A well-timed discount in chat can turn a hesitant shopper into a buyer. Offered to everyone, it just cuts your margin. This guide shows how to set up discounts in the Text AI Agent with rules that keep them targeted.
Last updated: October 17, 2026. Menus and button names can change, so if something looks different, look for the closest matching option.
Best for: Online stores with cart abandonment
Starting price: Essential $19/user/month (billed yearly)
Before you start
- Create the discount code in your store first (for example in Shopify Discounts)
- Set an expiry date and a usage limit on the code
- Decide the margin you can afford: 5% to 10% is common for chat offers
Step-by-step: set up chat discounts
Step 1: Enable the Discount code skill
In the AI agent’s skills, turn on Discount code. Enter the code and a short description, for example “SAVE5 – 5% off your first order, valid this week”.
Step 2: Limit when it is offered
By default the skill shares the code when a customer asks for a discount. Add a rule in the instructions: “Only share the discount code if the customer asks for a discount or says the price is too high. Never offer it proactively.”
Step 3: Add a targeted custom skill (optional)
For more control, create a custom skill. Text’s own examples include a checkout coupon for shoppers hesitating at checkout and a bundle discount for buying two items, with the chat tagged for reporting.
Step 4: Tag discount chats
Create a tag such as discount-offered in Settings → Tags and add a Tag chat action, so you can measure how often discounts are used.
Step 5: Test it
In preview, ask “Do you have any discounts?” and “This is too expensive”. Then ask a normal product question and confirm the code is not offered.
Step 6: Measure and adjust
After two weeks, compare orders from chats with and without the discount tag. If most shoppers who get a code would have bought anyway, make the rule stricter.
Discount rules that protect margins
- Use a dedicated chat-only code so you can track results
- Prefer value offers (free shipping, bundle deals) over large percentage cuts
- Never let the AI invent codes; it must only share codes you configured
- Rotate or expire codes so they do not spread on coupon sites
Keep offers honest. Do not use fake countdown timers or “last chance” messages that are not true.
More AI customer service guides
- How to Set Up the Text AI Agent (Step-by-Step)
- How to Train an AI Agent on Your Website, Files and FAQs
- How to Write AI Agent Instructions (With Prompt Templates)
- How to Add the Text Chat Widget to Your Website or WordPress
- How to Connect the Text AI Agent to Shopify
- How to Create a Custom Skill for the Text AI Agent
- How to Set Up AI-to-Human Handoff in Text
- How to Run Multiple AI Agents for Different Websites or Languages
- How to Measure and Improve Your AI Agent Resolution Rate
- Best AI Customer Service Agents for Small Businesses (2026)
- Text AI Agent Pricing 2026: Plans, AI Resolutions and Real Costs
- Text vs Tidio (2026): Which AI Chat Platform Is Better?
Frequently asked questions
Can the AI agent create new discount codes?
The default Discount code skill shares a predefined code. Text’s skill examples also mention generating offers through connected tools, which needs extra setup.
What discount works best in chat?
Start small, such as 5% or free shipping, and test. Larger discounts rarely pay off if the shopper was already close to buying.
Wrap-up
Create a limited chat-only code in your store, enable the Discount code skill, restrict when it is offered, tag the chats and measure the results after two weeks.
This guide is independent and is not sponsored by Text. Some links may be affiliate links, which never change our recommendations. See our Affiliate Disclosure.