# Free shipping for staff and ambassadors in Shopify

To give staff and ambassadors free shipping, tag them in Shopify, for example `Staff` or `Ambassador`, then create an automatic shipping discount with **Customer tag Contains** and both tags in that one condition. Tagged customers who sign in at checkout get free shipping with nothing to type. If they'd rather not sign in, give them a private code limited to a customer segment instead. Shopify's own free shipping discount can be limited to customer segments, but it has no customer tag condition and makes every eligible rate free. [RM: Advanced Free Shipping](https://apps.shopify.com/better-free-shipping) reads the tag at checkout and lets you choose the rates, for example free Express for staff. 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 staff member tagged `Staff` signs in and checks out a $70 cart. Standard and Express are both free. They pay $70, even with Express.
- **Doesn't qualify.** The same staff member checks out as a guest. A guest has no tags, so with Standard they pay $70 + $8.90 = $78.90.
- **Doesn't qualify.** A signed-in customer without either tag pays the same $78.90.

## Set it up

1. In Shopify admin, open each staff member's and ambassador's customer profile under **Customers** and add the tag `Staff` or `Ambassador`. See Shopify's guide to [using tags](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-admin/productivity-tools/using-tags).
2. In the app, click **Create Shipping Discount**.
3. 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 "Team free shipping". Customers see it at checkout.
4. In **Conditions**, click **Add condition** and choose **Customer tag**. Keep **Contains**.
5. Type `Staff` and press Enter, then type `Ambassador` and press Enter. **Contains** matches a customer with any of the tags.
6. In **Discount setup**, set **Delivery type** to **Shipping**, **Which rates** to **All shipping rates** and **Discount value** to **Free**.
7. Click **Create discount**.

![A Customer tag condition set to Contains, with the tag VIP added](/images/customer-tag.png)

The screenshot shows the tag VIP. Type your own tags in its place.

## The code alternative

A code suits staff and ambassadors who check out as guests:

1. Create a new discount and keep **Discount method** on **Discount code**. Enter a code such as `TEAMSHIP`.
2. Under **Customers**, choose **Specific customer segments** and pick a [customer segment](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/customers/customer-segmentation) of your staff and ambassadors. Build it in Shopify admin under **Customers → Segments**, for example from the same tags. Shopify matches segments by the email or phone number entered at checkout, so guests with the right email qualify.
3. Leave **Conditions** empty, and set **Discount setup** to **All shipping rates** and **Free**.
4. Optionally, under **Maximum discount uses**, tick **Limit number of times this discount can be used in total**.

If the code is shared, someone outside the segment who enters it doesn't get the discount.

## Variations

- **Different rewards for staff and ambassadors:** create two discounts. One has **Customer tag Contains** `Staff` with **All shipping rates** and **Free**. The other has **Customer tag Contains** `Ambassador` with **Choose specific rates**, Standard selected, and **Free**. An ambassador who picks Express pays $70 + $24.90 = $94.90.
- **Half-price shipping for ambassadors:** in the ambassador discount, set **Discount value** to **Percentage** and enter 50. Express becomes $12.45.
- **A code for an ambassador's followers:** create a separate code, such as `AMYSHIP`, with **Cart total Is at least 50**. Set **Limit to one use per customer** so each follower uses it once. Leave **Customers** on **All customers**.
- **Staff free shipping during a launch only:** under **Active dates**, tick **Set end date**.

## Good to know

- **To include staff who check out as guests,** use the code alternative or a customer segment. Customer tags only match customers signed in to their account.
- **To cover several groups in one discount,** put every tag in one **Customer tag** condition. Use one Customer tag condition per discount.
- **To exclude someone as well,** use a Shopify customer segment that leaves them out.
- **To end the benefit when someone leaves,** remove their tag in Shopify admin, or remove them from the segment.
- **"Is exactly" works the same as Contains** for customer tags today, so either is fine.
- **To test it,** sign in to a test customer account with the tag. In **Test mode**, also use `ABC123` as the shipping first name. A code still needs the code entered.

## Related

- [Free shipping for military and first responders](/guides/free-shipping-for-military-and-first-responders.md)
- [Free shipping for students and teachers](/guides/free-shipping-for-students-and-teachers.md)
- [Free shipping as a code or an automatic discount](/guides/free-shipping-code-or-automatic.md)
- [Conditional free shipping on Shopify](/conditional-free-shipping.md)

[Install RM: Advanced Free Shipping from the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/better-free-shipping).