Your newspaper may give a promotional gift, such as a bag or a coffee mug, to new subscribers or subscribers who change delivery schedules. You can use Circulation to track these gifts via merchandise codes, which are set up here.
Merchandise codes are typically entered during new starts or delivery schedule changes. A merchandise code will only be available if it is valid for the reason code used for the new start or delivery schedule change. For example, you might give away a coffee mug to new subscribers who ask for your three free day promotion (reason code 3-Free) or existing subscribers who change from a Wknd to a 7-day delivery schedule (reason code Wknd>7).
Merchandise codes can be entered as part of the start or delivery schedule transaction. They do not, however, impact the subscriber’s account or the general ledger.
In character Circulation, select Merchandise from the Code menu to display the Merchandise Setup screen.
Select Add and complete the following fields.
MERCHANDISE CODE
open (8)
Enter an ID for this merchandise code.
START DATE, END DATE
date
Enter a start date and, optionally, an end date during which this code may be used.
DESCRIPTION
open (30)
Enter a description of this merchandise code.
Select Specifics | Merchandise Reason to link the merchandise code to reason codes (see below).
Select Accept to enter the merchandise code into the database.
Set up more merchandise codes, or press F4 and select Exit to exit to the Setup menu.
As mentioned above, merchandise codes can be entered during new starts or delivery schedule changes, if the merchandise code is valid for the reason code used. So, for example, if a new start is entered using reason code “Newstart”, any of the merchandise codes that are valid for “Newstart” can be entered in the Merchandise field (or the field can be left blank).
To make a merchandise code valid for a reason code:
Select Specifics | Merchandise Reason from the Merchandise Setup screen to display the Merchandise Reason Setup screen.
Select Add and complete the following fields.
MERCHANDISE CODE
display
The merchandise code is displayed.
PRODUCT
setup
Enter a publication for which this merchandise code is valid.
TRANSACTION TYPE
predefined
Indicate whether the reason code that will be entered in the next field is for a new start (Start), delivery schedule change (DelivSched), or billing change (BillingChg).
REASON CODE
setup
Enter a reason code for which this merchandise code is valid.
START DATE, END DATE
date
Enter the date range during which the merchandise code will be valid for the reason code above. End Date may be left blank.
Select Accept to link the merchandise code to the reason code.
Make the merchandise code valid for another reason code, or press F4 and select Exit to exit to the Setup menu.
