When creating an Offer for online ordering, it is possible to create ‘extra’ packages in addition to the main packages. These ‘Extras’ are created as either Shop Extras or Cart Extras, depending on where they will be displayed.
Shop Extras appear in the Shop, alongside the standard packages
Cart Extras appear in the Cart window at checkout
The user has the ability to specify which packages (referred to as Qualifying Packages) need to be added to the cart first, in order for the Extra packages to appear. Further, the price of the Extra can vary according to which packages have been added to the cart. Finally, Extra packages can also be combined with conditions for additional flexibility.
Managing Extras
To mark a Package as a Shop or Cart extra:
In tsAdmin, select the Offer and Package
Select the Filters/Extras tab
Double-click on the desired package to open the Package Filters/Extras window
Check the applicable box next to Offered as cart extra and/or Offered as shop extra
Figure 1: The Filters/Extras window with the extras options highlighted & checked
Setting qualifying packages and the Extra’s price
Extras have a simplified ‘condition’ feature, allowing them to be offered as Extras only when specified Qualifying Packages have first been added to the cart. When specifying the qualifying packages, the user can also set the price for the Extra package. It is also possible (and indeed common) for the qualifying packages to be Any of the offer’s packages.
Qualifying packages are selected in the Offered as extra for section in the lower half of the Filters/Extras tab.
In Figure 2 below, the ALC7 package is being offered as both a Shop and Cart Extra. Note that in this example, the price for ALC7 will be different depending on which of the four packages has been added.
The package will appear in the Shop because it is a shop extra, but will initially appear at the set base price, $10, for example. Only when one or more of the qualifying packages, PK1→PK4, have been added to the cart will the price change to the special price.
The package will appear in the Cart screen as a bonus package only when one customer has added a qualifying package.
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The order in which the packages are added to the cart does not matter, as the system will automatically select the lowest price that the customer qualifies for. The system will also adjust the price if the customer removes a qualifying package from the cart, including removing it from the customer’s cart if they are no longer eligible for that package.
Figure 2: The Offered as extra for area in tsAdmin
Creating conditional or limited extras
In addition to specifying Qualifying Packages, Cart and Shop Extras may be combined with Limit Tags and Conditions to further control when these Extra packages should appear. Case Study number 3, below is an example of Cart Extra combined with a Condition.
Further Reading: Conditional & Limited Packages
By default, Packages in the Timestone Internet Ordering System (IOS) are offered to all subjects. However, it is possible to restrict packages to specific subjects only. This can be achieved in one of two ways: Conditions and Limit Tags.
Case Studies
Below are three common use case examples.
The first example is the most basic and yet possibly the most common use of Cart Extras.
A typical use case of a Shop Extra is shown in Example 2.
The third example shows how Conditions can be combined with Extras for extra power and flexibility as to when the Extra is to be offered.
Example 1: A basic Cart Extra
A photographer wants to have a Portrait Button (BTN) in the Cart as an Extra, no matter what package the customer has ordered.
Once packages are created in the normal way, the photographer should:
In tsAdmin, select the offer and the package (BTN)
Set the Base price for the extra package. In this example, the Button costs $10.
Select the Filters/Extras tab, on the upper right of the package creation area
Double-click on the desired package to open the Filters/Extras window for that package
Check the option Offered as Cart Extra then dismiss the Filters/Extras window
In the lower section of the Filters/Extra tab is the Offered as extra for area.
Check the box next to Any and set the price in the adjacent field, $10 in this case. (If the user wished to give the appearance of a discount, the base price could be set higher, and a strike would appear on the higher price)
Click Submit changes to save the changes to the offer
Figure 3: Setting the package BTN as a Cart Extra for $10 for Any package
Result
The Button package will not appear in the shopfront, only in the Cart as a Bonus when Any package has been added to the cart.
