Build-A-Box is one of Force Subscriptions' most flexible features, it lets customers mix and match products into their own custom subscription box. But an empty box doesn't sell itself. Tiered discounts give shoppers a reason to add one more item, turning a 3-item box into a 5-item box just to unlock a better price.
In this guide, our Team will walk through creating a Build-A-Box and setting up tiered discounts that reward customers for building bigger bundles.

What Are Tiered Discounts and Why Use Them?

A tiered discount is a rule that automatically reduces the price once a customer's box hits a certain size or value. For example, 10% off once they add 3 items and 15% off once they hit 5. Instead of a flat, one-size-fits-all subscription discount, tiered pricing scales with how much the customer buys.
This matters most for Build-A-Box because customers are actively assembling their bundle in real time. A visible incentive to add "just one more product" is a proven way to lift average order value without discounting your entire catalog.

Step 1: Open the Build-A-Box Section

From your Shopify admin, go to Force Subscriptions, then click Build-A-Box in the left-hand menu. If this is your first bundle, you'll see an empty state confirming no Build-A-Box has been created yet.

Click Create Build-A-Box to start. (If you want to adjust the look of the bundle page later, note the Customize bundle page button here too — that's separate from the discount setup covered in this guide.)

Step 2: Set Up the Basic Configuration

On the Create Build-A-Box screen, fill in the basics before you get to discounts:
1. Build-A-Box Name — an internal name for the bundle, such as "Monthly Coffee Bundle."
2. Bundle Type — choose Dynamic Pricing Bundle (price updates automatically as customers pick products) or Fixed Pricing Bundle (one flat price regardless of selections, better suited to meal plans).
3. Allow One-time Purchase — optionally let customers buy the bundle without subscribing.

Tip: Tiered discounts are built for Dynamic Pricing Bundles, since the whole point is rewarding customers as their box total grows. If you're using Fixed Pricing, the box price won't change no matter how many items are added, so tiered discounts won't have the same effect.

Step 3: Attach Your Subscription Plan

Under Subscription Plan Configuration, select the subscription plan that contains the products customers will be able to choose from. If you haven't created one yet, click Create new subscription plan to set one up without leaving this screen.
This step matters for tiered discounts too — the discount tiers you set up next will apply across whatever products are included in this plan.

Step 4: Add Your Tiered Discount Rules

Scroll down to the Tiered Discounts section. This is where you encourage larger orders with automatic discounts based on either product count or total bundle value.
Click Add tiered discount to create your first tier, then repeat for as many tiers as you want to offer. A typical structure looks like this:
• Tier 1: 3+ items in the box → 10% off
• Tier 2: 5+ items in the box → 15% off
• Tier 3: 8+ items in the box → 20% off
Alternatively, you can base tiers on total bundle value instead of item count. For example, discounts that unlock once a box crosses a specific dollar or rupee threshold. Choose whichever measure matches how your products are priced; item-count tiers tend to work better when products are similarly priced, while value-based tiers work better when prices vary widely across your catalog.
Tip: Keep your first tier easy to reach — a low bar like 3 items encourages customers to engage with tiering right away, rather than feeling like a bigger discount is out of reach.

Step 5: Set Limits and Finish in Advanced Settings

Once your discount tiers are in place, click Continue to move to Step 2: Advanced Settings, where you can set overall limits (such as a minimum number of products required in the box), along with checkout redirect behavior. The Live Summary panel on the right keeps track of your bundle type, limits, and redirect setting as you go.
When everything looks right, save your configuration. A unique Build-A-Box URL will be generated, which you can copy or open to preview exactly what your customers will see.

Step 6: Enable the Build-A-Box

New Build-A-Box bundles are Inactive by default. Once you're happy with your tiered discounts and settings, switch the Build-A-Box Status toggle from Disabled to Enabled so customers can actually access and use it.

Step 7: What Customers See on the Storefront

It helps to know what your tiered discounts actually look like once a customer opens the Build-A-Box page, since the whole point of tiering is influencing behavior in the moment.

FAQs

Do tiered discounts work with Fixed Pricing bundles?

Tiered discounts are designed for Dynamic Pricing Bundles, where the total price changes based on what's selected. Fixed Pricing bundles charge one flat price regardless of selections, so tiered discounts don't have the same impact there.

Can I base tiers on bundle value instead of item count?

Yes. When adding a tiered discount, you can choose to trigger discounts based on either the number of products in the box or the total value of the bundle — pick whichever fits your product pricing structure.

How many discount tiers can I add?

You can add multiple tiers to create a staircase of savings — for example, three separate thresholds each unlocking a bigger discount. Start with two or three tiers and adjust based on how customers respond.

Will customers see the discount update in real time as they build their box?

Yes. Because tiered discounts are tied to the Dynamic Pricing Bundle type, the total price recalculates as customers add or remove products, so any tier they've unlocked reflects immediately.

Final Verdict

Tiered discounts turn Build-A-Box from a simple mix-and-match feature into a genuine upsell tool. Set an achievable first tier, make the savings visible as customers build their box, and you'll likely see average order values climb without ever running a storewide sale.

Updated on: 10/08/2026