Some customers need a different product as time goes on. A diaper subscription is the classic example: a baby moves up a size every few months. With a swap rule for each size change, Appstle replaces the product after the order you choose, so parents get the right size without having to contact you.
Product swaps are included in the Business Premium plan and higher. If Product swaps doesn't appear on your Journeys page, see Set up product swap automation with Journeys.
Example: diaper sizes
A diaper brand delivers monthly, and most subscribers start with Size 1. It adds three swap rules, each set to A specific order:
Products to replace | Replacement products | When to run |
Size 1 | Size 2 | After the 3rd order |
Size 2 | Size 3 | After the 6th order |
Size 3 | Size 4 | After the 11th order |
Each rule runs after the order you pick, so the new size ships from the next order: Size 2 from the 4th, Size 3 from the 7th and Size 4 from the 12th. The checkout order counts as the 1st.
Set up the size changes
In your Shopify admin, go to Appstle Subscription → Journeys. If Journeys isn't in the sidebar, click View more.
In the Product swaps card, click Add swap rule. If the page shows Build your first journey instead, add your first rule as described in Set up product swap automation with Journeys.
Under When to run, choose A specific order, then pick the last order that should have the current size, for example After the 3rd order.
Under Products to replace, click Select products, tick the current size, and click Done.
Under Replacement products, click Select products, tick the next size, and click Done. To send a different number of packs, choose Fixed and enter the number in Qty.
Under Discounts, choose Keep customer's current subscription discount, so subscribers keep the discount they signed up with.
Under Notification, leave Email customers about the swap ticked, so parents know the size is changing.
Click Save and activate.
Repeat steps 2 to 8 for each size change.
What customers see
When the size changes, customers get an email about it if Email customers about the swap is ticked. If you send the Upcoming Order email, it also reminds them to review their next order before each charge. To choose how many days before, see How to Configure Upcoming Order Reminders for Subscription Customers.
Things to know
Order numbers count a subscription's successful orders, with the checkout order as the 1st. Skipped and failed orders don't count, so a skipped month moves each size change one order later.
Order numbers count from when the customer subscribed, not from the child's age. The example assumes subscribers start with Size 1. A subscriber who starts with Size 2 moves to Size 3 after their own 6th order.
A rule changes only subscriptions that reach its order after you activate it. Subscribers who are already past that order keep their current size. To change one of them, open their subscription and click Swap Product.
Automatic swaps skip prepaid subscriptions where the customer pays for several deliveries at once.
To change how often deliveries arrive as the child grows, add a frequency rule too. See Set up frequency swap automation with Journeys.
If a subscription didn't change, see the FAQs in Set up product swap automation with Journeys.
Need help?
If you have questions about product swaps, email [email protected] or chat with us from the app.