Many merchants expect to apply multiple discounts to the same product simultaneously in Shopify. For example, offering a “buy 4, get the 5th free” discount along with a free item for each product purchased. While this seems straightforward, Shopify’s discount system doesn’t support this natively.
The Problem Explained
In Shopify, “combining” product discounts means allowing different discounts to apply to different products within the same cart. However, this does not mean that multiple discounts can be stacked on a single product.
Combining Discounts:
- Discounts apply to different items in the cart.
- Each product receives only the largest applicable discount.
Stacking Discounts:
- Multiple discounts apply to the same product.
- Not supported natively by Shopify.
Suggested Solutions
- Separate Discount Types: To achieve a similar effect, you can set one discount as a product discount and the other as an order discount.
- Consult Shopify’s Documentation: Review the Discount Combinations Help Article for detailed guidance on setting up discounts.
Upcoming Solution: Discount Allocator Functions API
Shopify is developing a new API called the Discount Allocator Functions API, currently in developer preview. This API will allow stores to implement custom logic for discount combinations, potentially enabling discount stacking.
For more details, check out the Discount Allocator Functions API documentation.
Conclusion
While Shopify’s current discount system has its limitations, understanding how to work within these constraints and exploring upcoming features can help you optimize your discount strategies. Communicate clearly with your customers about available discounts to ensure a smooth shopping experience.