Constellation can keep products for members only, either hidden from everyone else or visible but only purchasable by members, and give members automatic discounts on the whole catalog, categories or single products. Members can also get a free shipping rate of their own. Discounts apply to logged-in members; there are no coupon codes to share.
When you’d use this
- Run a wholesale or purchasing club catalog that only members can buy from.
- Tease members-only products to visitors, with a prompt to join.
- Give members 10 percent off everything, or a set amount off certain products.
- Offer members free shipping on every order.
How to use it
1. Restrict products from a plan
To restrict a category or your whole catalog, add rules on the plan’s Restrict Products tab and choose what Only members can do:
- view: non-members can’t see the product. With Hide restricted products on, it’s left out of the shop catalog too.
- purchase: everyone sees the product, but only members can add it to the cart. Non-members see a message instead of the add to cart button.
Create membership plans in Constellation covers the rule fields, including delayed access.
2. Restrict or discount a single product
When you edit a product, the Constellation box below the product data has three tabs:
- Restriction: Add rule to restrict this product to a plan (view or purchase, immediately or after a time), or turn on Disable restrictions to keep it public whatever the plans say. Use Disable restrictions on your membership products, so non-members can always buy them.
- Messages: replace the store-wide product messages for this product.
- Discounts: Add rule to give a plan’s members a discount on this product, or turn on Disable discounts to exclude it from every member discount.
Click Save changes in the box. Rules you add here also appear on the plan.
3. Add member discounts
For catalog-wide or category discounts, use the plan’s Purchasing Discounts tab: choose the products or categories (blank means all products), the Discount type (a percentage or a fixed amount off) and the Amount, and leave Active ticked.
4. Check as a member and a visitor
Log in as a member and check the product shows the member price, then check it in a private window as a visitor.
How member discounts work
- Members see the discounted price in the shop, on the product page and in the cart, with a Member discount! badge on shop and product pages.
- If a member’s plans each discount the same product, the discounts stack: each applies after the other.
- Products on sale still get member discounts unless Exclude products on sale from member discounts is on.
- Logged-out members see regular prices until they log in.
- Non-members see "Want a discount? Become a member by purchasing {products}!" below the add to cart button, unless you clear the Product discounted (purchase required) message.
- With Apply discounts when purchasing membership on, customers buying a membership get its discounts on the same order.
These settings are on Constellation settings.
Free shipping for members
- Go to WooCommerce » Settings » Shipping, open a shipping zone, and add or edit a Free shipping method.
- Set Free shipping requires… to An active membership.
- Pick the plans under Allowed plans. The rate shows only to active members of the plans you pick. If you leave it empty, nobody sees it.
Every free shipping method also gets Disallowed plans, to hide that rate from members of chosen plans, for example a minimum-order free shipping rate that members shouldn’t need.
What non-members see
- On a view-restricted product: "This product can only be viewed by members. To view or purchase this product, sign up by purchasing {products}.", or a 404 with Hide completely.
- On a purchase-restricted product: "This product can only be purchased by members. To purchase this product, sign up by purchasing {products}."
{products} becomes links to the products that grant access. Edit the wording under Constellation » Configuration » Settings » Messages.
Common issues
Non-members can’t buy the membership product
A product restriction covers it, such as a rule on its category. Turn on Disable restrictions in its Constellation box.
A member doesn’t see their discount
Check they’re logged in, the membership is Active (or another status with access), the discount rule is Active, and the product isn’t set to Disable discounts or on sale with sale products excluded.
The member discount is bigger than expected
The member holds two plans that both discount the product, so the discounts stack.
Restricted products still show in the shop
Hide restricted products only hides products restricted with view. Turn it on under Constellation » Configuration » Settings » Products; products restricted with purchase stay visible by design.