BOGO Promotion
4 min read
Buy One Get One (BOGO) promotions are powerful sales drivers that encourage customers to buy more by offering a free or discounted item with purchase. This guide covers setting up BOGO campaigns.
What is a BOGO Promotion? #
BOGO Variations #
| Type | Description | Effective Discount |
|---|---|---|
| BOGO Free | Buy 1, Get 1 Free | 50% off (on 2 items) |
| BOGO 50% | Buy 1, Get 1 at 50% off | 25% off (on 2 items) |
| B2G1 | Buy 2, Get 1 Free | 33% off (on 3 items) |
| B3G1 | Buy 3, Get 1 Free | 25% off (on 4 items) |
Why BOGO Works #
- Perceived value: “Free” is more compelling than percentage off
- Increases quantity: Customers buy more units
- Clear message: Easy to understand and communicate
- Inventory movement: Great for clearing stock
Example: Buy 2 Get 1 Free on T-Shirts #
Scenario #
Products: All products in "T-Shirts" category Promotion: Buy 2 T-Shirts, Get 1 Free Goal: Move excess t-shirt inventory before new season Duration: 2 weeks
Step-by-Step Setup #
Step 1: Basic Information #
- Go to SC Discounts → Add New Campaign
- Configure:
- Campaign Name: “T-Shirts – Buy 2 Get 1 Free”
- Priority: 4 (High) – BOGO should override regular discounts
- Click Next
Step 2: Product Selection #
- Choose “Products by Condition”
- Add condition:
- Category equals “T-Shirts”
- Verify product count
- Click Next
Step 3: Discount Configuration #
- Select “Buy X Get Y (BOGO)”
- Configure:
- Buy Quantity: 2
- Get Quantity: 1
- Get Discount: 100% (free)
- Click Next
Step 4: Schedule #
- Start Date: Your campaign start date
- End Date: 2 weeks later
- Click Next
Step 5: Review and Publish #
- Review BOGO configuration
- Verify the effective discount makes sense
- Click “Publish”
BOGO Configuration Options #
Buy X Get Y Settings #
| Setting | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Quantity | Items customer must buy | 2 |
| Get Quantity | Bonus items customer receives | 1 |
| Get Discount % | Discount on bonus items | 100% (free) or 50% |
Common Configurations #
| Name | Buy | Get | Discount | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOGO Free | 1 | 1 | 100% | 50% off total |
| BOGO Half Off | 1 | 1 | 50% | 25% off total |
| B2G1 Free | 2 | 1 | 100% | 33% off total |
| B3G1 Free | 3 | 1 | 100% | 25% off total |
| B2G1 50% Off | 2 | 1 | 50% | 17% off total |
How BOGO Works in Cart #
Example: Buy 2 Get 1 Free #
Cart contains: 3 T-Shirts @ $25 each Calculation: - 2 paid @ $25 = $50 - 1 free @ $0 = $0 - Total: $50 (vs. $75 regular) - Savings: $25 (33% off)
Multiple BOGO Sets #
Cart contains: 6 T-Shirts @ $25 each Calculation: - Set 1: 2 paid + 1 free = $50 - Set 2: 2 paid + 1 free = $50 - Total: $100 (vs. $150 regular) - Savings: $50 (33% off)
Partial Sets #
Cart contains: 5 T-Shirts @ $25 each Calculation: - Set 1: 2 paid + 1 free = $50 - Remaining: 2 @ $25 = $50 (no free item, need 1 more) - Total: $100 (vs. $125 regular) - Savings: $25
Product Selection for BOGO #
Same Product BOGO #
Customer buys multiple of the same item:
- All items must be from campaign products
- Most common BOGO type
- Simple to understand
Category BOGO #
Any products from the category count:
Buy any 2 T-Shirts, Get any 1 T-Shirt Free Customer buys: - Blue T-Shirt ($25) - Red T-Shirt ($30) - Green T-Shirt ($20) ← FREE (lowest priced)
Which Item is Free? #
When products have different prices, the lowest-priced qualifying item is discounted. This protects your margins.
BOGO Best Practices #
Clear Communication #
- Use clear language: “Buy 2, Get 1 FREE”
- Show effective discount: “That’s 33% off!”
- Display savings in cart
Margin Considerations #
| BOGO Type | Effective Discount | Margin Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Buy 1 Get 1 Free | 50% | Heavy – use carefully |
| Buy 2 Get 1 Free | 33% | Moderate – sustainable |
| Buy 3 Get 1 Free | 25% | Light – good for margins |
| Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off | 25% | Light – good for margins |
Inventory Planning #
- BOGO increases units per order
- Stock may deplete faster than expected
- Enable low stock alerts (Pro)
- Have restock plan ready
Marketing BOGO Promotions #
Headline Examples #
- “Buy 2, Get 1 FREE!”
- “The More You Buy, The More You Save”
- “Triple Your Wardrobe for the Price of Two”
- “Get Your 3rd Item FREE”
Visual Tips #
- Show 3 products with 1 crossed out or marked “FREE”
- Use starburst badges with “BOGO” or “3 for 2”
- Display before/after pricing
Email Subject Lines #
- “Your favorite items: Buy 2, Get 1 FREE 🎉”
- “This week only: Every 3rd item is FREE”
- “Stock up now – BOGO on all T-Shirts”
BOGO Variations #
Mix and Match #
Campaign: Buy Any 2 Accessories, Get 1 Free Products: Hats, Scarves, Gloves categories Result: Customer can mix items across categories
Tiered BOGO #
Combine with volume:
Buy 2, Get 1 at 50% off Buy 4, Get 2 FREE Buy 6, Get 3 FREE (best value!)
Cross-Sell BOGO #
Buy Any Shoes, Get Socks 50% Off Products: Shoes category (buy), Socks category (get) Result: Encourages complementary purchase
Measuring BOGO Success #
Key Metrics #
| Metric | Target |
|---|---|
| Units per Order | Should increase significantly |
| Revenue per Order | Should increase despite discount |
| Total Units Sold | Major increase expected |
| Inventory Clearance | Faster than normal |
Success Calculation #
Before BOGO: - Average order: 1.5 units - Average revenue: $37.50 During BOGO: - Average order: 3.2 units - Average revenue: $53.33 (after discount) - Revenue increase: 42% - Units increase: 113%
Troubleshooting #
BOGO Not Applying #
- Verify customer has minimum quantity in cart
- Check all items are from campaign products
- Confirm campaign is active
- Check priority vs. other campaigns
Wrong Item Free #
- Lowest-priced eligible item is discounted by design
- This is intentional margin protection
- Communicate clearly to customers
Confused Customers #
- Add clear messaging on product pages
- Show savings in cart prominently
- Consider “Buy X more for BOGO!” upsell message
Updated on February 17, 2026
