Combine active promotions

If your store has multiple active promotions, shoppers can qualify for multiple promotions at a time. Each of your promotions has a setting, called Combination with other promotions. This setting governs if promotions are applied when a shopper qualifies for more than one promotion.

When you are creating a promotion, you can set the setting to one of the following options:
Combine with other promotions
This promotion can be combined with all other promotions in an order; however, the following promotion policies apply:
  • For catalog-entry promotions: If this promotion is applied to an item, no other catalog-entry promotions can be applied to the item.
  • For shipping promotions: If this promotion is applied to an item, no other shipping promotions can be applied to the item.
  • For order promotions: If this promotion is applied to the order, no other order promotions can be applied to the order.
Combine with other promotions stackable
This promotion can be combined with all other promotions in an order. In addition, this promotion can be stacked on top of other promotions in the same group, which overrides certain promotion policies. Specifically:
  • For catalog entry promotions: If a catalog-entry promotion is already applied to an item, then this type of promotion is applied on top of the existing promotion.
  • For shipping promotions: If a shipping promotion is already applied to an item, then this type of promotion is applied on top of the existing promotion.
  • For order promotions: If an order promotion is already applied to the order, then this type of promotion is applied on the top of the existing promotion.

The priority of promotions determines whether a stackable promotion applies to an order. If an order qualifies for multiple promotions in the same group, the promotion with the highest priority is applied first. If subsequent promotions are stackable, then those promotions are applied in order of priority.

Exclusive within the same group
If a promotion with this setting is applied, no other promotions from the same promotion group can be applied to the order. For example, if this promotion is a catalog-entry promotion, no other catalog-entry promotions can be applied to the order. This setting still follows priority rules.
Exclusive within an order
If a promotion with this setting is applied, no other promotions can be combined in the order. This setting still follows priority rules.

Priority of promotions

You can assign a priority to a promotion. When a single order qualifies for multiple promotions from the same promotion group, the promotion with the highest priority is applied first. To understand promotion groups, see the section Promotion groups. In cases where multiple promotions are permitted, the promotions are applied in order from highest to lowest priority. For example, consider a store that offers two order-level promotions:
  • A 10% off your order promotion with a priority of 1.
  • A $15 off your order promotion that has a priority of 10.
If a customer's order qualifies for both, the second promotion is applied first, since it has the higher priority of 10. To assign a priority value, choose a number from 0 (lowest priority) to 1000 (highest priority).
In certain cases only the promotion with the highest priority is applied, with any other promotion not applied to a purchase regardless of its Combination with other promotions setting. For example, if the first promotion evaluated has an exclusive within an order setting, no other promotion is applied, even if it has a stackable setting. If multiple promotions have the same priority, the promotion engine randomly selects the order to evaluate the promotions. The remaining promotions are then applied based on their Combination with other promotions setting.
WebSphere Commerce EnterpriseNote: All promotions that are applicable in an extended site store follow the same priority rules. How promotions are applied does not depend on whether the promotion is created in the asset store or in the extended site store.
The following tables detail how promotions in each of the promotion groups are applied compared to other promotions in the same group. How promotions are applied is based on different priorities and the Combination with other promotions settings:
Table 1. Combining promotions that belong to Order promotion group

The following table details which Order promotions are applied when a shopper qualifies for multiple promotions.

Order Promotion A (Priority 100)
Order Promotion B (priority 10) Combine with other promotions Combine with other promotions - stackable Exclusive within the same group Exclusive within an order
Combine with other promotions A A A A
Combine with other promotions - stackable A, B A, B A, B A
Exclusive within the same group A A A A
Exclusive within an order A A A A
Table 2. Combining promotions that belong to Catalog entry promotion group

The following table details which Product promotions are applied when a shopper qualifies for multiple promotions.

Product Promotion A (Priority 100)
Product Promotion B (priority 10) Combine with other promotions Combine with other promotions - stackable Exclusive within the same group Exclusive within an order
Combine with other promotions A A A A
Combine with other promotions - stackable A, B A, B A A
Exclusive within the same group A A A A
Exclusive within an order A A A A
Table 3. Combining promotions that belong to Shipping promotion group

The following table details which Shipping promotions are applied when a shopper qualifies for multiple promotions.

Shipping Promotion A (Priority 100)
Shipping Promotion B (priority 10) Combine with other promotions Combine with other promotions - stackable Exclusive within the same group Exclusive within an order
Combine with other promotions A A A A
Combine with other promotions - stackable A, B A, B A A
Exclusive within the same group A A A A
Exclusive within an order A A A A