Subscriptions Switching Use Case: Changing Quantities

In addition to switching between different products or variations, it is also possible to switch between different quantities of the same product or variation. This is useful to allow customers to change the quantity of items on their subscription.

For example, a customer subscribed to 2 bags of coffee per month might need more to last the month. They can use the switching process to upgrade their subscription to 3 bags of the same coffee for the next renewal and all future renewals. If they later find 3 bags excessive, they can downgrade to just 1 bag of coffee.

Switching costs follow the same calculation method as switching between different products. For example, with enabled proration of recurring amounts, increasing the subscription quantity at the time of switch may incur a gap payment. This approach benefits virtual products most, where customers receive value daily, rather than physical items providing value at the next renewal.

On 15th May, a team leader orders a $50 per month product to access electronic course content. They order a quantity of 5 to provide part of their team with access, paying $250 up-front and subscribing at $250 / month thereafter.

After the first 10 days, the team leader decides to upgrade the subscription to enroll another 5 members of his team, for a total quantity of 10. He completes this upgrade on the 25th May, 10 days after the initial sign-up.

Despite the subscription being for the same product, because of the different quantity, the price per day will be different. Specifically, for the $50 / month product, the price per day for the subscription with a quantity of 5 is $8.21. The price per day for a quantity of 10 is $16.42.

With proration enabled in the store, Subscriptions charges the team leader a gap payment at the time of the switch. This gap payment is determined using the formula explained in the Switching Costs & Process document: Days until next payment x ( New Price Per Day – Old Price Per Day ).

The switch occurs 10 days after sign-up, leaving just over 20 days in the monthly billing cycle. This results in a formula evaluation of 20.63 x ( 16.42 – 8.21 ).

Using this formula, the total gap payment will be $169.40.

After completing steps 1 and 2 of the switch process, the image below displays the order totals for the team leader at checkout, including the gap payment.