Limited free samples

[g1powermac]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of setting up a new Zen Cart install and I need to figure out a way to limit a single free sample of a physical item per either customer or address. Is there a way to set something like that up in Zen Cart?

Thanks,
J Silverman

[Ajeh]

Are the Free Samples actual Products or Attributes of a Product?

If they are Attributes of a Product, do all Products use the same Option Name/Option Value combination or multiple different Option Name/Option Value combinations?

[g1powermac]

They will be actual products.

[Ajeh]

The next thing would be the way to identify a Sample vs a Product ...

How are these Sample Products identified from regular Products?

If you have something to identify that something is a Sample, then it can be checked in the orders_products table to ensure that the customer can only get it once ...

You can even go so far as to check customers on these Sample Products and if previously ordered the Add to Cart/Buy Now buttons are removed and show something like "One per Customer" ...

[g1powermac]

Well, I'm thinking of setting up a product specifically to be the sample product. So, there will be all the regularly priced items and one 'sample' free item (samples of all or most of the items will be shipped together via this one sample item).

[Ajeh]

You could test for the products_id and see if the Customer has an Order where that products_id is in the orders_products_table and if so, control if they can get it again or not ...

NOTE: if you use the same products_id and just keep changing the Sample, then you cannot tell if they got Sample A vs Sample B ...

[cjsmiff]

The next thing would be the way to identify a Sample vs a Product ...

How are these Sample Products identified from regular Products?

If you have something to identify that something is a Sample, then it can be checked in the orders_products table to ensure that the customer can only get it once ...

You can even go so far as to check customers on these Sample Products and if previously ordered the Add to Cart/Buy Now buttons are removed and show something like "One per Customer" ...

Hi,

I'm trying to set one of my products (a free physical sample to be shipped) so that a customer can only ever order one. So I have a unique product id. What next? How do I implement the checking it in the order_products table and returning a "one per Customer" message please?

Which files do I need to edit etc to acheive this?

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[Ajeh]

I would edit the buy button function in the functions_general.php just above the line for:

    $button_check = $db->Execute("select product_is_call, products_quantity from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " where products_id = '" . (int)$product_id . "'");

And put in a test on the:
(int)$product_id

to see if that product is in the table:
orders_products

for the customers_id using:
$_SESSION['customer_id']

If it is, change the value in the CASES below that so that to add a new case and change the:
$return_button

so it is a message such as:
$return_button = 'You only get 1!';

[gokeypa]

Hello, I hope I am putting this post into the appropriate area.

My store is using zen 1.3.9 with super orders.

In my store I have many items and each item has eight options.

I also have both regular shoppers and retailers. Whenever I get a new POTENTAL retailer we send them I free item with free shipping. I would like to be able to track this item in the inventory without having to manually reduce the stock, so that I know whom to I sent. So I think I should set them up as a retailer even if they have not yet signed the contract. Be then when I set a special coupon of 100% off and free shipping the only thing that gets applied is the free shipping. So I tried 50% off with free shipping and the same thing happens.

Does anyone have a suggestion or a way that I might be able to send a free sample to these retailers and still track it in my inventory?

[Ajeh]

Discount Coupons are designed to work for 1 of 3 things:

1 Amount Off

2 Percentage Off

3 Free Shipping

The are not designed to work with a combination of 2 of the 3 choices ...

The Discount Coupon code could be customized for this ... but the Free Shipping i for everything in the cart ...

So, there would need to be further customization to manage the Shipping for when there are more Products than just the Product for Free Item and Free Shipping in the cart along with regular Products with Regular shipping ...

While it can be done, it takes quite a but of customization to manage everything for this ...