How to Create a Shopify "Buy X, Get Y" Discount: A Step-by-Step Guide 

Everyone loves a good deal, and Shopify’s "Buy X, Get Y" promotion taps into that excitement. This discount strategy lets merchants offer free or reduced-price items when certain purchase conditions are met, encouraging customers to buy more and boosting sales.

In this article, we’ll dive into why this offer is so effective and how to implement it using Shopify’s built-in features or third-party apps. You’ll also find tips for optimizing this promotion to suit your store's needs and maximize sales potential. Let’s get started!

Why Should You Create a Buy X Get Y Discount On the Shopify Store?

Here are key reasons to create a Buy X Get Y discount on your Shopify store:

• Increase Average Order Value: Encourages customers to add more items to their cart to qualify for the offer.
• Clear Out Inventory: Helps move slow-selling items by pairing them with popular products.
• Boost Customer Loyalty: Provides a fun, engaging incentive that customers enjoy, leading to repeat purchases.
• Promote New Products: Drives interest in new items by offering them as the “Y” item in the discount.
• Enhance Customer Satisfaction: Creates a rewarding shopping experience, increasing overall satisfaction and likelihood of returning.

How To Create Buy X Get Y Discount Code: A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts.

Log in to your Shopify admin dashboard, and click on the “Discount” button on the left side of the screen.

Step 2: Click Create discount.

After being directed to the Discount section, click “Create discount” at the top right corner to create a new discount.

Step 3: Hit the Buy X Get Y button.

In the Select discount type, choose “Buy X Get Y” discount. 

Step 4: Under Method, select Discount code.

When prompted to select how the discount is applied, choose “Discount code” if you want customers to enter a code at checkout to activate the promotion manually.

Step 5: Enter a name for your discount code (e.g., "buy-1-get-1-free"), or click Generate for a random code.

Name your discount code (e.g., “buyonegetonefree”) to make it easy to recognize. You can enter a custom code for branding or click Generate for a random alphanumeric code. This code will then be shared with customers during checkout so they can apply the discount.

Step 6: Set "Customer Buys" Conditions

This step defines what the customers must do to be eligible for this discount:

• Minimum quantity of items: Customers must purchase certain items (e.g., buy 3).
• Minimum purchase amount: Select if the customer must spend a specific amount (e.g., $50).

• Any items from: Choose whether the qualifying purchases should come from specific products or specific collections. Use the search field or Browse button to add these products or collections to your promotion. If needed, remove any product or collection by clicking X.

Step 7: Set "Customer Gets" Conditions

After determining what the customer buys, set what the customer will get with the promotion:

• Quantity of items: Define how many items will be discounted or free.
• In the Any items from section, choose Specific products or Specific collections that the customer will receive. Search for and add products or collections to be discounted. Use X to remove items if necessary.

Step 8: Choose Discount Type

In the At a discounted value section, choose the type of discount the customer will receive:

• Percentage: Offer a percentage off the item’s price (e.g., 50% off).
• Amount off each: Provide a specific dollar amount off (e.g., $5 off).
• Free: The product is free (Buy 1, Get 1 Free).

Step 9: (Optional) Set the maximum number of uses per order.

If you want to limit how many times the discount can be applied to an order, check the box that says Set the maximum number of uses per order. For example, if the discount should only apply once per transaction, you can set the limit to 1.

Step 10: Define Customer Eligibility

In the Customer eligibility section, choose who can use this discount. Options include:

• Everyone: The discount is available to all customers.
• Specific customer segments: Target specific customer groups like VIPs, wholesale buyers, etc.
• Specific customers: Select individuals eligible for the discount using the search field.

Step 11: Allow Discount Combinations (Optional)

In the Combinations section, choose if this discount can be used alongside other discount codes (e.g., free shipping). Specify any discount types that can be combined with the Buy X Get Y offer for clarity.

Step 12: Set Active Dates

Use the calendar to schedule the promotion’s start date.

• If you want the promotion to automatically expire, check “Set end date” and select an end date from the calendar. If no end date is set, the discount will remain active indefinitely.
• You can also set the discount to be active for a single day by selecting the same start and end date.

Step 13: Click Save discount.

After creating the “Buy X get Y” discount, hit the “Save discount” button to keep all the changes at the bottom right of the Shopify admin dashboard. 

