How Discount Amounts And Percentages Work On Sales Orders

Post date: Nov 20, 2013 3:53:59 PM

SMCP has a separate 'Totals' screen for the discount information for each order.  This screen MUST be reviewed after ALL changes are made to the order or the discount and percentage may not reflect subsequent changes to the order.  There are also two additional checks for the discounting: 1) the Pre-Invoice report, which shows the discount amount and percentage before the invoice is posted, and 2) the 'Create multiple invoices' screen, which displays, in the list of shipped orders, the current discount percentage and amount for each order.

Here's how the 'Totals' screen works: after the order updating is complete, the user clicks on the 'Totals' button to review (or modify) the discount description, discount amount, and discount percentage.  There is a built-in calculator in this screen that will automatically calculate EITHER the amount OR the discount, depending upon which one is entered.  If you want to discount a fixed AMOUNT, enter that amount, and the PERCENTAGE will be calculated automatically when the amount is entered and 'accepted' (i.e., accepted by leaving the field - either to go to another field or by clicking elsewhere.  NOTE: clicking immediately on the 'Save' button MAY bypass the acceptance of the entry, and may not give the calculator a chance to update the calculation.  Confirm that BOTH the amount AND the percentage are correct before you click 'Save').  If you want to discount a fixed PERCENTAGE, then the AMOUNT is calculated and displayed when the percentage field is entered.  This is done because the amount and the percentage are rounded to two places, and so you have to choose which value you want to predominate: if you want the customer to get a 10% discount, then enter that and let the amount be calculated.  But if you want the customer to get a flat $300 discount, for example, enter that amount, and let the percentage be calculated.

So the lesson in short is: make SURE you confirm the discount amount AND percentage - on the 'Totals' screen, but also, if necessary, on the 'Pre-Invoice', and on the 'Create Multiple Invoices' screens.