A/B test: suggest cheap add-ons to reach free shipping
If the cart suggests two or three inexpensive products that close the gap to free shipping, then average order value will rise, because we give shoppers an easy way to avoid paying for delivery.
By Fernando Blanco Dosil · Updated November 2, 2026
Why it can work
Picture someone with €41 in the cart and free shipping from €49. They know they are €8 short. What they do not know is what to buy with that €8 without browsing the whole store again.
Hand it to them (socks, a case, a refill, something they would end up buying anyway) and the decision goes from “let me find something” to “add this”. That is one click.
How to set it up
In Bixlow you describe the change to the agent, it builds it on your site and launches it as an A/B test once you approve it. A/B tests are on the paid plans, starting with Standard.
- Pick a short list of cheap, in-stock products that go with almost anything. Somewhere between €3 and €15 is usually enough.
- In the variant, show two or three of them under the cart total, with their price and a direct add button that keeps the shopper in the cart.
- Only show them while the cart is below the threshold, and favour the ones that close the gap in one go.
- The control is your cart as it is. If you already have a “€X to go” bar, keep it in both versions so you measure only the add-ons.
What to measure
| Metric | |
|---|---|
| Primary metric | Average order value |
| Metric that must not get worse | Orders per visitor |
| Where it is measured | On the order confirmation page |
If order value goes up but orders drop, the cart has become cluttered and people are leaving.
Other versions worth trying
One product instead of three, the one that closes the gap best. Or the add-ons grouped under a heading that says what they are for: “To get free shipping”.