"Buy X get Y" not working

Topic summary

A Shopify store owner is experiencing issues with a “Buy 4 get 1 Free” discount not functioning, while their tiered percentage discounts (10% off 1 item, 20% off 2, 30% off 3) work correctly.

Troubleshooting suggestions provided:

  • Verify the discount type is set to “Buy X, Get Y” rather than percentage-based
  • Check for cart conditions, app conflicts, or overlapping discount rules
  • Ensure both products X and Y are added to the cart (required for Shopify’s native discounts)
  • Review combination settings with other active discounts (currently combined with free shipping)

Current status: The issue remains unresolved. Community members have requested additional details including screenshots of discount settings, checkout page examples, and specific scenarios where the discount fails.

Alternative solutions proposed: Two third-party apps (BOGOS and Monk) were recommended as alternatives to Shopify’s native discount system. These apps claim to handle complex multi-tier promotions more effectively, with features like automatic gift addition and milestone-based rewards that can combine discounts with free products without conflicts.

Summarized with AI on October 27. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

its in combination with a free shipping discount only