Discount Code - Same Customer Multiple Email Addresses

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Issue: “One per customer” discount codes in Shopify are enforced only by email, letting repeat buyers reuse codes by changing emails (even with same name/address). Merchants report widespread abuse and request additional identifiers (address/phone) to enforce limits.

Current status: Shopify staff confirm no native secondary verification yet. Multiple feedback reports have been submitted to the Product Team; no ETA or commitment. Users are advised to watch the Changelog for platform updates.

Tried/Proposed workarounds:

  • Require customer accounts; monitor addresses and cancel/refund repeat misuse.
  • Make phone number required at checkout. Staff note it helps in some cases (e.g., POS vs online), but merchants report it doesn’t stop email-based repeat use with the same phone.
  • Use third‑party apps: bulk single‑use codes + email marketing, Fraud Filter to block specific customers, fraud/verification apps, or automation to match prior orders by name/address. Merchants push back on added app costs and friction.
  • Operational tactics: diplomatic customer outreach; shift to loyalty/rewards (e.g., Smile) to incentivize accounts; offer one‑time codes post‑purchase.

Open requests: Add native checkboxes/limits (one per address/phone, not just email). Question raised about Gmail “+” aliasing. Thread remains open; no resolution.

Summarized with AI on December 15. AI used: gpt-5.
3

Hi Imogen,

Thanks for the great feedback. Hopefully an optional 2nd verification method can be included in the Shopify programming. At this stage I’d rather not restrict this customer as to his credit he is still making purchases and if he feels he is getting a win, I am still benefitting from the purchases that he is making.

This was the first person to have cleverly worked out how to get around the Discount Code so it may just be a one-off. If he continues to do it a diplomatic email to him maybe the best course of action and it highlights to me that I need to get a Loyalty Program running so that the benefit is to register an account and enjoy discounts in a different method that is under some control by Small Forge.

Regards,
Adrian
Small Forge

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