how can I offer special pricing to certain customers?

OK, how can I do this;

I want to be able to give certain customers a series of discounts, ideally on a per-item basis but I could work it into a
per category discount if a per-item opton was not available. So for example some items would be 10% off and some would be 25% off and others could
not be discounted due to not having the profit margins, so any solution that applies a blanket discount to everything
will not work.

For example I'd like to give special 'VIP' prices to groups of customers that attend an event. Regular browsers would
not see the special prices.

So far from what I have read;

coupons - won't work because a coupon can only have one fixed discount and only one coupon allowed per cart session

hide categories - this sounded like a perfect way to do it but the mod says it is not compatible with MYSQL 5 :(

password protected categories - another promising looking solution but seems like there were bugs and potential problems and no follow-up so could be risky.

'Any ideas? :)

Here you go http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=256

~Melanie

mprough:

Here you go http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=256

~Melanie

Thanks for the reply. I don't think I can use group pricing because not everyone will have already created an account in the store. I need
to be able to give a potential customer a password, or URL etc. so that anyone can be offered a special discount. Also I would not want it
to be permanently switched on. For example I need to be able to offer people who attend an event a special discount only available this weekend,
no one else would know about it or have access and after the weekend the specials get shut off.

For example I need to be able to offer people who attend an event a special discount only available this weekend,
Creae a coupon that you only let who you want know about
Scehdule the coupon valid for what ever period you want

kobra:

Creae a coupon that you only let who you want know about
Scehdule the coupon valid for what ever period you want

As I mentioned, the limitation with coupons is they can only have one discount percentage and only one coupon is allowed per purchase. This
would not allow me to give varying discounts for different products.

Could you just give them a refund?

If you let them know that the refund will be worth 10% off any item from this category, then you can refund them once they've paid. Either give them a discount coupon for the amount as a refund (plus that brings more business through your site when they spend the coupon) or you could refund them through your bank payment people.

Would that work?:bigups:

epsonprintersrock:

Could you just give them a refund?

If you let them know that the refund will be worth 10% off any item from this category, then you can refund them once they've paid. Either give them a discount coupon for the amount as a refund (plus that brings more business through your site when they spend the coupon) or you could refund them through your bank payment people.

Would that work?:bigups:

Well, not really.

It is far more enticing for a customer to see the discount as they make their purchase. Offering a refund is a really
poor incentive and also just doesn't look very professional (plus it then forces them to have to check their credit
card statement to see that they really did get the refund etc.)