How to use the Buy X Get Y feature of AwoCoupon


This guide is to illustrate how to use the Buy X Get Y feature of AwoCoupon Pro (min version 1.4.9 / 2.0.9) for Virtuemart, redSHOP, Hikashop, and Prestashop. If you would like to know more about the feature itself please read the blog post on Buy X Get Y. If you want to learn more about AwoCoupon Pro click here.

Below are 4 examples of promotions using the wonderful Buy X Get Y feature. If you need more help, please feel free to contact us.

  1. Buy One Get One Free
  2. Buy One Get One Free (Cross-selling)
  3. 3 for 2
  4. Buy One Get One Half Price


Buy One Get One Free

In this example I am creating a promotion where a customer buys one ladder (any type) and gets another ladder free but must spend at least 20 and s/he can use the coupon only once.

  1. Go to AwoCoupon Pro
  2. On the Dashboard click New Coupon
  3. For Coupon details input:
    1. Coupon Type > Buy X Get Y
    2. Buy X Get Y Type > Overall Quantity
    3. Coupon Code > anything you like I choose LadderMadness
    4. Published > Published
    5. Percent or Amount > Percent
    6. Value > 100
    7. Process Type > First found match (this means that the product, ladder in this example, which will be free depends on the order in which the customer put products in the cart and it does NOT depend on the price. If you want to give the cheapest ladder away for free then choose Process Type Lowest Value).
  4. For Optional fields input:
    1. Number of Uses > per Customer and enter 1 in the box with # next to it
    2. Minimum Value > Overall and 20 in the box next to it
    3. For my example I am leaving all the other fields blank
  5. On the right hand side, click the little green arrow next to Customers to expand the box
  6. Select the customers you want the promotion to work for and add them to the list
  7. For Buy X input:
    1. Number > 1 (because for every 1 product a customer buys they will receive something – a second product free in my case)
    2. Type > Product
    3. Now search for the products, and add them (by double clicking the product on the list or by clicking the Add button) I have added all four different types of ladder I have in my store.
    4. Leave the “Include” radio button under the list checked. This means that the products you added to the list are included in the coupon promotion.
  8. For Get Y input:
    1. Number > 1 (because customers are getting 1 product – 1 free ladder in our example)
    2. Type > Product
    3. Now search for the products customers can get free and add them to the list. I have added the same four ladders to my Get Y product list as I have added to the Buy X list because I am creating a promotion where a customer can buy any type of ladder and get another (any type) free.
    4. Leave the “Include” radio button under the list checked. This means that the products you added to the list are included in the coupon promotion.
  9. Click Save in the upper right hand corner

Congratulations, you have created a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotional coupon!


Buy One Get One Free (Cross-selling)

In this example I am creating a simple promotion where a customer buys any product from my Power Tools range (product category) and gets a free shovel.

  1. Go to AwoCoupon Pro
  2. On the Dashboard click New Coupon
  3. For Coupon details input:
    1. Coupon Type > Buy X Get Y
    2. Buy X Get Y Type > Overall Quantity
    3. Coupon Code > anything you like I choose ShovelMadness
    4. Published > Published
    5. Percent or Amount > Percent
    6. Value > 100
    7. Process Type > you can choose any as the coupon will work only for a specific one product (shovel) therefore single pricing. I leave it at First found match
  4. For Optional fields input:
    1. For my example I am leaving all the optional fields blank
  5. Moving to the right hand side
  6. For Buy X input:
    1. Number > 1 (because for every 1 product a customer buys they will receive something – a second product free in my case)
    2. Type > Category
    3. Now search for the category you want and add it to the list (by double clicking the category on the list or by clicking the Add button) I have added Power Tools.
    4. Leave the “Include” radio button under the list checked. This means that the products you added to the list are included in the coupon promotion.
  7. For Get Y input:
    1. Number > 1 (because customers are getting 1 product – 1 free shovel in our example)
    2. Type > Product
    3. Now search for the specific product customers can get free and add it to the list. I have added the shovel to my list.
    4. Leave the “Include” radio button under the list checked. This means that the products you added to the list are included in the coupon promotion.
  8. Click Save in the upper right hand corner

Congratulations, you have created a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotional coupon!


