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Include vs. Exclude Rules

Understand how include and exclude target rules interact to build the final eligible product list.

Every target rule in Ezhance is either an include rule or an exclude rule. Include rules define what can receive the promotion; exclude rules remove specific products from that eligible set.

The Core Principle: Exclusions Always Win

If a product matches both an include rule and an exclude rule, the exclusion takes priority. That product will never receive the promotion, regardless of how many include rules it also matches.

How Rules Are Evaluated

  1. Process include rules — Build an initial list of eligible products from all include rules. Multiple include rules are additive: a product qualifies if it matches any include rule.
  2. Process exclude rules — Remove any products that match an exclude rule. A product removed here cannot be added back.
  3. Final target list — Products that survived both passes are eligible for the promotion.
  4. Eligibility rules — Customer/cart conditions are then evaluated separately.

Example: Category Sale with Exceptions

  • Include: Category = Hoodies
  • Exclude: Product = Premium Hoodie
  • Result: All hoodie products receive the promotion except the Premium Hoodie

Example: Multi-Category with Tag Exclusion

  • Include: Category = Hoodies
  • Include: Category = Jackets
  • Exclude: Tag = New Arrival
  • Result: All hoodies and jackets receive the promotion, except those tagged as New Arrival

Multiple Include Rules

When you add multiple include rules, they work additively. A product qualifies if it matches any include rule:

  • Include: Category = Hoodies → Includes all hoodies
  • Include: Category = T-Shirts → Also includes all T-shirts
  • Result: Both hoodies and T-shirts are eligible

This is OR logic for include rules.

Common Use Cases for Exclusions

  • Protect high-margin items — Include a whole category but exclude your highest-margin products
  • Skip sale items — Use the Exclude Sale Items rule (Pro) to prevent double-discounting
  • Remove exceptions — Include a category but exclude specific products that shouldn't be discounted

Best Practices

  • Always test your target rules before activating. Check that the intended products are included and the excluded products are actually excluded.
  • Keep exclusions explicit — don't rely on vague assumptions about which products are on sale or in a category.
  • Use categories for large-scale inclusions and individual products for targeted exclusions.