# Setting up upsells in checkout

Offer shipping protection, priority processing, warranties, or any digital add-on at checkout, with timers, display rules, and order tags

May 7, 2026

## Where to find it

Go to **Convert > Extensions** in the left sidebar. Click the purple **Add Extension** button in the top-right corner and select **Digital Upsell**. The editor opens with two tabs: **Settings** and **Timer**, plus a live **Preview** panel on the right.

To edit, duplicate, copy a token, or delete an existing Digital Upsell, click the three-dot menu ( **⋯**) on any extension card on the Extensions page. You'll see four options:

- **Edit** — opens the full settings editor.
- **Copy Token** — copies the Shopify integration token to your clipboard without opening the extension.
- **Duplicate** — creates a copy with all its settings.
- **Delete** — permanently removes the extension.

## Heads up: saving creates an unlisted Shopify product

When you save a Digital Upsell for the first time, PDQ creates an **unlisted digital product** in your Shopify backend using the **Title** and **Description text** from the Settings tab. The product is hidden from your storefront and used only to process the upsell at checkout.

Because of this, three fields are locked once you save: **Title**, **Description text**, and **Upload product image**. Set them deliberately the first time — to change any of them later, you'll need to duplicate the extension and start over.

## Step 1: Connect the extension to Shopify

After saving, the **Token for Shopify** appears at the top of the Settings tab. Click **View Detailed Installation Instructions** for the full walkthrough, or copy the token (it looks like **custom_upsell_XXXXXXX**) and paste it into the **Custom Upsell Token** component in your Shopify Theme Editor under your checkout settings.

For the full extension install walkthrough, see [Adding a PDQ Extension to your Shopify checkout](https://support.prettydamnquick.com/en/articles/8560867-adding-multiple-pdq-components).

## Step 2: Configure the offer

In the **Settings** tab, set:

- **Internal Name** — for your reference only, not visible to shoppers (e.g. "Shipping Protection Upsell"). Editable any time.
- **Title** — the headline shoppers see (e.g. "Protect your shipping"). **Locked after first save.**
- **Description text** — the supporting line under the title, up to 255 characters. **Locked after first save.**
- **Upload product image** — .png only, max 500KB. **Locked after first save.**

## Step 3: Choose where it appears

Under **Component Placement**:

- **Standalone** — the upsell shows as its own block in checkout, separate from any shipping method.
- **Inside Shipping Method** — embeds the upsell inside a specific shipping option. If you pick this, head to your Online Store Editor to define which shipping method it attaches to.

## Step 4: Set the price

Under **Choose Type**:

- **Fixed Rate** — a flat dollar amount in **Upsell Rate** (e.g. $5.75).
- **Percent** — calculated as a percentage of the order value.

To layer on a discount:

- **Apply Discount To** — pick **Upsell item** (discount only the add-on) or **Entire order**.
- **Discount %** — the percentage to apply.

For example, a $6 upsell with a 20% discount shows as $4.80 — the strikethrough price is the motivator.

## Step 5: Free items, tooltips, and order tags

A few extras worth knowing about:

- **Auto-Select Only Free Digital Item at Checkout** — if your upsell is $0, this auto-adds it to the cart. Use it for free downloads or freebies you want every shopper to receive.
- **Enable Tooltip for Extra Details** — adds an info icon next to the upsell. Reveals **Tooltip Title** (short heading) and **Tooltip body** (up to 5,000 characters).
- **Custom Order Tags** — auto-tag any order that includes the upsell. Tick **Pin Order to Top of PDQ Screen** to pin tagged orders to the top of your fulfillment queue. You can also type your own tag names in the input field.

## Step 6: Set display conditions

Decide exactly when the upsell shows up. Add one or more rules — cart value, item count, collection, coupons, customer tags, destinations, device type, gross margin, locale, product type, SKU, time of day, weekday, weight, zip codes, and more. Combine rules with **Add Rule Group** for AND/OR logic. If you don't add any rules, the upsell always shows.

Under **When cart no longer meets conditions**:

- **Keep in Cart** — the upsell stays even if the cart changes.
- **Remove from Cart** — the upsell is pulled if the cart no longer qualifies.

## Step 7: Add a countdown timer (optional)

The **Timer** tab adds urgency. Toggle **Enable Countdown Timer** on — the timer starts the moment a shopper hits checkout. With the toggle off, no timer shows regardless of any settings below.

Configure:

- **Timer Duration** — a number, then minutes or seconds.
- **Time Format** — Digital (01:30:45) or Compact (1Hr 30m).
- **Placement** — In Item Description, Inline Bar, or Badge. Each behaves differently.

### How each placement option works

- **In Item Description** — the timer is embedded in the upsell's description text. To use it, go back to the **Settings tab** and add **{countdown}** inside the **Description text** field. The timer text appears as part of the description.
- **Inline Bar** — a separate text banner appears below the upsell card. The text and styling come from the **Messages** section below.
- **Badge** — a small timer pill appears next to the upsell title. Only the countdown clock shows; no message text.

### Messages

All fields support dynamic fields — type **{** to see options. The key one is **{countdown}**, which inserts the live time remaining.

- **Default Message Displayed** — shown while the timer runs (e.g. "Only {countdown} left to claim this offer!").
- **Message When Timer Is Low** — kicks in below a threshold you set under **Show when remaining time is under**.
- **Message When Time Has Expired** — shown at zero.

## Save and preview

Click **Save** in the top-right to save changes across both tabs. The first save creates the unlisted Shopify product. **Cancel** discards unsaved changes and returns to the Extensions list.

Use the **Preview** panel on the right to see how the upsell looks at checkout — toggle Desktop/Mobile, or click **Preview In Shopify** for a live preview in your Shopify checkout editor.

## Tips

- For paid digital add-ons (shipping protection, warranties): use a **Fixed Rate**, write a clear title, and turn on the tooltip to explain what's covered.
- For free items (downloadable guides, loyalty gifts): turn on **Auto-Select Only Free Digital Item at Checkout** so it lands in every cart automatically.
- For premium services (priority processing): tick the Pin Order option to push tagged orders to the top of fulfillment.
- Title and Description are locked after first save — do a quick dry run with the Preview panel before clicking Save.
- To create urgency without losing late deciders: use the Timer with **Show Expired Message** rather than **Hide Digital Upsell** — shoppers who take a beat can still add it.