3 for 2

In this example I am creating a promotion where a customer buys any 3 products from my Garden Tools range (product category) and gets the cheapest one free. This special offer will be valid only for one week and is limited to 5 (free) products per order.

  1. Go to AwoCoupon Pro
  2. On the Dashboard click New Coupon
  3. For Coupon details input:
    1. Coupon Type > Buy X Get Y
    2. Buy X Get Y Type > Overall Quantity
    3. Coupon Code > anything you like I choose GardenToolsMadness
    4. Published > Published
    5. Percent or Amount > Percent
    6. Value > 100
    7. Process Type > Lowest Value (this means that the cheapest product of the 3 is free. If the customer puts 12 qualifying products in their basket then the 4 cheapest will be free, no matter the order they were put in the basket).
  4. For Optional fields input:
    1. Maximum Discount Qty > 5
    2. Start Date > anything you like I use June 1, 2012 for my example
    3. Expiration > anything you like, I use June 8, 2012 for my example as I want the promotion to be valid only for one week
  5. Moving to the right hand side
  6. For Buy X input:
    1. Number > 2 (because for every 2 products a customer buys they will receive something – a free 3rd in my case)
    2. Type > Category (as I am running the promotion on all Garden tools which are a category of products in my store. You can use a group of single products or a manufacturer... it’s your choice)
    3. Now search for the category you want and add it to the list (by double clicking the category on the list or by clicking the Add button) I have added Garden Tools.
    4. Leave the “Include” radio button under the list checked. This means that the products you added to the list are included in the coupon promotion.
  7. For Get Y input:
    1. Number > 1 (because customers are getting 1 product – free in our example)
    2. Type > Category
    3. Now search for the same category you picked for Buy Y. I have added my Garden tools to the list.
    4. Leave the “Include” radio button under the list checked. This means that the products you added to the list are included in the coupon promotion.
  8. Click Save in the upper right hand corner

Congratulations, you have created any 3 for 2 promotional coupon!


Buy One Get One Half Price

In this example I am creating a promotion where a customer buys a hammer and gets the second hammer half price. The offer will be valid for one day only and minimum spend of 10 is required.

  1. Go to AwoCoupon Pro
  2. On the Dashboard click New Coupon
  3. For Coupon details input:
    1. Coupon Type > Buy X Get Y
    2. Buy X Get Y Type > Overall Quantity
    3. Coupon Code > anything you like I choose HammerMadness
    4. Published > Published
    5. Percent or Amount > Percent
    6. Value > 50
    7. Process Type > you can choose any as the coupon will work only for a specific one product (hammer) therefore single pricing. I leave it at First found match
  4. For Optional fields input:
    1. Minimum Value > Overall and 10 in the box next to it
    2. Start Date > anything you like I use July 4, 2012 for my example
    3. Expiration > anything you like, I use July 4, 2012 for my example as I want the promotion to be valid for that one day only
  5. Moving to the right hand side
  6. For Buy X input:
    1. Number > 1 (because for every 1 product a customer buys they will receive something – a second product half price in my case)
    2. Type > Product
    3. Now search for the product you want and add it to the list (by double clicking the product on the list or by clicking the Add button) I have added hammer.
    4. Leave the “Include” radio button under the list checked. This means that the product you added to the list is included in the coupon promotion.
  7. For Get Y input:
    1. Number > 1 (because customers are getting 1 product – half priced in our example)
    2. Type > Product
    3. Now search for the same product you picked for Buy Y. I have added my hammer to the list.
    4. Leave the “Include” radio button under the list checked. This means that the products you added to the list are included in the coupon promotion.
  8. Click Save in the upper right hand corner

Congratulations, you have created Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price promotional coupon!


