To give returning customers free shipping, add the condition Customer order count Is at least 3 and set the rates to Free. Customers who have already placed 3 orders get free shipping from their 4th order on, with nothing to type. The order count only matches customers signed in to their account at checkout, so ask repeat buyers to sign in, or use a Shopify customer segment to include guests. Shopify’s own free shipping discount can be limited to customer segments, but it has no order count condition and makes every eligible rate free. RM: Advanced Free Shipping reads the order count at checkout and lets you pick the rates and the discount. It costs $9.90 USD every 30 days, with a 7-day free trial, billed by Shopify.

What the customer gets

In this example the store has two rates: Standard $8.90 and Express $24.90.

  • Qualifies. A customer with 5 past orders signs in and checks out a $45 cart. Standard and Express are both free. The customer pays $45.
  • Doesn’t qualify. A signed-in customer with 2 past orders pays $45 + $8.90 = $53.90 with Standard. Their next order after this one qualifies.
  • Doesn’t qualify. The customer with 5 past orders checks out as a guest. Shopify doesn’t know who they are, so they pay $53.90.

Set it up

  1. In the app, click Create Shipping Discount.
  2. Under Discount method, choose Automatic discount. New discounts start on Discount code, and the method can’t be changed later. Enter a Title such as “Free shipping for loyal customers”. Customers see it at checkout.
  3. In Conditions, click Add condition and choose Customer order count.
  4. Set the operator to Is at least and enter 3.
  5. In Discount setup, set Delivery type to Shipping, Which rates to All shipping rates and Discount value to Free.
  6. Click Create discount.

The order count is the number of orders the customer placed before this one. Is at least 1 means “from the second order”, and Is at least 3 means “from the fourth”.

The Create shipping discount page with Automatic discount selected, the title Free shipping over $100, Customers set to All customers, a Cart total Is at least $100 AUD condition, and Discount setup on Shipping, All shipping rates, Free

The screenshot shows a Cart total condition. Change it to Customer order count in step 3.

Include customers who check out as guests

To reward repeat buyers who don’t sign in, use a Shopify customer segment instead of the order count. In Shopify admin, build a segment of your repeat customers under Customers → Segments. Then, in the discount, go to Customers, choose Specific customer segments and pick it. Shopify matches segments by the email or phone number entered at checkout, so guests are included. Leave the Customer order count condition out when you do this.

The Customers card with Specific customer segments chosen and the segment Customers who haven't purchased selected

The screenshot shows Shopify’s built-in first-order segment. Pick your repeat-customer segment in its place.

To keep the order count, ask customers to sign in. A line in your order confirmation email, such as “Sign in next time for free shipping”, does the job.

Variations

  • From the second order: use Is at least 1.
  • Loyal customers only: use Is at least 5.
  • Free Standard, paid Express: set Which rates to Choose specific rates and select Standard. A qualifying customer who picks Express pays $45 + $24.90 = $69.90.
  • Returning customers over $50: add Cart total Is at least 50 in the same rule group. Both must pass.
  • Returning customers always, everyone else over $100: open the ⋯ menu on Conditions, choose Add rule group, and add Cart total Is at least 100. Any group that passes triggers the discount.
  • Half off shipping instead of free: set Discount value to Percentage and enter 50. Standard becomes $4.45.

Good to know

  • To include guests, use a customer segment, as above. Customer order count never matches a guest, whatever the number.
  • To reward a first order instead, choose Specific customer segments and select Customers who haven’t purchased. See free shipping on a first order.
  • To test it, sign in to a customer account with enough real past orders. Test orders don’t count toward the order count. In Test mode, also use ABC123 as the shipping first name.
  • To keep the reward when customers use a sale code, tick Shipping discounts under Combinations on that code in Shopify admin.

Install RM: Advanced Free Shipping from the Shopify App Store.