To make this compatible with InstantDocs (or similar Shopify documentation/help center tools), I have formatted it with clean Markdown, standard headers, and clear comparison tables.
You can copy and paste the raw text below directly into your editor:
Discount Methods in EG
Choosing the right way to offer discounts on Shopify can be confusing. This guide breaks down the four main methods available in the EG app to help you decide which is best for your store.
1. EG Automatic Discounts (Recommended)
This is our preferred method for most stores. These discounts are configured directly within your EG rule settings.
How it works: When a rule is triggered (e.g., a customer spends £50), the app automatically applies the discount to that specific item in the cart.
The "EG Advantage": These only apply if the app adds the item. If a customer manually adds the same product to their cart, they won’t get the discount. This ensures only intended customers receive the offer.
Pros
Visibility: Customers see the discount immediately in the cart, which helps sales.
Compatibility: They allow products to remain eligible for other Shopify promotions.
Targeted: Perfect for VIP tags, customer IDs, or "Magic Links."
Cons
Store Limit: Shopify limits all apps to 25 active automatic discounts at once. This is a total limit for your entire store.
Our View: Use this whenever possible. It offers the best control and prevents customers from "gaming" the system.
2. Shopify Automatic Discounts
These are native Shopify Buy X Get Y product discounts.
How it works: Shopify automatically applies the discount to any qualifying item in the cart.
The Conflict: Shopify usually prevents "double-dipping." If a product is used to trigger one discount, it is often blocked from receiving any other promotion.
Pros
Reliability: Very stable and includes Shopify’s native scheduling and usage limits.
Visibility: Shown immediately in the cart.
Cons
No Stacking: Generally cannot be combined with other discounts.
Blocking: Can "lock" products from participating in other sales.
Our View: A solid backup option if you need Shopify’s specific scheduling tools and don’t need to combine multiple offers.
3. Shopify Promo Codes
These are standard discount codes (like SAVE20) created in your Shopify Admin.
How it works: The customer must type a code at checkout.
The Visibility Issue: The discount only shows up at checkout, not in the shopping cart. This can sometimes lead to abandoned carts if customers think the gift isn't working.
Pros
Quantity: You can have an unlimited number of active promo codes.
Control: Excellent for influencer campaigns or tiered promotions.
Cons
Friction: Not visible until the final payment step.
Limit: Usually, only one code can be used per order.
Our View: Best for marketing campaigns where you need many different unique codes running simultaneously.
4. Zero-Priced Products ($0 items)
This involves creating a product in your Shopify catalog and setting its price to $0.00.
How it works: The app adds the $0 item to the cart. Because it has no price, it doesn't trigger Shopify's "discount" logic.
The Risk: Since the product is priced at $0, a savvy customer could potentially add dozens of them to their cart for free if they find the direct link.
Pros
Flexibility: Works alongside every other discount or promo code.
Visibility: Clear "$0" price shown in the cart.
Cons
High Risk: Very easy for customers to exploit or "game" the promotion.
Maintenance: You must remember to manually hide or delete the $0 product when the sale ends.
Our View: Only use this for low-value items (like stickers or samples). If the item has significant value, the risk of fraud is usually too high.