Comments (52)

  1. Your avatar
    ultan8 6 years ago 6 years ago
    I would like to offer 3 for 2 on products that are priced at $5 or less. Is this possible?
    • Your avatar
      seyi 6 years ago 6 years ago
      You can create a 3 for 2 offer, but not filter on products $5 or less. What you can do is create a category, and add all the $5 or less items to it and then use that in the coupon.
  2. Default avatar
    marcvs 6 years ago 6 years ago
    Hi,
    I want to know it always work with a coupon? It can't work as automatic promotion without COUPON CODE?

    Thanks
  3. Default avatar
    pol328 5 years ago 5 years ago
    Hello,
    I want to offer 1 goody for each order (I'm using Joomla + hikashop).
    With this plugin, I can automaticaly add my goody in the basket. I've created a restriction for the product at 1 product per order.
    But if I add 2 products directly in the basket, using the quantity field, the plugin doesn't work. I think it's because of the field "number" in Buy X, I've written "1", but how to change it with something like "at least 1" ?...
    Do you see what I mean ?
    Thank you a lot for your help !
    • Your avatar
      seyi 5 years ago 5 years ago
      Hello,

      I do not quite understand, you say you have created a restriction for 1 product per order, but you want to add 2?

      Are you saying you want the customer to buy at least 1 of x, and for the y product receive for free. If they add 10 y products they would receive all 10 y products free as long as they have 1 x product in the cart?
  4. Default avatar
    pol328 5 years ago 5 years ago
    Ho, sorry if I'm not very clear... Thank you for your answer.
    I want the customer to buy at least 1 of X (product from a category), yes, and offer just 1 Y per order. My system works if I put in the basket the X products one by one. But if I put 2 same products directly in the basket (using the quantity field), my coupon doesn't work anymore... :(
    To be clear : my client sell shoes and clothes. If you buy a pair of shoes, he offers a keyring (just one. If you buy 3 pairs of shoes, you'll receive just 1 keyring...). If you buy 1 pair, the plugin works. If you buy 2 differents pairs, the plugin works. But if you buy 2 identical pairs of shoes, the plugin doen't work ! Strange, isn't it ? ;)
    • Your avatar
      seyi 5 years ago 5 years ago
      So you set the maximum discount qty to 1, which limits the y to just 1. If you add 1 pair, the key ring is added and discounted. If you add 2 identical pairs, is the keyring not discounted and removed? As there might be ajax involved, if you refresh the page, does it show correctly?
  5. Default avatar
    Sandra ( Guest ) 5 years ago 5 years ago
    Hi!

    I created a code "Buy 2 get 1 for free".
    This works if customer chooses two different SKU's.
    But if they choose 2 pcs of the same SKU, the code doesn't work.
    Is there any way I can make that work?

    Many thanks in advance!
    • Your avatar
      seyi 5 years ago 5 years ago
      Hello,

      Would need to see how you created the voucher. Please post in the forum with a screen shot of the coupon edit screen.
  6. Default avatar
    bassez ( Guest ) 4 years ago 4 years ago
    Is it possible to realize a discount not as a percentage, but specifically so that product Y costs a certain amount.
    Let's say X costs $ 100, product Y costs $ 45. If the buyer added product X to the cart, then I will sell product Y to him for $ 1. Is such an implementation possible? And then I see only as a percentage, you can make a discount.
    • Your avatar
      seyi 4 years ago 4 years ago
      There are a few options when setting discount:

      - Percent
      - Amount
      - Amount per item
      - Fixed product price

      You can set it to fixed product price of 1.
  7. Default avatar
    ( Guest ) 12 years ago 12 years ago
    Hi,

    Im trying to create an offer where you buy any 3 items (from a certain range) and get 1 item free.

    I have followed the instructions above, but when i test the code it says 'voucher code not found'

    Is there something obvious i am missing?

    Thanks

    Tyler
    • Your avatar
      seyi 12 years ago 12 years ago
      Hello,

      It would be helpful to know the details of your setup and what version of AwoCoupon Pro you are using.
      • Default avatar
        ( Guest ) 12 years ago 12 years ago
        Hi,

        I think we are using 1.5.0 - it has only just been updated on our website.

