Repeat business. Is there a way to give a code to buyers to receive a discount on next purchase?

[ebonanno01]

Hello,

I am a seller on eBay, and have an eBay store. I am looking to generate as much repeat business as possible. Currently when someone buys something off me, I send out with the product a promotional flyer and also my business card which contains my website, a thank you and a feedback reminder. 

I am wondering if it is possible to also give my buyers some sort of code that would give them a discount off their next purchase, which I would bear (an incentive to have a look at my store and buy again).

For example 

"Thank you for your purchase. Please visit our eBay store again. Here is a discount code "XZY" which will give you 15% off your next purchase from our store, just enter it at the checkout". 

Similar suggestions for repeat business are appreciated.

Thank you in advance. 

[phorum_junkie*]

I tried that a few years ago, in most cases repeat buyers didn't bother to use the discount and I saw absolutely no increase in the number of repeat buyers so after a few months I gave up and it made absolutely no difference to my sell through rate or the prices I was getting.

[ebonanno01]

Ok, thanks for your feedback. So it is possible? Do you know how I do it?

[Anonymous]

the only thing you can do is give a discount on postage.... which is absolutely useless for those of us who already give free postage.

there is no "code" or "voucher" facility to give discounts 

i looked at this myself and was a bit disappointed that it couldnt be done

[ebonanno01]

Yes, I am one who already offers free postage!

I emailed eBay as well directly to see what they recommend, but who knows when they will reply. 

[Anonymous]

im pretty sure that even if you try your above workaround, you can still only discount the postage

the buy price cannot be changed

the only thing you can do is wait for them to pay then give a partial refund (which is fraught with danger due to defects for refunding)

(i see you deleted that workaround...)

[digital*ghost]

I have often wished for the same thing (it's a relatively standard function on most other sites). eBay are currently trialling item price discount features with some sellers, which will eventually be rolled out to all sellers, hopefully before too long (I don't think they have come up with anything that will give a discount exclusively to one buyer, though, they're more percentage off price promos if certain conditions are met - eg buy two get 10% off the total - and available to all buyers). 

Just keep in mind that you can't discount an invoice any more than the postage quote, so you may not be able to provide a full 15% via a new invoice if the cost of postage is less than 15% of the total a buyer has spent.