Buy One Get One (BOGO)
4 min read
Buy One Get One (BOGO) discounts reward customers with free or discounted items when they purchase a qualifying quantity. This powerful promotion type drives volume and increases average order value.
How BOGO Works #
BOGO promotions follow a “Buy X, Get Y” pattern. You define how many items customers must buy and how many items they receive at a discount.
Classic Examples #
| Promotion | Buy | Get | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buy 1, Get 1 Free | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Buy 2, Get 1 Free | 2 | 1 | 100% |
| Buy 1, Get 1 Half Off | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| Buy 3, Get 1 Free | 3 | 1 | 100% |
| Buy 2, Get 2 at 25% Off | 2 | 2 | 25% |
Configuration Options #
Buy Quantity (Required) #
The number of items customers must purchase at full price to qualify for the promotion.
Get Quantity (Required) #
The number of additional items that receive the discount.
Discount Percentage (Required) #
The discount applied to the “Get” items:
- 100% — Free item(s)
- 50% — Half price
- 25% — Quarter off
- Any value from 1-100
Setting Up a BOGO Promotion #
- Navigate to SC Discounts → Campaigns → Add New Campaign
- Complete Step 1 (Basic Information) and Step 2 (Products)
- On Step 3: Discount Configuration:
- Select “Buy One Get One (BOGO)” as the discount type
- Enter the Buy quantity (items at full price)
- Enter the Get quantity (items with discount)
- Enter the Discount percentage for the “Get” items
- Continue to scheduling and review
Cart Behavior #
Automatic Application #
BOGO discounts apply automatically when cart conditions are met:
Campaign: Buy 2, Get 1 Free on T-Shirts Cart: 3 T-Shirts × $30 each Calculation: - 2 shirts at full price: $60 - 1 shirt free: $0 - Cart total: $60 (instead of $90)
Multiple Qualifying Sets #
The promotion can apply multiple times if the customer buys enough:
Campaign: Buy 2, Get 1 Free Cart: 6 items Applied twice: - Set 1: 2 paid + 1 free - Set 2: 2 paid + 1 free - Total: 4 paid ($200) + 2 free ($0) = $200
Lowest Price Gets Discount #
When items have different prices, the lowest-priced item(s) receive the BOGO discount:
Cart: Shirt A ($40) + Shirt B ($30) + Shirt C ($25) Campaign: Buy 2, Get 1 Free - Shirt A: $40 (paid) - Shirt B: $30 (paid) - Shirt C: $25 → $0 (free - lowest price)
Frontend Display #
Product Page Badge #
BOGO promotions display a badge on eligible products:
- “BUY 1 GET 1 FREE”
- “B2G1 FREE”
- “BUY 2 GET 1 50% OFF”
Cart Display #
The cart clearly shows the BOGO savings:
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Product Qty Price Subtotal │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ T-Shirt Blue 2 $30.00 $60.00 │ │ T-Shirt Blue 1 $30.00 $0.00 │ │ (BOGO FREE) │ ├────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Total $60.00 │ │ You saved: $30.00 │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘
BOGO Variations #
Same Product BOGO #
Customer must buy and get the same product:
- Buy 2 Red T-Shirts, Get 1 Red T-Shirt Free
- Simplest to understand and implement
Same Category BOGO #
Buy and get can be different products from the campaign selection:
- Buy 2 T-Shirts (any), Get 1 T-Shirt (any) Free
- More flexible for customers
Cross-Product BOGO #
Buy one product, get a different product free:
- Buy Shampoo, Get Conditioner Free
- Requires careful product selection setup
Variable Products #
BOGO works with variable products (products with variations):
Same Variation Required #
Customer must buy the same variation:
Buy 2 Blue/Medium, Get 1 Blue/Medium Free
Any Variation Allowed #
Mix and match variations:
Buy 2 T-Shirts (any size/color), Get 1 T-Shirt (any) Free
Common BOGO Strategies #
| Strategy | Configuration | Effective Discount | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic B1G1 | Buy 1, Get 1 @ 100% | 50% overall | High-margin items |
| B2G1 | Buy 2, Get 1 @ 100% | 33% overall | Moderate margins |
| B3G1 | Buy 3, Get 1 @ 100% | 25% overall | Volume drivers |
| Half-price | Buy 1, Get 1 @ 50% | 25% overall | Lower margins |
| Mix & Match | Buy 2, Get 2 @ 50% | 25% overall | Variety purchases |
Effective Discount Calculation #
Calculate the overall discount rate for your BOGO:
Effective Discount = (Get Qty × Get Discount %) / (Buy Qty + Get Qty) Example: Buy 2, Get 1 Free (1 × 100%) / (2 + 1) = 33.3% effective discount Example: Buy 1, Get 1 at 50% (1 × 50%) / (1 + 1) = 25% effective discount
Health Score Considerations #
| Check | Warning | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| High effective discount | >50% overall discount | Verify margin sustainability |
| Stock levels | Products low on stock | BOGO can deplete inventory quickly |
| Price variation | Wide price range in selection | Customers may exploit lowest prices |
Best Practices #
- Clear messaging: “Buy 2, Get 1 FREE” is clearer than “33% off when you buy 3”
- Monitor inventory: BOGO promotions can quickly deplete stock
- Consider margins: Calculate effective discount rate before launching
- Limit duration: BOGO works best as limited-time promotions
- Test price points: Customers may cherry-pick lowest-priced items
- Use urgency: “This weekend only” increases conversion
Combining with Other Features #
With Scheduling #
Run weekend-only BOGO promotions or flash sales.
With Product Selection #
Limit BOGO to specific categories (clearance items, seasonal products).
With Recurring Campaigns #
Monthly BOGO deals on the first weekend.
BOGO vs. Other Discount Types #
| Consideration | BOGO | Percentage | Tiered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing appeal | Very high (“FREE” is powerful) | Moderate | Good for B2B |
| Margin control | Less precise | More precise | Most precise |
| Volume driver | Excellent | Moderate | Excellent |
| Customer understanding | Very clear | Clear | Requires explanation |
| Inventory impact | High (moves volume) | Moderate | High |