        The details of my set up are:

        Function type: coupon
        Function 2: buy x get y
        Coupon code: TYLER
        Published: published
        Percent or amount: percent
        Value: 100.00000
        Process type: first match found

        Number of uses: per customer 1
        Min value: overall
        Start date: 1st oct
        Expires: 31st oct

        Buy X - 14 products added to list

        Number: 3
        type: product

        Buy Y - 1 item added to list

        Number: 1
        type: product
        • Your avatar
          seyi 12 years ago 12 years ago
          Ok, for this coupon to work, all of the below have to be true:

          - you added 3 products from the Buy X list
          - you added 1 product from the Buy Y list
          - you are logged in when you tried to use the coupon (number of uses per customer forces this)
          • Default avatar
            ( Guest ) 12 years ago 12 years ago
            Hi,

            Also i didnt realise that you have to add the free item to the order, and then enter the coupon code, which takes off the discount.

            Might be worth adding that to your instructions?

            Thanks
            • Your avatar
              seyi 12 years ago 12 years ago
              Thanks for your input, a note has been added.
              • Default avatar
                warren2 11 years ago 11 years ago
                Hi,
                Nearly a year has gone by since this thread and it seems that the coupon code still cannot generate a free product to be added to a cart (in prestashop at least). Instead the customer has to add the product and then enter the coupon to get the 100% discount. This is making life far too difficult for the customer... the idea of a buy X get Y free should be that the Y is added free automatically. Anything else adds extra steps which increases the chances of abandoned carts.

                Has there been any progress with this in the last year?

                Warren
                • Your avatar
                  seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
                  Hello,

                  10/02/2012 is October 2, 2012, which will make it just over 4 months. And in that time, there has been progress made. AwoCoupon 2 for Joomla now has this feature.

                  Thanks for you input and as with the reply dated 02/16/2013, we will be looking into it for the other versions.
                  • Default avatar
                    ( Guest ) 11 years ago 11 years ago
                    Hi

                    is it possible to configure the Buy 1 Get 1 coupon with "Get 1" to choose the product by user itself from set of products??

                    Thanks,
                    Venki. N

                    • Your avatar
                      seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
                      Hello,

                      If I understand correctly after entering the coupon, you want the customer to be given a choice of what product to receive? No, this is not a feature. There is an 'automatically add product to cart', which will automatically add a product to the cart from your get y list, as long as there are no restrictions on the product that require customer input.

                      Regards
                      Seyi
  8. Default avatar
    jean-christophe 11 years ago 11 years ago
    On Prestashop, Buy One Get One Free is not really usable, i don't know if it behave different on joomla or another cms, but let's see that for presta :

    A customer buy one product, go to cart and Need to add coupon code himself (that is already bad).. the coupon code show :

    There is 1 error :
    COUPONDODE: Coupon code not found

    Then he need to order 2 items .. add the coupon code again in voucher form.. and Then it works !

    let's say that it is not usable in productive website.. the article should be added automatically to the cart when one is bought.. coupon code is not friendly.. and with all details that customer has to do.. even worst.

    Best regards

    • Your avatar
      seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
      Hello,

      Thanks for your feedback. This is a coupon system, so mainly the customer does need to enter the coupon code in order to receive a discount. Here are the 3 versions of AwoCoupon and their current functions with relations to what you have said:

      AwoCoupon 1 for Joomla
      - cannot add a coupon code to the cart automatically
      - for buy x get y products, has the option to try and add the get y products to the cart automatically

      AwoCoupon 2 for Joomla
      - can add a coupon code to the cart automatically
      - for buy x get y products, has the option to try and add the get y products to the cart automatically

      AwoCoupon for Prestashop
      - cannot add a coupon code to the cart automatically
      - for buy x get y products, has the option to try and add the get y products to the cart automatically


      This features you request will be looked at and I am sure we will at some point the logic will be added, as long as this is feasible without hacking the Prestashop core.