Once saved, your new discount will be listed in the Discounts tab. You can share the discount code with customers via email or display it in your store. Customers must add all eligible products to their cart and enter the discount code at checkout to apply it.

How To Create an Automatic Buy X Get Y Discount: A Detailed Guide

Step 1: From your Shopify admin, go to Discounts.

Log in to your Shopify admin dashboard and click “Discounts” at the left side of the screen.

Step 2: Click Create discount.

After being directed to the Discount section, click the “Create discount” button at the top right corner to create a new discount. 

Step 3: In the"Select discount type" menu, select Buy X Get Y.

In the Select discount type section, hit “Buy X Get Y.”  

Step 4: Set the Discount Method

In the Create product discount section, choose “Automatic discount” to apply an automatic discount when customers meet the specified criteria.

Step 5: Enter a Discount Title

In the Title section, enter a name for the discount, such as “buyonegetonefree.”

Step 7: Configure "Customer Buys" Conditions

In the Customer buys section:

• Select Minimum quantity of items or Minimum purchase amount.
• Set the number of items a customer must buy or the amount they must spend to qualify.
• In Any items from, choose specific products or collections for the promotion. Use the search or browse feature to add these items, or click X to remove them.

Step 8: Configure "Customer Gets" Conditions

In the Customer gets section:

• Set the quantity of items customers will receive as part of the discount.
• Choose specific products or collections to be discounted, and if you select the same as in the "Customer buys" section, the lower-priced item will be discounted.
• Search or browse to add discounted items, and remove any by clicking X as needed.

Step 9: Define the Discount Type

• In the At a discounted value section, choose:
  • Percentage: A percentage off.
  • Amount off each: A fixed amount off each item.
  • Free: The item is free.
• You can also set the maximum number of uses per order.

Step 10: Set Active Dates

• Set the start date using the calendar.
• If necessary, set an end date by clicking Set end date. If no end date is set, the discount will continue indefinitely. To run the promotion for a single day, select the same date for both start and end.

Step 11: Save the Discount

Click “Save” to finalize the discount.

This detailed step-by-step guide ensures that you set up your Buy X Get Y promotion on Shopify efficiently, with the option to enhance it using the Shopify Buy X Get Y apps for even better results!

Bottom Line

Using a Buy X, Get Y promotion is one of the most effective discount strategies for Shopify. It helps increase sales, clear slow-moving inventory, and boost customer engagement. By setting it up correctly, you can create enticing offers encouraging customers to buy more, improving your store’s overall performance.

Related Posts:

• How to Create a Fixed Value or Percentage Discount on Shopify
• How to Create Free Shipping Discount on Shopify
• Ultimate Guides On How To Set Up Shopify Automatic Discounts
  

FAQs

Why is the “Buy X Get Y” discount not working?

If your Buy X Get Y discount isn’t working, here are some common issues to review:

• Software Glitches: System bugs might disrupt discounts.
• Unmet Requirements: Ensure all conditions (like minimum quantity) are met.
• Coding Issues: Custom code or third-party apps could interfere.
• Customer Misunderstanding: Shoppers may not know how to apply the discount.

To resolve, double-check the discount setup, look for system errors, or contact Shopify support for assistance.

Can I apply multiple Buy X Get Y discounts?

No, Shopify doesn’t allow multiple Buy X Get Y discounts on the same product or order. Only one discount will apply based on priority settings. However, you can combine a Buy X Get Y discount with other types (e.g., percentage) if allowed in settings.

Does Shopify support discount stacking?

The answer is No. Shopify does not support stackable discounts for automatic discounts, meaning only one automatic discount can apply at checkout. However, stackable discounts are possible for discount codes if configured correctly. Merchants can enable specific discount codes to work together, such as combining a Buy X Get Y discount with another code, as long as both discounts are set to allow stacking. 

What’s the difference between percentage-based and Buy X Get Y discounts?

The difference between percentage-based and Buy X Get Y discounts lies in how they’re applied:

• Percentage-Based Discount: Offers a set percentage off the purchase total. For example, a 20% discount applies to the entire order or specific items, reducing the cost based on a fixed rate.
• Buy X Get Y Discount: Provides a specific item or set of items for free or at a discount when a certain number of items (X) are purchased. For instance, "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" encourages larger purchases by offering an additional item at no cost.