Migrating Coupon Rules Without Changing Their Meaning

A coupon code can import with the same name but give a different discount on the new store. Migration acceptance must preserve the rule: who qualifies, which products apply, how discounts combine, when the code expires and what a customer pays.

How to make the decision

Export every active promotion with code, discount type, value, eligible products or collections, customer restrictions, usage limit, dates, shipping interaction and stacking rule. Translate the business meaning into the destination’s promotion model rather than copying only fields. Test a qualifying basket, an excluded product, a near-expiry order and a basket containing another discount. Record expected and observed totals including shipping and tax. Have the commercial owner approve any rule that the new platform cannot reproduce exactly, and tell customers if the offer must change.

Worked example

Synthetic promotion “WELCOME10” gives 10% off selected accessories but excludes sale items and cannot combine with free shipping. After import, the code applies to all products and stacks with the shipping offer. Three basket tests expose the mismatch. The team changes eligibility, tests an eligible AED 200 basket for AED 20 discount, then tests the excluded sale item and combined-offer case. The output is the customer total, not merely a saved coupon record.

What to verify

• Is eligibility preserved?
• Do start and expiry times match the intended market?
• Are stacking and shipping interactions tested?
• Does the final payable total match?

Limits and ownership

Some platforms cap or restrict discount combinations. Review current vendor limits and do not promise a promotion the new checkout cannot honor.

What to hand over

Give the commercial owner a promotion comparison table with original rule, destination rule, tested basket and final amount. Mark any unavoidable difference as a customer-facing change requiring approval. Support needs the same table to answer coupon complaints after launch. Retain screenshots of the checkout result.

Common question

Should old expired coupons be migrated?

Only if support or reporting needs them; prioritize active customer promises and preserve an archive for disputes.

Next useful step

Use Protecting Downloadable Product Access During Migration for the adjacent decision. For an implementation review, see Megvi’s ecommerce website development service and bring the source records, proposed checks and open exceptions.

Source checked 28 October 2026: WooCommerce: customer, coupon and order CSV import suite. Check current platform settings before changing a live store or report.

The worked example is illustrative and is not presented as a Megvi client outcome.