      Regards
      Seyi
      • Your avatar
        seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
        In AwoCoupon prestashop, the latest version, it is now possible to have the product added to the cart automatically. I have updated the previous post to reflect this change.

        Please understand this: If the product is already in the cart, then it just updates the quantity as long as its not out of stock, but if the product is not in the cart, then it tries to add the product but may fail for one of many reasons, some including
        - product has required attributes
        - product has required customized fields
        - product is out of stock
        - product minimum quantity is not met

        Regards
        Seyi
        • Default avatar
          ( Guest ) 11 years ago 11 years ago
          Dear Seyi,

          I am going to test that new prestashop version right away.

          Thank you for your good job !

          Best Regards,
          JC
  9. Default avatar
    ( Guest ) 11 years ago 11 years ago
    Good Morning,

    I am trying to create a coupon as you have described above (Buy any product and get Y free). I have used what you have done above exactly and tried variations but I continuely get

    The discount code is not valid

    Error message.

    I am using the plugin with Joomla/Redshop

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Kind regards,
    Spencer
    • Your avatar
      seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
      Hello Spencer,

      A very easy way to debug why a coupon code is not working is to go to awocoupon->configuration->error messages, and change all the errors to something identifiable, then use the coupon in the front end again to see where it fails.

      Also, for buy x get y, make sure with your first test, you have all products in the cart before using the coupon code. Then if you want the get y product added automatically, check the "Automatically add to cart 'Get Y' product" is checked and test without adding the get y product to the cart. If it cannot add the get y product for some reason, (out of stock, need to select attributes, etc), then the coupon code will fail.

      Regards
      Seyi
  10. Default avatar
    damian2 11 years ago 11 years ago
    I'm looking to configure discounts that allow bulk buy discounts e.g. Buy 2 of the same product get 5% off, Buy 3 of the same product get 7.5% off or Buy 100 of the same product get 50% off etc. This is to be applied to every product available on the Joomla website. Could you indicate how this could be configured.

    Thank you in advanced.
    • Your avatar
      seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
      Hello,

      You can use the value definition field for this, dont think you need buy x get why function on this one:
      https://awodev.com/documentation/awocoupon-pro/coupons#value-definition

  11. Default avatar
    sandor 11 years ago 11 years ago
    Hi, is there any way to set up the buy x get y feature to add 1 particular product when the customer buy anything (1 or 2 or more) for at least a minimum amount (50 $ for example) no matter what s/he buy?
    Thanks
    Sandor
    • Your avatar
      seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
      Hello,

      You can set it up as such:
      Function type: buy x get y
      Minimum order total: 50
      Buy X: 1 Manufacturer, and select all your manufacturers
      Get Y: 1 Product, and select the specific product

      That should do it.
      • Default avatar
        sandor 11 years ago 11 years ago
        Hy Seyi,
        my problem is that if I set up the above, and the customer buys 3 products for 17 than she reach the 50 $ and get 3 y products while I only want to give her 1 item for spending 50 $ no matter how many pieces she bought..
        • Your avatar
          seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
          Ah ok, then set Maximum discount qty to 1.
          • Default avatar
            sandor 11 years ago 11 years ago
            That's fine if she buys just one item over 50. But if she put two products into the basket then entering the coupon code results error. I have got plenty of stock from product Y though.
            • Your avatar
              seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
              I do not I understand the problem. Are you saying if you buy 1 item over 50 it works fine, but if you buy a combination of 2 or more items that are over 50 then the code is not accepted? Have you tried going to awocoupon->configuration->error messages tab and changing the errors to something identifiable so you know why it fails?
              • Default avatar
                sandor 11 years ago 11 years ago
                Hi, the response message is not from the error messages tab: the PHPSHOP_COUPON_CODE_INVALID is fired.
                • Your avatar
                  seyi 11 years ago 11 years ago
                  Please open a forum post with an explanation of the problem you are having, because I really still do not understand it, and we can investigate it further.
  12. Default avatar
    rollergames 9 years ago 9 years ago
    HI,

