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Reply to a customer whose promo code stopped working
Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
A newsletter subscriber says your promo code doesn't work. Reply under 60 words. The first sentence says why (with the date it expired), then give the replacement code your manager approved for this case on its own line, in the form 'Code: XXXX (15% off, through [date])', and end with the line 'Happy brewing, The Kettlewick Team'. No 'unfortunately' and no 'valued customer'. Write a prompt that gets that reply.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 60 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part: "3 sentences, each under 16 words, then the sign-off."
- Apologizing without explaining. AI replies open with "We're so sorry for the trouble!" and never say the code expired. Try: Say it: "Sentence 1: FALL20 expired Nov 10."
- Making up an offer. The AI may invent its own fix or promise to reactivate FALL20. Try: Add: "Offer SORRY15, 15% off, expires Nov 30."
- Stock lines, generic sign-off. AI uses "unfortunately" and "valued customer" and signs with "Best regards". Try: Add: "End with 'Happy brewing, The Kettlewick Team'. No 'unfortunately' or 'valued customer'."
What a strong prompt includes
- Sets a word limit
- Explains why first
- Gives the approved code
- Gives the sign-off
- Bans stock lines
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