Reject discount codes
Prevent Loyalty Coupons from Stacking with Sale Discounts
Running automatic sales like 10% off sitewide is great—but many merchants don’t want loyalty coupons to stack on top of those discounts.
This article shows you how to automatically reject loyalty discount codes at checkout when a sale is already applied, without manually configuring Shopify combination rules for hundreds (or thousands) of codes.
The Problem
Most loyalty apps generate a large number of discount codes, often dynamically.
Examples:
BH_XXXX(Bubblehouse)SMILE_XXXXBONN_XXXX
Shopify’s native discount combination rules don’t scale well for this:
You must explicitly configure which discounts can combine
It’s impractical when loyalty apps constantly generate new codes
Managing this manually is error-prone and time-consuming
The Solution: Reject Discount Codes at Checkout
Instead of trying to control combinations, you can reject specific discount codes at checkout when a sale (automatic discount) is active.
This allows you to:
Run automatic sales (10%, 20%, etc.)
Block loyalty coupons from applying on top
Clearly communicate why the coupon was rejected to the customer
How It Works (High Level)
When an automatic discount is applied:
The app checks any discount code entered at checkout
If the code matches your rejection rules → it’s rejected
A custom message explains why the code didn’t apply
Step-by-Step Setup
1. Create or Open Your Sale Discount
Create an automatic discount (example: 10% off all products)
This can be product-based, order-based, or sitewide
2. Open Create Unified Discount
Navigate to Create Unified Discount
Select Product Discount (or the relevant discount type)
Define your rules and targets (e.g., all items in cart)
3. Enable Reject Discount Codes
Inside the discount config's settings, enable Reject Discount Codes.
You’ll see a small configuration module with the following options:
4. Choose a Match Type
Option A: Exact (Fits)
You manually list specific discount codes to reject
Best for small, fixed sets of codes
Option B: Pattern (Recommended)
Automatically rejects codes based on a pattern
Ideal for loyalty apps that use prefixes or formats
5. Configure the Match Operator (Pattern Only)
Choose how the code should be matched:
Starts with
Ends with
Contains
Example:
Starts with →
BH_Starts with →
SMILE_Contains →
LOYALTY
This works because most loyalty apps follow a consistent naming format.
6. Set the Rejection Message
Add a message that customers will see at checkout.
Example:
“Loyalty coupons are not valid for this order.”
You can fully customise this message to match your brand tone and explain that a sale is already applied.
What the Customer Sees
The automatic sale discount remains applied
When a loyalty code is entered, it’s rejected
The customer sees a clear reason, not a silent failure
No confusion or “random” discount behavior
When Should You Use This?
This setup is ideal when:
You’re running automatic sales
You use loyalty or rewards apps
You don’t want double-discounting
You want a clean, scalable solution without managing combinations
Key Benefits
No need to manage Shopify combination rules
Works with dynamic discount codes
Scales across all loyalty apps
Improves checkout clarity and trust
Fully configurable messaging
Need Help?
If you have:
Multiple loyalty apps
Complex discount logic
Edge cases you’re unsure about
Reach out via chat or support email—we’re happy to help you set up even the most complex discount scenarios
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