How can I implement modifiable products (which are subscriptions) in Shopify?

5
votes

I've implemented subscriptions through ReCharge where users can select products and these are saved as line item properties for that product. This was the only solution I could think of with my limited time using Shopify.

Per this question, it seems like line item properties are read-only after checkout. If this is truly the case, is there any solution that enables having modifiable subscriptions where users can re-select products for that subscription product that I can implement?

I'm using Shipstation for the shipping piece if this matters at all.

3
shopify
Are you trying to do this using Shopify API? – Gustavo Straube
@GustavoStraube - by whatever means really to get my shop to have it where a user can login, go to my account, change the line item properties for their subscription. – meder omuraliev
I got it. ReCharge is very limited in terms of customization. It allows the user to change only the quantity and frequency for each subscription. If you need to enable some update beyond that, you'll probably need to rely on a custom solution. Unfortunately that's what I did recently. – Gustavo Straube
@GustavoStraube - how did you end up doing it? Could you elaborate because that's what I'm seeking. – meder omuraliev
Actually, I discarded the use of ReCharge and wrote a new subscription application based on the client needs. It's not a simple solution, though. – Gustavo Straube

3 Answers

2
votes

How can I implement modifiable products (which are subscriptions) in Shopify?

You can't. Well, technically you can but it is not easily done. Since you indicated that you're looking for official answers, I've contacted Shopify via email for you and I've been discussed this with Brad Leclerc, where he said:

That is indeed the case with line item properties being read-only after checkout, so it would need to be reconstructed for the new order. There's no super quick/easy to do that without some custom development to automate the process. If you end up wanting to do that, I'm sure a developer from http://experts.shopify.com could set something like that up.

You have two choices, either hire someone from experts.shopify.com to help or build your own marketing script from scratch.

Proof of email: http://i.imgur.com/OeM5gSm.png

1
votes

I'd do this with meta fields on the customer.

  1. meta fields can be used on the subscription product template to make it sensitive to the state of the customer's subscription (new or existing)
  2. Use a order web hook to detect when a new subscription product has been purchased and then update the customer meta fields (e.g. subscription level and start and end dates).
  3. use a periodic task in your supporting private app to:
    • prompt user before subscription becomes due to update their payment details or cancel the subscription
    • create and bill new orders for each subscription period
0
votes

I am not familiar with Shopify, nor Revcharge, but according to the references, couldn't you simply customize the product page in shopify?

https://docs.shopify.com/manual/configuration/store-customization/page-specific/product-page/get-customization-information-for-products

According RevCharge, you should use a Shopify product template anyway.. http://recharge.helpscoutdocs.com/article/91-recharge-integration-guide