Creating bundles (or product sets) can be a powerful strategy to increase average order value and improve the shopping experience. However, if done poorly, it can cause confusion, reduce sales, or fail to deliver real value. In this article, we review the most common mistakes when building bundles on Shopify stores and how to avoid them using a solution like Planet.
Also, offering volume discounts? Don’t miss this article on Common Mistakes with Quantity Breaks and How to Avoid Them.
With Planet, you can create truly effective promotions without the hassle: of flexible combinations, visible savings, and customer or country-based segmentation right from Shopify.
1. Bundling unrelated products
A common mistake is grouping products that don’t have a clear use together. If customers don’t see the added value, they’re unlikely to buy.
How to avoid it:
Build bundles with a logical purpose. For example, if you sell sleep products, combine a mattress + pillow. If you sell matcha, offer a complete preparation kit. Use purchase data or product affinity to create bundles that make sense.
2. Not highlighting the savings
Many bundles fail to communicate the economic benefit or do it in a way that’s not easily visible. If customers have to calculate mentally, conversions drop.
How to avoid it:
Always show the original price and the bundle price. If you use Planet, you can highlight the savings directly on the product page with messages like “Save 15% when you buy this bundle.”
3. Bundles competing with individual products
If the bundle discount is too aggressive, it can cannibalize individual product sales. Worse, it may frustrate customers who previously bought items separately without knowing a bundle existed.
How to avoid it:
Find a balance. Use moderate discounts and add extras (like a free gift) instead of steep price cuts. Segment who sees the bundle and when.
4. Not Integrating the Bundle into the Natural Purchase Flow
If the bundle only appears on a hidden landing page or in intrusive pop-ups, many customers will never see it or will close it without reading.
How to avoid it:
Include the bundle directly on the product page. With Planet, you can display a widget showing the pack and its savings. You can also add a banner at the top of the page to capture attention.
5. No flexible combinations
Offering only fixed bundles limits the customer’s ability to adapt the offer to their needs. Many will drop off if the bundle doesn’t feel tailored.
How to avoid it:
Use a mix-and-match logic: “Buy any 3 products from this selection and get 10% off.” Build bundles with curated product selections and let customers see different options to pick what suits them best.
Optimize your bundles with Planet
Creating bundles with Planet doesn’t just help you avoid common mistakes, it gives you total control over when, how, and to whom you show your promotions. Key benefits include:
- Advanced segmentation by customer, market, tags, or purchase history: Show different bundles to new vs. returning customers, or by country.
- Flexible mix & match combinations without needing to build specific product packs.
- Full control over the shopping experience: Decide where and how the bundle appears, integrating it seamlessly without pop-ups or forced interruptions.
- Compatibility with other active promotions, like free gifts or coupons.
- No need to alter base product prices. Everything is managed without disrupting your pricing structure.
Creating effective bundles isn’t just about grouping products, it’s about understanding your customer, delivering real value, and presenting it at the right moment.
If you already use Shopify and want to launch smart, frictionless promotions, Planet lets you build personalized, segmented bundles that blend smoothly into the buying journey.
Want to start creating bundles that sell?
Start now with Planet and design promotions that truly resonate with your customers.