful!

[UsernameHere]

Hi @jj thanks so much for your message. While it was very kind and a great effort to provide a workaround resolution, it isn't practical to in effect send out secret passwords to customers that have to be individually managed and somehow policed by the employees.

By doing that, we lose control of redemption structure, timing, individuality, etc., basically treating the business like a game of pass-it-on, where we're unable to quantify any metrics or data of usage (or keep those secret words we provide contained to specific customers). Plus, this route places a lot of the workload and awkwardness at the register on our client, who is the focus of all our work to provide an enjoyable streamlined shopping experience (rather than remembering and whispering codes to the cashier who cannot verify the legitimacy of the passphrase).

It'd be great and helpful to Square's clients (small businesses) if they could come out with an actual customer gratitude or one-time good faith method to reward customers for leaving a review, sharing a social post, or just "because", rather than sending out free money amounts to be used on purchases.

Has this request been added to future developments? Hopefully when it comes out, it won't fall under Square's "must pay to use" feature set. Thanks, @JJ_ have a good one!

[JJ_]

I completely understand where you are coming from. Not all businesses are the same and this is what makes yours unique. Thank you for understanding that this was just a suggestion and not a solution at all. 

I will make sure to pass this Feature Request over to our product team for their visibility and consideration when working on future updates.