Which is better for a customer, 15% off or 50 off?
It depends on the basket. Below 333.33 the flat 50 saves more, above it 15% saves more, and at that point they are equal. The cross-over is the flat amount divided by the rate: 50 ÷ 0.15.
Compare the money saved, not the headline
A flat discount gives 50 whatever the price. A percentage grows with the price. So neither offer is always better; one is better for a given basket. The clearest method: work out what 15% saves on the price in front of you and compare it with 50.
Basket of 300: 15% saves 45, so the flat 50 wins.
Basket of 400: 15% saves 60, so the percentage wins.
Basket of 333.33: 15% saves about 50, so they are level.
Run the percentage side in the calculator
- Open the Discount calculator and type the basket value.
- Type 15 as the discount.
- Compare 'You save' with the flat amount on offer. The larger one wins for this basket.
The calculator does not handle the flat discount itself, since that is a simple subtraction. Its job is to give you the exact value of the percentage so you are comparing two amounts in the same currency.
The point where the answer flips
For any pair like this, divide the flat amount by the rate as a decimal. 50 ÷ 0.15 = 333.33. A flat 30 against 10% breaks even at 300. The number helps a shopper choose, and it helps a seller even more when designing the offer.
From the seller's side: which one should your store run?
- A flat discount is expensive on small orders. 50 off a 120 order gives away more than 40% of it.
- A percentage can cost a lot on big orders. 15% of a 1000 order is 150.
- Many stores attach a minimum spend to a flat discount to avoid the first problem. If you do, set the minimum near or above the cross-over.
- Either way, check the profit left at the discounted price in the Profit margin calculator.
Using the same numbers: a 1000 order at 15% off drops to 850, a saving of 150, three times the flat amount. If your average order is high, the flat discount is the cheaper one to run.
Common questions
Can I stack both in the calculator?
It accepts percentages only, up to six in sequence. To take a flat amount off after the percentage, subtract it by hand from the final price.
A customer holds two coupons and can use only one. Which should they pick?
Work out what the percentage saves on their basket and compare it with the flat amount. Above the cross-over, the percentage wins.