    You can create a
    buy 1 product 0% discount
    buy 2 products 5% discount
    Buy 3 products 15% discount
    Buy 4 products 20% discount
    buys products 1000000 20% discount

    • Your avatar
      seyi 9 years ago 9 years ago
      Hello,

      You can, but I would not use the buy x get y function for it. I would use a value definition;
      https://awodev.com/documentation/awocoupon-pro/coupons#value-definition

      For your example would set it up as such:
      qty value
      1 0
      2 5%
      3 15%
      4 20%

      And that should do it.
      • Default avatar
        rollergames 9 years ago 9 years ago
        Do you do such a discount?
        buy 5 items

        1 product dearest 0% discount
        2 cheaper product from 1 (10% discount) for this product
        3 cheaper product of 2 (15% discount) for this product
        3 product cheaper from 3 (20% discount) this and each subsequent.
        • Your avatar
          seyi 9 years ago 9 years ago
          Hello,

          Not sure I understand your question. Are you trying to say, you have 5 items in the cart, ordered from cheapest, and this is how it discounts:

          $5 => discount 0
          $10 => discount 10%: $1
          $20 => discount 15%: $3
          $50 => discount 20%: $10
          $100 => discount 0

          For total discount of $14?

          If so, then no, cannot do that with AwoCoupon

          • Default avatar
            rollergames 9 years ago 9 years ago
            Helo
            Example understand that
            you have 5 items in the cart
            1) 20$,
            2) 10$,
            3) 150$,
            4) 5$,
            5) 30$

            Discount: arrange items from highest price to lowest price

            Discount:
            3) 150$ => dscount 0
            5) 30$ => 10% discount $3
            1) 20$ => 15% discount $3
            2) 10$ => 20% discount 2$
            4) 5$ => 20% discound 1$
            • Your avatar
              seyi 9 years ago 9 years ago
              Hello,

              Yes, it is the same idea. No, AwoCoupon cannot currently do that. Looking to add the ability in a future update.
  13. Default avatar
    anastasiia 8 years ago 8 years ago
    I want to add discount such as ''BUY X&Z get Y''
    Do you have ''Or / &'' option? or is it just ''or'' option for product lists?
    If it isn't, Would you prefer to make one? Should I wait or look for some another options?
    thank you
    • Default avatar
      anastasiia 8 years ago 8 years ago
      also BUY X&Y get 20% discount
      • Your avatar
        seyi 8 years ago 8 years ago
        Hello,

        Both of the above scenarios will not work with buy x get y coupon. You can use a parent coupon to create them. Take for example: BUY X&Z get Y

        You can set this up as such:

        Coupon A: type coupon, value 0, discount type: specific, asset, select product X
        Coupon B: type coupon, value 0, discount type: specific, asset, select product Z
        Coupon C:
        type coupon
        discount type: specific
        value definition:
        qty value
        1 100%
        2 0
        asset: select product Y
        Coupon D: type parent, add coupons A, B, and C, and set process type to 'ONLY if all apply'

        And give out coupon D.
  14. Default avatar
    camille 8 years ago 8 years ago
    Hello,

    I need to put a kind of buy X get Y coupon but i don't know how to do.
    If a customer buy 20$ to 50$ in one time then he can choose between 3 products i give him.

    Can you explain me how to configure it in Awo Coupon Pro ?

    Thank you very much.
    • Your avatar
      seyi 8 years ago 8 years ago
      Hello,

      So if customer purchases at least $20 worth of items, you want them to be able to choose from 3 products?

      You can create the coupon which would give one of the 3 products a discount, but there is no interface to choose the products. The customer would have to add one of the 3 to the cart to get the discount. So to create it:

      Value: 100%
      Minimum Value: 20
      Maxiumum Discount Qty: 1
      Buy X: 1 vendor, select all
      Get Y: 1 product, select the 3