Table of Contents
- What the Two Triggers Actually Do
- Which Trigger Is Right for Your POD Store
- Step-by-Step: Setting Up the Checkout Started Trigger
- Step-by-Step: Setting Up the Added to Cart Trigger
- Flow Filters You Must Add
- Timing and Email Sequence
- Conditional Splits for POD Stores
- Common Trigger Mistakes to Avoid
- How PodVector AI Helps
- FAQs
What the Two Triggers Actually Do
The default Klaviyo abandoned cart flow is triggered by the Shopify Checkout Started event, whereas the Added to Cart abandoned cart flow targets more casual shoppers who have yet to start checkout.
These two triggers serve different audiences at different points in the buying journey. Checkout Started shoppers showed strong intent — they typed in their email. Added to Cart shoppers are earlier and less committed.
Most pre-built abandoned cart flows trigger based on the "Started Checkout" metric, which activates when a customer enters their information at checkout and moves to the next step. However, some eCommerce integrations track the "Added to Cart" metric, which triggers when an item is added to the cart but no order is placed.
Which Trigger Is Right for Your POD Store
For most stores, Started Checkout is the right choice. It reaches shoppers who are farthest down the funnel and have already identified themselves with an email address.
The Added to Cart flow catches shoppers early in their decision process, while the Started Checkout flow addresses high-intent users who encountered friction during payment or shipping selection.
For print-on-demand sellers, the best approach is to run both flows in sequence — use Checkout Started as your primary flow and Added to Cart as a softer, earlier touchpoint. Make sure they don't overlap by using the right filters (covered below).
Step-by-Step: Setting Up the Checkout Started Trigger
Follow these steps inside your Klaviyo account:
- In the Klaviyo dashboard, click on Flows in the left-hand navigation, then select Create Flow.
- You'll see a list of available templates. For abandoned cart flows, go to Browse by Goal and choose Prevent Lost Sales. Find and select the Abandoned Cart Reminder flow.
- Select Metric as the trigger, then choose Checkout Started.
- In Klaviyo, go to Profiles, find your test profile, and verify the "Started Checkout" event shows full cart data.
- Add your flow filters (see the next section), then activate.
Keep in mind that Klaviyo's default "Abandoned Cart" flow (triggered by "Started Checkout") won't send emails upon only adding items to the cart without proceeding to checkout.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up the Added to Cart Trigger
The Added to Cart trigger requires one extra setup step before the flow will work.
In order to enable this flow, you'll need to enable the Klaviyo app embed and check the integration setting Track behavioral events in order to track the Added to Cart event in Shopify.
To enable this flow, Klaviyo recommends using the pre-built flow available in its flow library. Find the Prevent lost sales section, or search for Abandoned Cart Reminder. Select an Abandoned Cart Reminder, Shopify Added to Cart Trigger flow.
After adding the tracking code, Klaviyo needs to "see" the "Added to Cart" event happen at least once. Add a product to your cart to trigger the Added to Cart event. Then verify the metric — go to Analytics > Metrics, and look for "Added to Cart." It might take 1–2 days for Klaviyo to fully recognize the metric after the code is added.
Once the metric appears, you can create a new flow using this metric as the trigger.
Flow Filters You Must Add
Filters are what keep your flow clean and stop you from emailing people who already bought.
Required filter for both flows:
Set the filter to: Person has Placed Order zero times since starting this flow. This filter prevents emails from going out to people who already completed their purchase after the trigger fired.
If you run both triggers at the same time:
If you are configuring an Added to Cart flow, add one more filter: AND Started Checkout zero times since starting this flow. This stops the same shopper from receiving both flows simultaneously.
Suppress repeat entries:
Set a flow-level filter to exclude customers who've entered the abandoned cart flow in the past 15, 30, or more days. This keeps your list healthy and avoids annoying recent abandoners.
Timing and Email Sequence
You must add time delays to your flow — how much time Klaviyo should wait to send a message. The first time delay determines how much time after the cart is abandoned Klaviyo should wait to send the first email.
A three-email structure works well for POD stores:
| Delay | Goal | |
|---|---|---|
| Email 1 | 1 hour after trigger | Friendly reminder, show cart items |
| Email 2 | 24 hours later | Address objections, highlight quality |
| Email 3 | 48 hours later | Urgency or a modest offer |
Keep it simple: show the abandoned items, use a clear "Complete Your Purchase" call to action, and skip the discount on the first email. Save any offer for the third touch only — discounting too early trains customers to abandon on purpose.
For deeper guidance on timing, see our companion guide: Klaviyo Abandoned Cart Flow Best Practices & Timing.
Conditional Splits for POD Stores
Conditional splits let you send different messages based on what the shopper did or what's in their cart.
Cart Value Split
The most impactful split to add is a cart value threshold. In Klaviyo, add a Conditional Split after your trigger and set the condition to: "$value is at least [your threshold]." Set your threshold based on your own store's average order value — high-value carts earn a more personal email and potentially a stronger offer.
