# Super Bonuses vs. Product Bonus Periods

Giveaway Gator gives you two ways to award extra entries for specific products. They look similar, but they behave very differently — and picking the wrong one is the most common cause of entry counts changing unexpectedly mid-promotion.

The short version:

- **Super Bonuses** are **permanent** and apply to **every promotion**. Use them for bonuses that should always be on.
- **Product Bonus Periods** are **time-limited** and live **inside a single promotion**. Use them for point-in-time bonuses (a weekend, a launch, a holiday).

## Quick Comparison

| | Super Bonuses | Product Bonus Periods |
|---|---|---|
| **Scope** | Shop-wide — all promotions | One promotion |
| **Timing** | Always on (no dates) | Active only between a start and end date |
| **Where you set it** | Product Bonuses page / Shopify product admin block | Inside a promotion → Product Bonuses |
| **Priority** | Medium | Highest (overrides Super Bonuses) |
| **Best for** | Permanent boosts on featured or high-margin products | Temporary boosts tied to an event or window |
| **Editing mid-promotion** | ⚠️ Recalculates entries already earned (see below) | Safe — eligibility is based on each order's date |

## Super Bonuses

Super Bonuses add a multiplier or flat bonus entries for a product, and they apply **across all of your promotions automatically**. You set them from the **Product Bonuses** page or from the **Giveaway Gator Super Bonuses** block on any Shopify product page. They have no start or end date — once set, they stay on until you change or clear them.

**Best for:** a product you always want to reward — a flagship item, a high-margin bundle, a VIP product — regardless of which promotion is running.

> ⚠️ **Super Bonuses are meant to stay constant.** Because they apply everywhere and have no dates, changing a Super Bonus while a promotion is running will **recalculate the entries customers already earned** with that product the next time the promotion resyncs. A customer who earned 3x last week could see their past entries shift if you change the Super Bonus to 5x today. If you need a bonus that only applies for a limited time, use a **Product Bonus Period** instead.

## Product Bonus Periods

Product Bonus Periods give extra entries for specific products **during a set time window, within a single promotion**. They have their own start and end dates and only apply while active. They sit at the **top of the [entry calculation hierarchy](entry-math.md)** — while a Product Bonus Period is active for a product, it overrides that product's Super Bonus and the promotion's default multiplier.

**Best for:** special events, holidays, product launches, or any "this product earns more *this weekend only*" promotion.

Because eligibility is based on **when each order was placed**, Product Bonus Periods are safe to add and adjust mid-promotion. A resync re-checks every order against the period's dates: orders inside the window keep the bonus, orders outside it don't. Past results stay correct.

### Setting up a Product Bonus Period

1. Open **Giveaway Gator** and go to **Promotions**.
2. Click **Manage** on the promotion you want.
3. Go to the **Product Bonuses** section for that promotion.
4. Click **Add Product Bonus Period**.
5. Fill in the form:
   - **Period Name** — something descriptive (e.g., "Black Friday — Hoodies 5X").
   - **Start Date & End Date** — the window the bonus is active. Dates use the promotion's timezone.
   - **Multiplier** — how many times to multiply entries for the selected products (whole number, 1 or more).
   - **Products** — the products this period applies to.
6. Click **Add**.

## Which Should I Use?

Ask one question: **should this bonus ever turn off on its own?**

- **No, it's always on** → Super Bonus.
- **Yes, it's tied to a date range or event** → Product Bonus Period.

A common mistake is using Super Bonuses as if they were time-limited — turning them on for a sale, then changing or clearing them when the sale ends. Because Super Bonuses are permanent and global, editing them this way recalculates entries customers already earned. For anything date-driven, reach for a Product Bonus Period.

## Related

- [How Entry Math Works](entry-math.md) — the full bonus priority hierarchy
- [Product Bonuses Block](product-bonuses-admin.md) — setting Super Bonuses from a Shopify product page
- [Bonus Periods](bonus-periods.md) — time-limited multipliers that apply to the *whole* promotion, not specific products