Payhip and discount codes

Whilst we wait for the new website to be finished - and I know, it’s been a long wait as I explain in another post - I’ve used the Payhip shopping cart on this website. It’s quite possible that once the new website is finished I’ll keep my Payhip store open, I’m not sure yet.

But in the meantime I’ve been slowly building more resources to help folks using Payhip and today I’m sharing a photo step-by-step guide to using discount codes with their cart.

Before I start I’d like to re-emphasise the golden rules about using discounts!

1. If the code doesn’t seem to work, or you can’t see where to apply the code, DO NOT proceed to checkout and pay - because I’m unable to reimburse you. I’ve over 10,000 members in The Woolly Hat Society and tens of thousands of followers on social media, which are amazing feats, but it also means that it’s impossible for me to personally rectify any problems with discount codes because there’s only one of me back here working on this.

2. All of the codes I provide - whether they be Etsy, Ravelry, Payhip or anywhere else - all need to be applied BEFORE you proceed to the Paypal or Stripe checkout. What I mean by this is that all the codes are specific to the platform where the products are available, and not the cart provider. Trying to use a code once you’ve reached Paypal or Stripe simply won’t work.

OK, now that that’s covered, let me show you how the discount codes work with Payhip!

The image shows the crown of my Everglade pattern. It features the post title “Using Discount Codes via Payhip”

1) If you use the temporary cart on this website this part will look a little different, but for now I want to focus on using the Payhip store directly as that’s where discounts are primarily used. The example I’m showing here is for my Cuboidal collection but it’ll be the same for anything in my Payhip store.

Whether you click ‘Add to Cart’ or ‘Buy Now’ is up to you. Just bear in mind that you can only use one discount code at a time, and all of the platforms are the same about this.

2) Once you’ve added the item to your cart, the cart will pop up and showing you what’s in your basket. If you’re not adding anything else to the cart then click ‘Checkout’.

3) This is how the Payhip cart appears. Because Payhip doesn’t have a membership option, it doesn’t remember you. So before it can proceed with anything it needs to know who you are - your email address and your name need to be added. It won’t let you skip this part, because it won’t let you checkout if it doesn’t know where to email the download link!

4) So fill these bits in and let it know where you’d like the download link to be sent. It asks for your name as Payhip has a review system, and for reviews to be authentic a realistic first and last name is needed. But you can use a pseudonym here if you prefer.

Note that I’ve used a made up email address here - if you want your download link to arrive then you’ll need to use the email address that you use most often.

And right under where you add your surname you’ll see the ‘Add Coupon’ link in blue.

5) The wording on this is a bit odd, but I also suggest you check the ‘Send me Product Updates’ box. If you don’t check this then you won’t receive any update notices to patterns or eBooks, and they’re mighty important. Updates through Ravelry are automatic but because Payhip is a UK company and takes GDPR law very seriously, it explicity requires that you opt in to get updates - so please do!

6) Once you’ve done all of that, hit the ‘Add Coupon’ link that’s below the surname field and you’ll see this screen pop up - this is where you add your code!

I always always suggest folks copy+paste the code I provide in the newsletters to make sure no misspellings or rogue spaces and characters get in the way - you wouldn’t believe how often I get emails about a failed code that turned out to be a typing error.

7) Once you’ve added the code, the Payhip cart quite annoyingly asks you for your name and permission to get pattern updates again. I don’t know why it does this, I’m not a coder and only use their cart service, but I suggest you add your name again and check the box again - it won’t let you proceed to checkout without your name as a minimum.

The example I’ve shown here is how the screen looks with a 100% discount code, it’ll look a little different with a discount code of a different value.

8) You can now download the pattern and a copy of the download email will be sent to you. Please PLEASE keep the download email in a safe place, maybe set up a folder within your email program for pattern and digital purchases, as if you ever lose or misplace the file you can retrieve it via the download email, and that’s an awful lot quicker and more efficient than emailing me to ask for a new link!

9) If the discount code has a value other than 100%, then apply the code as shown in step 6 will result in a different screen. Here you will see the original price of the item and the price you have to pay after the discount - this shows you that the discount has worked.

You’ll then click the ‘Continue with Purchase’ button.

10) You’ll then be taken to a screen where you can choose your payment preference, but like before you’ll need to enter your details and check the update box again. From here you’ll then be taken to Paypal to complete the purchase, and once that’s done you’ll see the same screen shown in step 8.

I do hope this helps! By all means leave a comment below with any questions. The Payhip cart has a couple of quirks that are a little annoying but it does all work and the benefits make it an overall very useful system indeed.