New vs. Returning Customer Split
Use the condition Placed Order at least once, Overall time to separate customers from prospects. For customers, use reminders and product recommendations. For first-time visitors, lean heavier on social proof and your brand story.
Common Trigger Mistakes to Avoid
Using Added to Cart when Checkout Started is enough. This flow relies on Added to Cart events from identified shoppers — if those shoppers haven't shared their email yet, Klaviyo can't email them anyway. Checkout Started is almost always the higher-value starting point.
Not testing the trigger before going live. Before creating the flow, test Added to Cart tracking to confirm that events are syncing to Klaviyo. The same rule applies to Checkout Started — send yourself through a test checkout and confirm the event appears in your Profiles view.
Missing the "Placed Order" filter. Without it, customers who complete a purchase after entering the flow still receive abandoned cart emails — which damages trust fast.
Skipping the re-entry suppression filter. Customers who abandon often, or who browse around your store regularly, can re-trigger the flow over and over. The 15–30 day suppression filter stops that.
How PodVector AI Helps
Setting up the trigger is just step one. The harder question is whether the flow is actually driving profitable recovery — and that depends on which products are being abandoned and what your margins look like after fulfillment costs.
Victor, PodVector AI's senior AI employee, connects your Shopify store, Klaviyo account, and Printify or Printful costs so he can tell you exactly which abandoned products are worth chasing. He reads your true margin — what the customer paid, minus supplier cost, shipping, fees, and ad spend — before a single email goes out.
When Victor spots an abandoned cart flow that needs work, he proposes the exact Klaviyo change and runs it once you approve. He can turn a paused Klaviyo flow back on, create a new lifecycle or order-delay email flow, schedule a Klaviyo campaign, or turn off a flow that's hurting more than helping — all from one conversation.
Victor also sends a Weekly Health Report every Monday so you can see whether your recovery emails are translating into real profit, not just open rates.
Ready to connect your store and let Victor spot what your abandoned cart flow is actually costing you?
Connect your Shopify store, Klaviyo, and Printify or Printful — Victor reads your real numbers and tells you exactly what to fix and why.
Start free with PodVector AI →
This pairs naturally with the rest of your email and revenue strategy. If you're still building out your revenue channels, see How to Earn Extra Money and How to Get Paid on TikTok. For platform comparisons that affect where you sell, check out Beacons vs. Stan Store, Gumroad vs. Stan Store, and StoreEnvy. For supplier selection, see PrintAura.
Browse all strategy guides in the Print on Demand Strategy hub or return to the Print on Demand topic hub.
FAQs
What is the default Klaviyo abandoned cart flow trigger?
The default Klaviyo abandoned cart flow is triggered by the Shopify Checkout Started event, whereas the Added to Cart abandoned cart flow targets more casual shoppers who have yet to start checkout. Most stores only need the Checkout Started trigger to get started.
Does the Checkout Started trigger work without a Shopify integration?
The Checkout Started event is a native Shopify event that Klaviyo receives automatically once you connect the two platforms. Once Klaviyo is plugged into Shopify, the flow builder walks you through step by step — no heavy tech skills needed.
What is the difference between "Added to Cart" and "Started Checkout" in Klaviyo?
The Added to Cart flow catches shoppers early in their decision process, while the Started Checkout flow addresses high-intent users who encountered friction during payment or shipping selection. For POD stores, Checkout Started is typically higher-converting because you already have the shopper's email.
Can I run both triggers at the same time?
Yes — run Checkout Started as your primary flow and Added to Cart as a secondary flow. The key is adding an additional filter to the Added to Cart flow: AND Started Checkout zero times since starting this flow to prevent overlap.
Why do I need the "Placed Order zero times" filter?
The filter "Placed Order zero times since starting this flow" prevents emails from going out to people who already completed their purchase after the trigger fired. Without it, buyers receive abandoned cart emails after they've already paid — which frustrates customers and hurts your sender reputation.
How do I know if my Klaviyo flow trigger is set up correctly?
Before creating the flow, test tracking to confirm that events are syncing to Klaviyo. Go to Profiles in Klaviyo, find your test account, and check that the Checkout Started or Added to Cart event appears with full cart data attached.
How many emails should my abandoned cart flow send?
Three emails cover most POD stores well: a quick reminder at one hour, an objection-handling email at 24 hours, and a final urgency email at 72 hours. Keep it simple: show the abandoned items, use a clear "Complete Your Purchase" call to action, and skip the discount until the final touch.
Can PodVector AI set up or manage my Klaviyo abandoned cart flow?
Yes. Victor can turn a paused Klaviyo flow back on, create new Klaviyo email flows, schedule campaigns, and turn flows off — all with your approval before anything runs. He also reads your Shopify orders and Printify or Printful costs to tell you which abandoned products are actually worth recovering based on real margin, not just cart value.