· Giraffe
Discounts and sales for Singapore Shopify stores
11.11, 12.12, Black Friday and Chinese New Year are popular sale dates in Singapore. Shopify has the tools to run them, but discounts also have to be honest under Singapore's fair trading rules. This guide covers how Shopify discounts work, how to show sale prices, and what the CCS expects.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Shopify discount types
Shopify's discount types are:
- Amount off: a percentage or fixed amount off products, collections or the whole order.
- Buy X get Y: a reward when the customer buys a set quantity or amount.
- Free shipping: for customers who meet conditions, with an option to exclude expensive rates.
Tiered or more complex discounts need an app, or Checkout Blocks on Shopify Plus.
Codes or automatic discounts
- Discount codes are typed in at checkout. You can set dates, a usage limit, a minimum order and which products they apply to. They also work in Shopify POS.
- Automatic discounts apply in the cart and checkout once the customer qualifies, which suits site-wide sales. You can have up to 25 active, including app-based ones.
Start and end times follow the time zone in your Shopify admin, so check it's set to Singapore before scheduling a midnight 11.11 launch.
Combining discounts
Each discount is a product, order or shipping discount, and only combines when both are set to allow it. Shopify's combinations page says all merchants can combine:
- order discounts with free shipping;
- product discounts with free shipping;
- product discounts on separate items.
Combining product and order discounts, or two order discounts, needs eligibility (for example no checkout.liquid customisations). Stacking product discounts on the same item needs Shopify Plus. Test your combinations with a real cart before the sale goes live.
Showing sale prices
For a crossed-out price, set the new amount in Price and the original in Compare-at price, which must be higher (Shopify). Keep compare-at prices consistent across variants so the sale shows correctly on collection pages. If you're GST-registered, both prices should include GST (IRAS).
Honest discounts: what the CCS expects
The CCS's Guidelines on Price Transparency apply to online and physical stores and cover:
- Discounts and strikethrough prices: the saving must be genuine, with a valid basis for the "was" price. Keep records of past prices.
- Time limits: state them clearly and accurately.
- Price comparisons with other sellers: compare like with like and check reference prices regularly.
- "Free": state any conditions or later charges clearly alongside the claim.
- Drip pricing: include unavoidable charges in the headline price, and don't pre-tick paid add-ons without clear disclosure.
These back up the CPFTA Second Schedule, which lists as unfair:
- saying a discount lasts for a stated period when you know it will continue for substantially longer;
- giving a false reason for a discount.
For more on claims on the product page itself, see our product pages guide.
A sale-day checklist
- Record current prices before you change anything.
- Schedule discounts in Singapore time and test them in a real cart.
- Check stock and set realistic delivery times; see our inventory guide and shipping guide.
- Tell subscribers ahead of time; our email and SMS guide covers consent.
- After the sale, return prices to normal and ask buyers for reviews; see our product reviews guide.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a discount code and an automatic discount?
A discount code is entered by the customer at checkout. An automatic discount applies itself in the cart and checkout when the customer meets the conditions. Shopify allows up to 25 active automatic discounts, including app-based ones.
Can customers use more than one discount?
Yes, if each discount is set to combine with the other's class (product, order or shipping). All merchants can combine order or product discounts with free shipping, and product discounts on separate items. Some other combinations need eligibility or Shopify Plus.
How do I show a crossed-out price?
Set the sale amount in Price and the original amount in Compare-at price. The compare-at price must be higher for the sale to show. Under CCS guidelines, the original price should be genuine and you should keep records to prove it.
Can I say a sale ends tonight if I plan to extend it?
No. The CPFTA lists saying a discount is available for a stated period when you know it will continue for substantially longer as an unfair practice, and CCS guidelines say time limits should be stated clearly and accurately.
Planning your first sale? A Shopify trial lets you set up discount codes, automatic discounts and sale prices and test them at checkout before launch.
References
Rules, features and fees change, so check the live page before you act on anything here.
- Discount types, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Automatic discounts, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Discount codes, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Combining discounts, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Setting sale prices for products, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Guidelines on Price Transparency, Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore. Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act Guidelines, Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore. Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act 2003, Second Schedule, Singapore Statutes Online. Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Displaying and quoting prices, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Accessed 22 October 2026.