I have pre-purchased SimCity (yeah, I know, never again) and got the "20€ off your next purchase" promotion code they sent out. When trying to use this code on a basket worth 37.47€, the code didn't work.

So I contacted Origin Support:

You are now ready to chat with Manish.

Manish Thanks for contacting EA Help! My name is Manish how may I help you?

you Hi Manish.

Manish Hello Alon.

you I have prepurchased SimCity a couple of weeks ago, and I received the promotional 20 euro off the next purchase code.

I am now trying to redeem my code, and it doesn't affect the total price at all.

I have in my basket 37.47 € worth of games.

I type in the serial code i got with the promotion, click Apply, it refreshes the page, but the total price is the same. Why?

Manish Actually the discount code is valid for some games only. The code can be used to make purchases through Origin with the following exceptions – the code cannot be used to purchase virtual currency, placing pre-orders, third party games, already on sale items and games released within last 30 days.

Manish Can you try once to use the discount code on a single game priced above 30$?

you I do not have any games that I want that cost over 30 euro.

Do you see my basket at the moment? Do you have access to it?

SimCity™ 4 Deluxe Edition - 4.99

SimCity™ Digital Deluxe Upgrade Pack - 19.99

Medal of Honor™ Digital Deluxe Edition - 12.49

Manish I cannot see it but as I explained, the discount code will work only on some games.

Manish All that is fine but the discount code was for 20$ off on single games, I mean it may not work for several items which may add upto 30$.

you I do not see this in the terms you've sent with the code:

20€ Off your next purchase - VOUCHER EXPIRES 31/03/2013. GOOD ONLY FOR ORDERS FROM THE ORIGIN STORE AT WWW.ORIGIN.COM AND THE ORIGIN CLIENT SOFTWARE (WWW.ORIGIN.COM/ABOUT). VALUE OF THE VOUCHER IS 20€ AND CAN BE REDEEMED UNTIL 31st March 2013. CUSTOMERS MUST SPEND A MINIMUM OF 30€ FOR THE VOUCHER TO BE VALID. VOUCHER CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE PER PURCHASE. VOUCHER IS VALID UNTIL 31st MARCH 2013. VOUCHER CAN ONLY BE REDEEMED FROM THE ORIGIN STORE AT WWW.ORIGIN.COM AND THE ORIGIN CLIENT SOFTWARE (WWW.ORIGIN.COM/ABOUT). VALUE OF DISCOUNT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM PRODUCT LIST PRICE. EXCLUDES STAR WARS® THE OLD REPUBLIC™, PRE-ORDERS, GAMES RELEASED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE, VALVE GAMES, SELECT PARTNER TITLES DISTRIBUTED BY ORIGIN, VIRTUAL CURRENCY, DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT INCLUDING BATTLEFIELD PREMIUM SERVICE AND GAME TIME CODES. LIMIT ONE OFFER PER PERSON. OFFER MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED, EXCHANGED, SOLD OR REDEEMED FOR CASH OR OTHER GOODS OR SERVICES. MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER, GIFT CARD, REBATE OR OTHER DISCOUNT COUPONS. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING, HANDLING AND APPLICABLE SALES TAX. RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND EMPLOYEES OF ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. AND THEIR AGENCIES/AFFILIATES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED, TAXED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.

you No where in this text does it say "single item"

you Are you still here?

Manish Yes, sorry for delay in response.

you No problem.

Manish There was some technical issue on my end.

Manish Yes, so for the 20$ discount issue, I agree that it is not written that it is for single item but we have also not mentioned that code will work if there are several items in the cart which add upto 30$. I mean although it could have worked in that case as well if the games included in cart were apart from exceptions that are listed.

Manish But actually we have also posted the games on which the 20$ code will work.

Manish Please see this link for more information.

Manish http://store.origin.com/SimCity$20Coupon

you The requested URL /SimCity$20Coupon was not found on this server.

Manish Can you try once to type it manually on another browser?

you same thing in IE

Manish Oh, that's quite weird. Anyway, so do you not like to use the code on any of our games which is priced at or >above 30$?

you No, would like to use it on the items I have picked. If you can't approve this for me, I'll have to skip this promotion. I don't see any reason of spending over 10 € on a game I do not want.

you Besides, most games that are listed at over 30 € I can receive with the "free game" that you just gave out.

Manish I understand that. I apologize that I could not do much from here due to system constraints but you can contact our senior team on phone: 44 870 243 2435

Manish Anytime 9AM-9PM GMT, Monday through Saturday.

you Can you get them to contact me by email maybe?

Manish If possible I would have loved to get it done but unfortunately we cannot request them from our end.

you Alright. Thanks, I guess. Have a good day.

Manish You too have a great one.

Manish If you need help with anything else, please feel free to contact us anytime! The chat session has ended. Please contact us again if you need further help.

TL;DR Got jack shit. Manish could probably get them to approve this for me, but did not do much to try and help me out.