> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://responsive-media.gitbook.io/advanced-free-shipping/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://responsive-media.gitbook.io/advanced-free-shipping/core-concepts/how-it-works.md).
# How It Works
## The Basics
Every shipping discount has two main parts:
1. **Conditions** - When should the discount apply?
2. **Targets** - Which shipping rates get discounted, and by how much?
## Conditions: When Does the Discount Apply?
Conditions are the requirements customers must meet to get the discount. You can add as many conditions as you need, and **all conditions must be met** for the discount to apply.
### Simple Example: Free Shipping Over $50
The most common shipping discount:
**Condition**: Cart total ≥ $50\
**Target**: All shipping rates → Free
If the cart is $50 or more, shipping is free. Simple.
### Multiple Conditions (AND Logic)
When you add multiple conditions, **all of them must be true**:
**Example: Free shipping for US orders over $50**
* Condition 1: Cart total ≥ $50
* Condition 2: Country is US
Both must be met: The cart must be $50+ **AND** the customer must be in the US.
{% hint style="info" %}
Think of multiple conditions as "all of these requirements together." Every condition narrows who qualifies.
{% endhint %}
### Common Condition Combinations
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Location + Value" %}
**Free shipping for California orders over $50**
* Cart total ≥ $50
* Province is CA
Must meet both the value threshold and location requirement.
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="Product + Customer" %}
**Free shipping on winter coats for VIP customers**
* Product contains "Winter Coat"
* Customer tag contains "VIP"
Must have the product AND be a VIP.
{% endtab %}
{% tab title="Multiple Products" %}
**Free shipping when cart has both Product A and Product B**
* Product contains "Product A"
* Product contains "Product B"
Both products must be in cart.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
## Targets: What Gets Discounted?
Targets define which shipping rates get the discount and how much:
### Which Rates?
* **All shipping rates** - Discount applies to every shipping option
* **Cheapest rate** - Only the lowest-cost option gets discounted
* **Specific rates** - Target rates by name (e.g., "Standard Shipping")
### Discount Types
* **Free** - Shipping becomes $0
* **Percentage off** - Reduce by a percentage (e.g., 50% off)
* **Fixed amount off** - Reduce by a dollar amount (e.g., $5 off)
* **Fixed price** - Set to a specific price (e.g., flat $3 shipping)
{% hint style="info" %}
Learn more about discount types in the [Discount Types](/advanced-free-shipping/core-concepts/discount-types.md) guide.
{% endhint %}
## Complete Example
**Goal**: Free shipping for US orders over $50
**Setup**:
* Condition 1: Cart total ≥ $50
* Condition 2: Country is US
* Target: All shipping rates → Free
**How it works**:
* US customer, $60 cart → ✓ Both conditions met → Free shipping
* US customer, $40 cart → ✗ Cart too small → Normal shipping
* Canada customer, $60 cart → ✗ Wrong country → Normal shipping
***
## Advanced: Multiple Rule Groups (OR Logic)
{% hint style="info" %}
Most users won't need this feature. If you're just starting out, you can skip this section.
{% endhint %}
By default, all your conditions work together (AND logic). But what if you want to give customers **multiple different ways** to qualify?
That's where **rule groups** come in. Each rule group is a separate set of conditions, and customers only need to meet **one** rule group to get the discount.
### When to Use Multiple Rule Groups
Use multiple rule groups when you want "either/or" logic:
* VIP customers or orders over $100
* US orders over $50 or Canadian orders over $75
* Buy from Collection A or buy from Collection B
### Example: VIP or High Value
**Goal**: Free shipping for VIPs OR anyone spending $100+
**Setup**:
* Rule Group 1: Customer tag contains "VIP"
* Rule Group 2: Cart total ≥ $100
* Target: All shipping rates → Free
**How it works**:
* VIP customer, $30 cart → ✓ Rule Group 1 met → Free shipping
* Regular customer, $150 cart → ✓ Rule Group 2 met → Free shipping
* Regular customer, $30 cart → ✗ Neither rule group met → Normal shipping
### Example: Regional Thresholds
**Goal**: Different cart minimums for different countries
**Setup**:
* Rule Group 1:
* Country is US
* Cart total ≥ $50
* Rule Group 2:
* Country is CA
* Cart total ≥ $75
* Target: All shipping rates → Free
US customers need $50. Canadian customers need $75.
{% hint style="info" %}
For more details on multiple rule groups, see [Multiple Rule Groups (OR Logic)](/advanced-free-shipping/advanced-features/multiple-rule-groups.md).
{% endhint %}
***
## How Discounts Are Evaluated
When a customer reaches checkout:
1. Check all conditions in the first rule group
2. If all conditions are met → Apply discount ✓
3. If not, check the next rule group (if you have multiple)
4. If no rule groups match → No discount
{% hint style="info" %}
For most discounts with just one rule group, it's simple: do all the conditions match? If yes, apply the discount.
{% endhint %}
## Best Practices
Start Simple
Begin with 1-2 conditions. Most successful shipping strategies are straightforward: "Free shipping over $50" or "Free shipping for US orders over $50."
Test Your Logic
Use Test Mode to verify your discount works as expected. Enter \*\*ABC123\*\* as the first name at checkout to test.
Use Clear Names
Name your discounts descriptively: "US Free Shipping $50+" tells you exactly what it does.
Don't Over-Complicate
More conditions = fewer customers qualify. Only add conditions that truly matter for your business.
## Next Steps
* [**Browse All Conditions**](/advanced-free-shipping/conditions-cart-and-order/cart-total.md) - See all available condition types
* [**Discount Types**](/advanced-free-shipping/core-concepts/discount-types.md) - Learn about free, percentage, and fixed discounts
* [**Use Cases**](/advanced-free-shipping/common-use-cases/use-cases.md) - Copy real-world discount examples
* [**Test Mode**](/advanced-free-shipping/core-concepts/test-mode.md) - Learn how to test discounts safely
---
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