Overview
The One-Time Orders for Subscribers feature allows customers with an active subscription to place a separate one-time order without making changes to their existing subscription. This provides subscribers with a convenient way to purchase additional products as needed while maintaining their recurring subscription schedule.
Important: This feature is currently in Beta and is not enabled by default. Merchants must request access to have the feature added to their site.
Enabling the Feature
Once the feature has been enabled on your site, a new setting will be available within the subscription configuration:
Allow one-time orders
Subscribers can place a separate one-time order in addition to their subscription. Available only when Opt-in is set to Optional.
To enable subscriber one-time orders:
- Navigate to Apps > Subscriptions.
- Ensure Opt-in is set to Optional.
- Enable Allow one-time orders.
Save your changes.
Subscriber Experience
Dual Cart Experience
When a subscriber logs into their account, they will see two separate shopping experiences:
- Subscription Cart – Contains products associated with their recurring subscription.
- One-Time Cart – Contains products intended for a single purchase.
The customer can access both carts from either cart at the top of the page.
Cart Selection
Selecting either cart updates the cart panel and displays the contents of the selected cart.
Customers can easily switch between:
- Their active subscription cart
- Their one-time order cart
This allows subscribers to manage recurring and one-time purchases independently.
Adding Products
When a subscriber adds a product to their cart, they are prompted to choose where the product should be placed.
Available options include:
Create a One-Time Order
Adds the product to the customer's one-time order cart.
- Product will be purchased once.
- Subscription remains unchanged.
- Future subscription shipments are not affected.
Edit My Subscription
Adds the product to the subscriber's recurring order.
- Product is added to future subscription deliveries.
- Changes apply to their current subscription order if this is before the deadline or this will apply for their following subscription.
Remember My Choice
Subscribers can select Remember my choice for this visit to prevent the selection dialog from appearing again during the current session.
Checkout Process
After adding products to the one-time order cart, subscribers can proceed to checkout using the standard checkout flow.
During checkout:
- Only products in the One-Time Cart are included.
- The customer's subscription remains unchanged.
- No modifications are made to recurring products, frequency, or delivery schedule.
- The one-time order is processed as a standalone order.
Key Benefits
- Allows subscribers to purchase additional products without modifying their subscription.
- Provides a clear separation between recurring and one-time purchases.
- Maintains the existing subscription schedule and settings.
- Reduces the likelihood of accidental subscription changes.
- Simplifies the purchasing experience for returning subscribers.
Notes and Limitations
- This feature is currently available as a Beta release.
- Merchant activation is required before the setting becomes available.
- The Allow one-time orders setting is only available when Opt-in is configured as Optional.
- One-time orders and subscription orders are maintained in separate carts.
- Completing a one-time checkout does not change the subscriber's recurring order in any way.