Getting started with Bundles
Bundles allow you to bundle multiple products to create a "build-your-own-box" experience. You can customize the subscription settings to offer bundles as one-time products and/or subscriptions and include add-ons or extras. You can create boxes with fixed items, or allow customers to customize their boxes.
- Shopify Checkout Integration
Before you start
- Bundles and Bundles adjacent features such as the Bundles SDK and API endpoints are available to Pro or Custom plans merchants.
Key features
There are two types of bundling options available:
- Customizable “build-your-own-box” experiences
- Fixed bundle with preselected items
Customizable bundles
Use customizable bundles to offer customers a build-a-box experience, allowing customers to purchase specific products in groups. This enhances the shopping experience by providing customers flexibility over their purchases and conveniently allowing them to get everything they need in one purchase.
Recharge provides three different customizable bundle types to ensure customers receive exactly what they want:
- Fixed-price customizable bundles - Customers choose the products to add to the bundle for their checkout order, and have the flexibility to update the bundle contents before every recurring order. The cost to purchase the bundled product is fixed regardless of what products the customer adds.
-
Customizable (subscribers-only) - All customers receive the same products in the first delivery but can change the bundle products for recurring orders if they subscribe. The cost to purchase the bundled products is fixed regardless of what products the customer adds.
- This method is ideal for encouraging customers to subscribe and try multiple products while providing complete control of their subscriptions on future orders.
- Dynamically-priced customizable bundles - Customers choose the products to add to the bundle for their checkout order, and have the flexibility to update the bundle contents before every recurring order. The bundle product price is dynamic and changes depending on the products customers add.
Preset bundles
Simplify the purchasing decision for all customers with preset bundles, where customers get the same preset products in a bundle with a fixed price. Preset bundles are a great way to ensure customers receive consistent products at a fixed price.
Customers cannot update or select the contents of the bundled product in a preset bundle.
Use cases
The following use cases highlight how you can use the various bundle types to increase average order value, streamline inventory management, and offer personalized shopping experiences to your customers.
Use case |
Bundle type |
A meal plan box where subscribers select the meals they will receive each week, and pay the same price for each recurring order no matter their selections. | Fixed-price customizable bundle |
A wine club that offers curated bundles of wine bottles, providing customers a discount for purchasing multiple bottles at a time. | Preset bundle |
A beauty subscription box service that sends all new customers a standard introductory box with a curated selection of skincare and makeup products, ensuring that every new customer experiences the brand's best offerings initially. For all subsequent subscription orders, subscribers can customize their boxes by choosing specific products that match their beauty preferences and needs, all at a fixed subscription price. |
Customizable (subscribers-only) |
A subscription-based snack box service where customers can choose from a selection of snacks to add to their bundle, with the flexibility to update their selection before each recurring order. The price of the bundle changes depending on the snacks customers choose. | Dynamically-priced customizable bundles |
Set-up instructions
Each bundle type has different set-up instructions to ensure that you implement the most impactful solution for your business. See the specific how-to guides for each bundle to get started:
- How to create a preset bundle
- How to create a fixed-price customizable bundle
- How to create a dynamically priced customizable bundle
Considerations
Review the chart below when configuring Bundles.
Consideration |
Notes |
Prepaid subscriptions |
Prepaid subscriptions are compatible with preset bundles and fixed-price customizable bundles. Prepaid subscriptions are not compatible with dynamically-priced bundles. |
Discounts |
You can offer subscription discounts and use discount codes with Bundles. Tiered discounts are compatible with dynamically-priced bundles. |
Gift Subscriptions | Allow customers to gift bundles to their friends and family through the Gift Subscriptions feature. |
Theme Engine |
The Theme Engine is available for preset bundles and fixed-price customizable bundles. The Theme Engine is not compatible with dynamically-priced bundles out of the box, however, you can create a custom widget in the Theme Engine. The customer portal bundles widget automatically displays on bundle subscriptions on the following customer portal themes:
If you are using an older version of the Recharge Theme Engine, you must add the bundle code manually. |
RechargeSMS |
Customers can use RechargeSMS to update the main bundle product. However, customers must then update bundle contents through the customer portal. Review bundled subscriptions in the RechargeSMS product guide for more information. |
Workflows |
Preset bundles are compatible with Workflows. Fixed-price customizable bundles are partially compatible with Workflows, with some limitations. Note the following about using Workflows with customizable bundles:
Dynamically-priced customizable bundles are partially compatible with Workflows, with some limitations. Note the following:
The following workflow use cases are commonly used with Bundles:
Note: It is recommended to configure fallback contents for any bundles used with workflows to ensure default selections are available if the customer does not configure their bundle.
|
Multi-currency |
Preset bundles and fixed-price bundles are not compatible with multi-currency orders. Dynamically-priced customizable bundles are compatible with multi-currency orders. |
Nested bundles |
Bundles do not support nested bundles (bundles within a bundle). |
Local delivery |
Only dynamically-priced customizable bundles are compatible with local delivery. All bundle types are compatible with local pickup orders. See Local Delivery and Pickup for more information on how to enable these settings. |
Customer portal location: Hosted by Recharge |
The Bundles customer portal widget is only compatible with customer portals embedded in the storefront. See Understanding the customer portal for more information. |
Third-party applications |
Most third-party applications are compatible with Bundles if the app doesn’t modify the add-to-cart behavior or impact fulfillment. We recommend running a test bundle order to ensure the third-party app is compatible. |
Partial order fulfillment |
Bundles is incompatible with the partial order fulfillment feature. |
Recharge Analytics |
|
Surprise and Delight Subscription Experience |
You can add free gifts to orders with bundles, although you should not use fixed-price or dynamically-priced customizable bundles as the gift option, as customers will not have a way to customize the bundle. Recharge recommends using preset bundles as the gift option for a seamless customer experience. |
Win Backs |
|
Checkout Upsell | Bundles are not compatible with Checkout Upsell. |
Automated collections | Automated collections only work with customizable bundles. Preset bundles do not use collections. |
Resources
There are a variety of Bundles resources to help you get started, or to troubleshoot common issues. See the following resources below for additional information:
Getting started guides
- Getting started with preset bundles
- Getting started with fixed-price customizable bundles
- Getting started with dynamically priced customizable bundles
How to guides
- How to create a preset bundle
- How to create a fixed-price customizable bundle
- How to create a dynamically priced customizable bundle
Using bundles guides
- How to test and publish a bundle
- How to use the Bundles widget layout
- How to configure bundles add-ons and extras
- How to discontinue or disable bundles
- How to manage customer bundle content with bulk swaps
- How to manage existing bundles in Recharge
- How to create an automatic reset for customizable bundles