##these 2 queries are to give you background on the issue
##this pulls all users that have records in promos_users that have promos that are promo_type='SALES'

select u.email, sp.code as sales_promo
from users u
 left join promos_users pu_sales on (u.id=pu_sales.user_id)
  join promos sp on (sp.code=pu_sales.code and sp.promo_type='SALES')
where email='zehrtrucking@wigi.us';
+----------------------+-------------+
| email                | sales_promo |
+----------------------+-------------+
| zehrtrucking@wigi.us | 50off       |
+----------------------+-------------+
##how the promos_users table looks (can't use code right from this table because it is promo_type agnostic)

mysql> select * from promos_users where user_id=(select id from users where email='zehrtrucking@wigi.us');
+-----+---------+--------+---------------------+
| id  | user_id | code   | ts                  |
+-----+---------+--------+---------------------+
| 209 |   36222 | 50off  | 2008-04-18 11:54:44 |
| 329 |   36222 | Bronze | 2008-04-28 15:38:06 |
+-----+---------+--------+---------------------+

##this following solution looks successful, that is indeed the output i need for a company that has a sales and saves promo, but i added in demo@loadmax.com in the where clause, no record matches!
mysql> select u.email, sp.code as sales_promo, svp.code as saves_promo
from users u
 left join promos_users pu_sales on (u.id=pu_sales.user_id)
  join promos sp on (sp.code=pu_sales.code and sp.promo_type='SALES')
 left join promos_users pu_saves on (u.id=pu_saves.user_id)
  join promos svp on (svp.code=pu_saves.code and svp.promo_type='SAVES')
where email in ('zehrtrucking@wigi.us','demo@loadmax.com');
+----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| email                | sales_promo | saves_promo |
+----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| zehrtrucking@wigi.us | 50off       | Bronze      |
+----------------------+-------------+-------------+

1 row in set (0.00 sec)

##but if we the joins to promos left joins ... i get the records , but look how messed up the results are.. now i'm getting duplicates for the mail column
mysql> select u.email, sp.code as sales_promo, svp.code as saves_promo
from users u
 left join promos_users pu_sales on (u.id=pu_sales.user_id)
  left join promos sp on (sp.code=pu_sales.code and sp.promo_type='SALES')
 left join promos_users pu_saves on (u.id=pu_saves.user_id)
  left join promos svp on (svp.code=pu_saves.code and svp.promo_type='SAVES')
where email in ('zehrtrucking@wigi.us','demo@loadmax.com');
+----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| email                | sales_promo | saves_promo |
+----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| demo@loadmax.com     | NULL        | NULL        |
| zehrtrucking@wigi.us | 50off       | NULL        |
| zehrtrucking@wigi.us | 50off       | Bronze      |
| zehrtrucking@wigi.us | NULL        | NULL        |
| zehrtrucking@wigi.us | NULL        | Bronze      |
+----------------------+-------------+-------------+

4 rows in set (0.00 sec)
##here is the output i need

+----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| email                | sales_promo | saves_promo |
+----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| demo@loadmax.com     | NULL        | NULL        |
| zehrtrucking@wigi.us | 50off       | Bronze      |
+----------------------+-------------+-------------+

##here is the solution .. inspired by gnari (produces above output)

select u.email, sp.code as sales_promo, svp.code as saves_promo
from users u
 left join (promos_users pu_sales  join promos sp on (sp.code=pu_sales.code and sp.promo_type='SALES')) on (pu_sales.user_id=u.id)
 left join (promos_users pu_saves join promos svp on (svp.code=pu_saves.code and svp.promo_type='SAVES')) on (pu_saves.user_id=u.id)
where email in ('zehrtrucking@wigi.us','demo@loadmax.com');