How to Use Shopify Scripts for Smart Discounts & Dynamic Pricing

How to Use Shopify Scripts for Smart Discounts & Dynamic Pricing

Introduction
If you’re on Shopify Plus, you have access to one of the most powerful sales tools in eCommerce: Shopify Scripts. With Scripts, you can create custom discounts, dynamic pricing rules, and automated checkout incentives—without needing third-party apps.

In this post, we’ll break down how Shopify Scripts work, what you can do with them, and examples to help you increase conversions, AOV, and customer retention.

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🔍 1. What Are Shopify Scripts?

Shopify Scripts are small pieces of Ruby code that customize the logic of your:

• Cart

• Shipping

• Payment options

These scripts run on the server-side during checkout (only available on Shopify Plus), allowing you to:

• Apply conditional discounts

• Change shipping rates

• Modify payment methods

• Create pricing logic based on product tags, cart value, or customer groups

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🧠 2. Use Case 1: Smart Tiered Discounts

Example:

if Input.cart.subtotal_price > Money.new(cents: 10000)
  Input.cart.line_items.each do |line_item|
    line_item.change_line_price(line_item.line_price * 0.90, message: "10% off!")
  end
end

✅ Logic: Give 10% off if the cart subtotal is over ₹10,000.
🎯 Result: Encourages larger orders and boosts AOV.

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🎁 3. Use Case 2: Buy One Get One (BOGO)

You can run BOGO without relying on apps that slow down your store.

Example:

eligible = Input.cart.line_items.find { |item| item.variant.product.tags.include?('BOGO') }
if eligible
  Input.cart.line_items << LineItem.new(variant: eligible.variant, quantity: 1, custom: true)
end

✅ Result: Smooth, app-free BOGO campaigns with complete checkout control.

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🛒 4. Use Case 3: Customer Group Discounts

Offer special pricing for VIPs, wholesalers, or returning customers.

if customer.tags.include?("VIP")
  Input.cart.line_items.each do |line_item|
    line_item.change_line_price(line_item.line_price * 0.85, message: "VIP Discount")
  end
end

🎯 Result: More loyalty, exclusive experiences, and increased LTV (Lifetime Value).

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💰 5. Use Case 4: Product Bundle Pricing

Instead of static bundle pages, use dynamic rules.

if Input.cart.line_items.size >= 3
  Input.cart.line_items.each do |line_item|
    line_item.change_line_price(line_item.line_price * 0.80, message: "Bundle Deal")
  end
end

✅ Result: Automatic bundle discounts without forcing customer behavior.

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🧪 6. Test & Preview Before Going Live

Scripts are powerful—but can break things if not tested.

✅ Use Shopify’s Script Editor App to:

• Write and preview Ruby scripts

• Test across different cart conditions

• Save and publish versions

🛑 Important: Always test with multiple scenarios before pushing to production.

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📌 7. Not on Shopify Plus? Alternatives

If you're not using Shopify Plus:

• Use Shopify Functions (gradually replacing Scripts) for certain discount customizations

• Use trusted discount apps like Shopify Discounts, Bundle Bear, or Shopify Functions-compatible apps

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Conclusion

Shopify Scripts allow you to automate promotions that convert—without bloating your site or relying on clunky third-party apps. With the right strategy, they can become your secret weapon for dynamic pricing and smart discounting.

🧠 Need help writing or managing custom Shopify Scripts?
At RootSyntax, our developers craft conversion-friendly pricing logic tailored to your brand. Let’s build smarter offers.