Coupon Help, Please!

DVanrompay

I have never used the coupon feature and I am a bit confused. I want to have a "Refer a Friend" coupon (15% off or something). If I just keep one active coupon with a "REFER" code or something, what's to keep one customer from using it on their next 10 orders? And if I limit it to one use, is that once per customer? Is the coupon code entered after the customer's puts in their info? Or is it just once, period? And if that's the case, do I need to set a different coupon code for each customer? And what if one customer refers someone, then refers someone a few months later, can I allow them to use the same coupon code?

... Or would it just be easier to set a "Refer a Friend" pricing portfolio and set that to the customer's gallery if I know they have referred someone or have been referred by someone?

I am confused just writing that all! Any help would be appreciated!

DVanrompay

I'm going to copy and paste this in the coupon section - sorry!