Bikes, skis, and golf clubs are highly size-dependent. A first-time buyer in these categories has no purchase history to confirm they have selected the correct size or spec. Without a flag, the order ships as-is and the customer may receive equipment that does not fit, leading to costly returns and a poor experience.
OrderBadger can flag first-time buyers of size-dependent equipment categories so your team can offer fitting guidance before dispatch.
Sports and outdoor retailers selling size-dependent equipment - especially those offering bikes, skis, golf clubs, or similar items where correct fit is critical to customer satisfaction.
How it works
Checks whether any item belongs to the Bikes, Skis, or Golf Clubs category AND the customer has never purchased from that specific category before (purchase count is 0). When both are true, the order appears in the inbox with a Fitting Needed? badge.
Include a printed sizing guide in the box, or email the customer before dispatch to confirm their size selection. For high-value items like bikes, consider a brief phone call to verify frame size and riding style.
Rule template
Write this (or something similar) in the OrderBadger rule builder. The AI compiler turns it into executable logic automatically.
Make it yours
- Edit 'Bikes, Skis, or Golf Clubs' to include other fit-critical categories your store carries, such as 'Wetsuits' or 'Climbing Harnesses'.
- Remove one of the three categories (e.g. 'Golf Clubs') if that department already has its own fitting workflow and does not need the badge.
- Add 'and order total is over £200' to limit the fitting outreach to high-value equipment purchases where a return would be costly. …y and customer has never purchased from that category before and order total is over £200
- Add 'and the order was placed on a weekend' to catch weekend buyers you cannot reach until Monday - a good trigger for a priority fitting email first thing. …y and customer has never purchased from that category before and the order was placed on a weekend
Badge preview
When this rule matches
When this rule does not match
Workflow
This rule includes workflow features that help your team act on flagged orders.
Good to know
- Guest checkouts are excluded because category purchase history is unavailable.
- The rule checks the customer's history in the exact category. If your store uses sub-categories (e.g., Road Bikes, Mountain Bikes under Bikes), ensure the parent category is used for matching.
- A customer who has bought from the category once before (count=1) will not be flagged, even if they are buying a very different product type within that category.
Frequently asked questions
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Why does this rule only check Bikes, Skis, and Golf Clubs and not all equipment?These three categories are the most size-critical in a typical sports store. A wrong bike frame size, ski length, or club shaft flex leads to a poor experience and near-certain return. Edit the rule text to add more categories if needed.
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What if a customer bought accessories from the Bikes category but never an actual bike?The rule checks category purchase count, not product type within the category. If accessories are categorised under Bikes, the customer would show a non-zero count and would not be flagged. Separate accessories into their own category to avoid this.
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Can I add an SLA to this rule so fitting outreach happens before dispatch?Yes. Edit the rule to add an SLA (e.g., 240 minutes) so the order stays in the inbox until your team confirms the customer has been contacted about sizing.
Related rules
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