Shopify

Shopify Abandoned Cart Recovery: Beyond The Default Email

Shopify includes a built-in abandoned checkout email that sends to shoppers who entered contact info. Most brands add an email and SMS flow in Klaviyo, Postscript, or Attentive, then layer human conversation on top to recover shoppers with real questions.

Step 1: Turn On Shopify's Abandoned Checkout Email

In Shopify admin, go to Settings, then Notifications, then Abandoned checkout. Enable automatic sending. Shopify only captures checkouts where the shopper entered an email or phone, so it misses anyone who left before that.

Step 2: Build A Real Flow In Your ESP

A solid baseline for most Shopify brands:

• Email 1 at about 1 hour: a simple reminder with the product
• Email 2 at about 24 hours: answer common questions (shipping, returns, sizing)
• Email 3 at about 72 hours: social proof and reviews
• SMS for opted-in subscribers within the first hour

Step 3: Cover The Carts Flows Can't

Flows plateau because they can't listen. Shoppers with a specific question bounce. Shoppers who never opted into SMS never get a text at all.

That's where we come in. We text every abandoned cart person to person on iMessage, answer the objection, and close at full price. Your flows keep running.

For Pod Company, we recovered $389,127 in 30 days and took their cart recovery rate from 2.5% on automated flows to 17%.

Avoid The Discount Trap

Many Shopify recovery flows default to a 10% code in the second or third message. Shoppers learn the pattern and abandon on purpose. Answering the question recovers the order without giving up margin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shopify have abandoned cart recovery built in?

Yes, Shopify sends an abandoned checkout email for shoppers who entered contact information. It's a single message and doesn't include SMS or conversation.

What's the difference between abandoned cart and abandoned checkout?

Abandoned cart usually means items were added but checkout wasn't started. Abandoned checkout means the shopper started checkout and entered contact info.

Does CartForce work with Shopify Plus?

Yes. We work alongside your existing Shopify, Klaviyo, Postscript, or Attentive setup.