FAQ
Common questions about Advanced Free Shipping
General Questions
Does Advanced Free Shipping work with Shopify POS?
Yes! Shipping discounts created with Advanced Free Shipping work for both online and POS orders, as long as the order meets the conditions you've set.
Can I use Advanced Free Shipping with other discount apps?
Yes. Advanced Free Shipping creates native Shopify discounts, so it works alongside other apps. However, only ONE shipping discount can apply per order (Shopify's rule).
How many discounts can I create?
You can create unlimited discounts. However, Shopify limits the number of active automatic discounts at one time (varies by plan). Use scheduling and expiration dates to manage this.
Does this work with subscription apps?
Yes! Advanced Free Shipping works with any subscription app that uses Shopify's native selling plans (like Recharge, Appstle, etc.). Use the "Has Subscription" condition to target subscription orders.
Discount Behavior
🚨 My discount isn't working with my product discount - why?
**This is the #1 most common issue.**
BOTH discounts must be configured to combine:
Your shipping discount must allow combining with product/order discounts (check Combinations section)
Your product/order discount must allow combining with shipping discounts (check in Shopify Admin > Discounts)
If EITHER side blocks combining, discounts won't stack. Check BOTH sides!
See our detailed troubleshooting guide for step-by-step fix.
Can customers stack multiple shipping discounts?
No. Shopify only allows ONE shipping discount per order. If a customer qualifies for multiple, Shopify automatically applies the one that gives the best savings.
Can shipping discounts combine with product discounts?
Yes! By default, shipping discounts can combine with product and order discounts. Customers can use a product discount code AND get automatic free shipping. BUT both discounts must be configured to allow combining (see question above).
What happens if multiple discounts qualify?
Shopify applies whichever shipping discount saves the customer the most money. You don't need to worry about conflicts - Shopify handles it automatically.
Do discounts apply to all shipping methods?
It depends on two factors:
1. Delivery Method:
Shipping rates (carrier-calculated) - standard/express/etc.
Local delivery - in-person delivery options
2. Which Rates (for shipping only):
"All shipping rates" → Every shipping method
"Cheapest rate" → Only the lowest-cost shipping option
"Specific rates" → Only shipping rates matching your keywords
Local delivery targets all local delivery options when selected.
Conditions & Targeting
Do customer tags work for guest checkout?
No. Customer tags only work for logged-in customers. For guest-friendly conditions, use cart value, products, location, or order count (order count works for guests via email).
Does order count work for guests?
Yes! Order count tracks by email address, so it works even if customers never create an account. This makes it perfect for first-time customer discounts.
What's the difference between Cart Total and Cart Subtotal?
- **Cart Total**: After line discounts, before taxes (calculated cart value) - **Cart Subtotal**: Before line discounts and taxes (raw product value)
Use Subtotal if you run frequent product sales and don't want them to affect free shipping eligibility.
Can I target specific variants?
Yes. When selecting products, you can choose specific variants or the entire product (all variants).
Technical Questions
Where are discounts stored?
Advanced Free Shipping creates native Shopify discounts. They're stored in your Shopify admin under Discounts and work even if you uninstall the app (though you can't edit them without the app).
Does this slow down my store?
No. Advanced Free Shipping uses Shopify's native discount system, which is highly optimized. There's no performance impact on your store.
What happens if I uninstall the app?
Shipping discounts created with Advanced Free Shipping continue to work after uninstalling. However, you won't be able to edit or create new shipping discounts without reinstalling the app.
Can I export my discounts?
Discounts are stored in Shopify's system. You can view them in Shopify admin > Discounts, but there's no built-in export feature.
Pricing & Limits
Are there usage limits?
Advanced Free Shipping itself has no usage limits. However, Shopify limits the number of active automatic discounts based on your plan. Check your Shopify plan details for specifics.
What if I hit Shopify's discount limit?
Options: 1. Set end dates on old discounts to deactivate them 2. Delete unused discounts 3. Use discount codes instead of automatic discounts 4. Upgrade your Shopify plan
Does Advanced Free Shipping charge per order?
No. Advanced Free Shipping has a flat monthly fee (or free tier). There are no per-order charges regardless of how many times your shipping discounts are used.
Troubleshooting
Why isn't my discount appearing?
Common causes: 1. Test Mode is enabled (turn it OFF for real customers) 2. Conditions aren't met (check cart value, location, etc.) 3. Discount is scheduled (check start/end dates) 4. Usage limit reached 5. Customer hasn't entered shipping address yet
See our Troubleshooting Guide for detailed help.
Why is the wrong discount applying?
If multiple shipping discounts qualify, Shopify applies the one that saves the customer the most. This is expected behavior - customers always get the best deal.
How do I test a discount without affecting customers?
Use Test Mode: 1. Enable Test Mode when creating/editing the discount 2. Test using test orders in Shopify admin 3. Turn Test Mode OFF when ready to go live
See our Testing Guide for details.
Best Practices
What's a good free shipping threshold?
Set it 20-30% above your Average Order Value (AOV). If your AOV is $40, try $50-55 for free shipping. This encourages customers to add more items while remaining profitable.
Should I use automatic or code discounts?
**Automatic** (recommended for shipping): - Applies automatically, no code needed - Customers can still use product discount codes - Better customer experience
Code:
Requires customer to enter code
Prevents stacking with other codes
Good for exclusive/limited promotions
How many discounts should I have active?
Start with 2-3 core discounts: 1. General free shipping threshold 2. VIP/loyalty discount 3. First-time customer incentive
Add more only as needed. Too many discounts can be confusing.
Migration & Setup
Can I migrate from another shipping discount app?
Yes. You'll need to recreate your shipping discounts in Advanced Free Shipping. Review your existing shipping discounts and set them up using our [Use Cases](use-cases.md) as templates.
How long does setup take?
Most merchants create their first discount in 5-10 minutes. See our [Quick Start Guide](quick-start.md) for a step-by-step walkthrough.
Do I need to know how to code?
No! Advanced Free Shipping is completely no-code. Everything is configured through an intuitive interface.
Still Have Questions?
Quick Start - Create your first discount in 5 minutes
Common Use Cases - Copy proven discount examples
Troubleshooting - Fix common issues
Contact Support - Email our support team
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