Figure 4: The Cart Extra appearing on the Cart Screen for a customer
Example 2: Shop Extra Package
A photographer wants an 8×10 package (810) to be displayed in the Shop at $15; however, if a customer orders any of the four main packages, the 8×10 package (810) should instead be offered at $2. He wants the customer to immediately see this change in the Shop, not have to go to the Cart first, and so needs to define it as Shop Extra
Once packages are created in the normal way, the photographer should:
In tsAdmin, select the offer and the package
Set the Base price for the extra package. In this example, the 8×10 print costs $15 if purchased on its own.
Select the Filters/Extras tab, on the upper right of the package creation area
Double-click on the desired package to open the Filters/Extras window for that package
Check the option Offered as Shop Extra then dismiss the Filters/Extras window
In the lower section of the Filters/Extra tab is the Offered as extra for area.
Check the desired qualifying packages and set the price in the adjacent field, $2 in this case.
Click Submit changes to save the changes to the offer
Figure 5: Setting the package 810 as a Shop Extra at $2 only when PK1→ PK4 are ordered
Result
The 8×10 package will appear in the shop as $15 when nothing is in the cart. When any of the packages PK1, PK2, PK3, or PK4 are added to the cart, the price will change to $2.
Figure 6: The 8×10 package before and after a qualifying package is added to the cart.
Example 3: Conditional Cart Extra Package
A senior photographer wants to offer a bonus, free digital download in the Cart, but only when the customer purchases more than $250 worth of product.
This will require the photographer to create and apply a condition in addition to creating the Cart extra package.
Step 1: Create the condition
In the IOS Control Panel, create a new condition named FDD1. Configure it so that it reads: Session > Cart > Value of cart for shoot/identity is from (inclusive) $250. The condition will be True for customers who have $250 for a single subject and will then present them with the cart extra package, a free Digital Download.
Figure 7: The condition for FDD1
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When an extra package is offered at no cost, the system enforces a limit of one per cart. Additionally, Timestone Software’s IOS will automatically remove any package from the cart if the customer no longer meets the conditions required for it.
In practice, this means a customer cannot add both the qualifying package(s) and the free extra package, then later remove the qualifying items while attempting to keep the free package. As soon as the qualification is no longer met, the system will remove the free package from the cart.
Step 2: Create the Extra Package(s)
Once packages are created in the normal way, the photographer should:
In tsAdmin, select the offer and the package
Set the base price to $0, (since this will be a cart extra only triggered by a cart total, only the base price will be used )
Select the Filters/Extras tab, on the upper right of the package creation area
Double-click on the desired package to open the Filters/Extras window for that package
Check the option Offered as Cart Extra, add the condition code FDD1 to the condition(s) field, and dismiss the filter and extra window
Click Submit changes to save the changes to the offer
Figure 8: The Package Filter/Extras window for this example
Result
Once the offer is applied to a job and uploaded to IOS, when a customer places more than $250 total in the cart per subject, regardless of package composition, the customer will be presented with the Digital Download package as a bonus package to add to the cart.
Figure 9: Online cart with qualifying packages in the cart showing the conditional cart extra
FAQ
Can Extras use Conditional Price Lists?
No. The price for an Extra is set in tsAdmin when setting the Qualifying Packages
What’s the difference between a Shop Extra and a Cart Extra?
Shop Extras appear directly in the shop alongside your main packages and can change price when qualifying packages are added to the cart, while Cart Extras only show up at the cart screen after the customer adds a qualifying package.
Can an Extra have different prices depending on what the customer buys? Does the order of adding packages to the cart matter?
Yes. You can set different prices for the same Extra depending on which main package is in the cart. The system automatically picks the lowest eligible price for the customer, and updates to the appropriate price if items are added or removed from the cart.
Do Extras disappear if the qualifying package is removed from the cart?
Yes, If a customer removes the package that qualified them for an Extra, the system will adjust or remove the Extra automatically so pricing stays accurate.
Can a package be both a Shop Extra and a Cart Extra?
Yes. If both boxes are checked in tsAdmin, the package can appear in the shop and at checkout, depending on how you want to promote it.