Configuring Different Shipping Options for Subscription vs. One-Time Purchases

Health supplement brands with subscription offerings face a unique challenge: the shipping requirements for recurring orders differ significantly from one-time purchases. Subscription customers often benefit from specialized delivery options like carbon-neutral shipping, delivery day selection, or even free shipping at lower thresholds. Meanwhile, one-time purchasers might need expedited options that wouldn't make sense for recurring deliveries.

Standard Shopify shipping settings don't support order-type conditional shipping options, but with the Sway Functions Generator, you can create sophisticated shipping functions that detect subscription items in the cart and display different shipping options accordingly.

The Business Case for Subscription-Specific Shipping

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Access the Shipping Functions Section

1. From your Shopify admin, open the Sway Functions Generator app
2. Click on "Functions" in the main navigation
3. Select the "Shipping" tab

2. Create a New Shipping Function for Subscriptions

1. Click "Create function"
2. From the modal, select "Conditionally Hide Rates"
3. You'll be taken to the function editor

3. Configure Basic Settings

1. Enter a descriptive campaign name (e.g., "Subscription-Only Shipping Options")
2. Set the function status to "Active"

4. Define Subscription Order Detection

This is where you'll specify how to identify subscription orders:

1. Under "Cart Qualifier," select "Line Item Properties"
2. For "Property Name," enter the property that identifies subscriptions (typically "subscription_id" or similar)
3. Choose the condition "is not empty"
4. This ensures the function only applies to carts containing subscription items

5. Configure Subscription-Specific Shipping Options

Now define which shipping options should be available for subscription orders:

1. Under "Shipping Rate Actions," select "Conditional Rate Hiding"
2. For "Show/Hide," choose "Show only"
3. For "Condition," select "Is one of"
4. Add your subscription-appropriate shipping services (e.g., "Recurring Delivery", "Carbon-Neutral", "Select Delivery Day")
5. Add a message like "Subscription shipping options available"

6. Create a Second Function for One-Time Purchases

1. Create a new shipping function
2. Name it "One-Time Purchase Shipping Options"
3. Under "Cart Qualifier," select "Line Item Properties"
4. For "Property Name," enter the same subscription identifier
5. Choose the condition "is empty"
6. Under "Shipping Rate Actions," configure to show only standard shipping options
7. Add a message like "Standard shipping options for one-time purchases"

7. Save and Test

1. Save both functions
2. Test thoroughly with both subscription and one-time purchase scenarios

Advanced Configuration Options

Free Shipping for Subscribers

To offer enhanced shipping benefits for subscribers:

1. Create an additional function for subscription orders
2. Add a rate price modification action
3. Set eligible rates to $0.00
4. Add a minimum cart value if desired
5. Add a message like "Free shipping for subscribers!"

Delivery Day Selection for Subscribers

For subscription delivery date flexibility:

1. Create custom shipping rates in your carrier settings for different delivery days
2. In your subscription shipping function, ensure these day-specific options are shown
3. Rename them clearly (e.g., "Monday Delivery", "Friday Delivery")
4. Hide these options completely for one-time purchases

Promotional Subscription Shipping

For limited-time subscription incentives:

1. Create time-limited shipping functions with enhanced benefits
2. For example: "First Month Free Express Shipping for New Subscribers"
3. Include both subscription qualifier and order count qualifier
4. Set specific start and end dates for the promotion

Implementation Example: Health Supplements Brand

Here's a real-world example from a health supplements brand:

1. One-Time Purchase Shipping Options:

   • Standard Shipping (5-7 business days): $5.95 or free over $75
   • Express Shipping (2-3 business days): $9.95
   • Rush Shipping (1 business day): $19.95

2. Subscription Order Shipping Options:

   • Carbon-Neutral Delivery (5-7 business days): Free on all subscriptions
   • Scheduled Delivery Day (choose your delivery day): Free on subscriptions over $50
   • Auto-Replenishment (synced with your usage): Free on subscriptions over $50
   • No Rush or Express options shown

Merchandising Your Subscription Shipping Benefits

To maximize the effectiveness of your subscription-specific shipping:

1. Highlight on Product Pages - Compare shipping benefits between subscription and one-time purchases
2. Create Subscription Landing Pages - Feature subscription-exclusive shipping benefits
3. Include in Subscription FAQ - Explain the specialized delivery options available
4. Add to Cart Messaging - Show shipping option differences directly in the cart
5. Feature in Subscription Marketing - Include shipping benefits in subscription promotional materials

Real Results: Supplements Brand Case Study

A health supplements brand implemented subscription-specific shipping options with these results:

• 38% increase in subscription sign-up rate
• 27% decrease in subscription churn rate
• 44% of subscribers selected customized delivery day options
• 22% reduction in delivery-related support inquiries
• 18% increase in average subscription order value

Measuring Success

To evaluate the effectiveness of your subscription shipping strategy, monitor these metrics:

• Subscription Conversion Rate - Are more customers choosing subscription options?
• Subscription Retention Rate - Are subscribers staying longer with flexible shipping?
• Shipping Option Selection - Which subscription-specific options are most popular?
• Delivery Satisfaction - Are subscription customers more satisfied with delivery?
• Delivery-Related Support Volume - Are shipping inquiries decreasing for subscription orders?

Common Issues and Solutions

| Issue | Solution | |-------|----------| | Subscription detection errors | Double-check property names and verify with your subscription app provider | | Shipping option confusion | Add clearer descriptions and visual cues for each option | | Subscription benefits not compelling | Test different shipping incentives to find optimal conversion drivers | | Delivery day options not showing | Verify carrier service code names match exactly in your function |

Next Steps

Ready to implement subscription-specific shipping options for your health supplements brand? Start by:

1. Identifying the key shipping differences that would benefit subscription orders
2. Setting up appropriate carrier services for each purchase type
3. Determining which options should be exclusive to each order type
4. Creating your conditional shipping functions
5. Developing clear marketing messaging about the subscription shipping benefits

For personalized assistance with your subscription shipping strategy, book a consultation with our team.