Shopify Discount Codes 2.0 Alpha Program

Shopify Discount Codes 2.0 is now available in closed Alpha. This new version gives you greater flexibility and control when creating and managing Shopify discount codes for subscriptions.

In this article we’ll go through how it works, features out now, and limitations. If you're looking for information about our original discount code integration, see Shopify Discount Codes.

What’s New

• Apply discounts to active subscriptions without requiring a customer to complete a new checkout. No more canceling a subscription to resubscribe with a discount code.
  • Self-service code application from the Ordergroove Subscription Manager. See [this article] for Subscription Manager details.
  • API support for programmatic discount application.
• Stack Shopify discounts with Ordergroove incentives instead of either Shopify Discount Codes or Ordergroove incentives.
  • No more price locked subscriptions.
  • Orders with discount codes can be merged.

The following Shopify discount code types can be applied to subscriptions at checkout, and to an existing subscription via the Subscription Manager or API:

• Amount off products 
• Amount off order 
• Free Shipping

Buy X get Y Shopify discount code can be applied to subscriptions at checkout, but they cannot be applied to an existing subscription.

How it Works

Applying Discounts

• Customers can enter Shopify Discount codes at checkout or in the Subscription Manager, or you can apply codes to subscriptions using the Ordergroove API (see API documentation for list, apply, and remove endpoints).
• Discounts will be used until reaching any usage limits set on the code (such as "Recurring payments for subscriptions" or "Limit to one use per customer").

Validating Discount Code Rules

• Shopify validates code eligibility at initial application (e.g., minimum purchase, customer eligibility).

Stacking & Behavior

• Shopify discount codes are additive (on top of) Ordergroove discounts.

Known Limitations

Shopify's discount processing for subscription orders differs from Ordergroove's handling, which may result in unexpected discount applications, usage counting, and price display inconsistencies between platforms.

Discount Code Stacking

• All Shopify discount codes will be stacked on top of Ordergroove discounts. 
• Shopify's "combines with" settings will not be considered when placing a subscription order. 

Validation of Shopify Discount Code Rules

• All rules set on the discount code (e.g. "Minimum purchase requirements", "Eligibility") will be validated by Shopify when the code is applied. 
  • For bundles, the validation will consider what was included in the original subscription checkout for the bundle. It will not account for later changes made to the bundle.
• When a recurring order is placed, Shopify will check the “Limit to one use per customer” and “Recurring payments for subscriptions” rules, but will not re-validate any other conditions of the discount code against the order. 

• The "Limit to one use per customer" restriction only takes effect after an order is placed. This means that a subscriber can apply the code to multiple subscriptions until the code is used in a recurring order, though it will only take effect once.

Subscription & One-Time Items

• Amount off products discount codes that are applied to a recurring order (either via the SM or API) can only be applied to subscription items. They cannot be applied to one-time items added to a subscription order. 

Price Display Inconsistencies

• When calculating percentages, Shopify always rounds up to the nearest penny whereas Ordergroove follows standard rounding rules, which means each product/order with a discount attached can have a penny variance between what is displayed by Ordergroove and the final order price when placed in Shopify.
• Percent-off calculations may differ slightly between what a customer sees in the Subscription Manager and their final order, meaning the price they will pay is likely to be lower than what was displayed in the subscription manager.
• Fixed amount discounts with the "once per order" setting enabled will overstate the discount in the Subscription Manager if the order has multiple quantities of the eligible item. 
  • For example, if a customer has 5 of Item A with a discount code for $2.00 off one of item A, Ordergroove’s SM will show a discount total of $10, but when the order is placed in Shopify it will only have a discount total $2 off.

Getting Started

Reach out to your CSM to request to join the Alpha.