/General Questions
Question
Should I use constant discounts (like 50% OFF) or just a normal price?
Posted by •11/19/2025
Beginner question about pricing psychology…
I see sooo many dropshipping stores doing:
- “50% OFF TODAY”
- “WAS $79.99 NOW $39.99”
- “ONLY 3 LEFT AT THIS PRICE”
Part of me feels like:
- Everyone knows this is fake
- It makes the store look cheap / scammy
But I also see people say that these offers convert better because:
- People like feeling they’re getting a deal
- It creates urgency
My situation:
- Product price right now: $39.99 (no crossed-out price)
- Niche: home & kitchen
- New store, still trying to get first consistent sales
Questions:
1. Is it better to show a “discounted” price (e.g. $79.99 crossed out, $39.99 active), or just keep it simple with $39.99?
2. Does having permanent “50% OFF” everywhere hurt trust long term?
3. Any simple pricing/offer structure that works well for beginners without looking super scammy?
I see sooo many dropshipping stores doing:
- “50% OFF TODAY”
- “WAS $79.99 NOW $39.99”
- “ONLY 3 LEFT AT THIS PRICE”
Part of me feels like:
- Everyone knows this is fake
- It makes the store look cheap / scammy
But I also see people say that these offers convert better because:
- People like feeling they’re getting a deal
- It creates urgency
My situation:
- Product price right now: $39.99 (no crossed-out price)
- Niche: home & kitchen
- New store, still trying to get first consistent sales
Questions:
1. Is it better to show a “discounted” price (e.g. $79.99 crossed out, $39.99 active), or just keep it simple with $39.99?
2. Does having permanent “50% OFF” everywhere hurt trust long term?
3. Any simple pricing/offer structure that works well for beginners without looking super scammy?
2 Replies
•11/19/2025
I switched from “ALWAYS 50% OFF” to:
- Normal price + “New customer 10% off at checkout”
- Occasional weekend promos (“extra 15% off kitchen bundles”)
Trust went up (more people used the contact form and FAQ) and my conversion rate didn’t drop. If anything, AOV went up because of bundle offers.
- Normal price + “New customer 10% off at checkout”
- Occasional weekend promos (“extra 15% off kitchen bundles”)
Trust went up (more people used the contact form and FAQ) and my conversion rate didn’t drop. If anything, AOV went up because of bundle offers.
•11/19/2025
You’re right to be skeptical. Constant “50% OFF” everywhere is one of the reasons people don’t trust Shopify-looking stores anymore.
Here’s a simple approach that works better:
1. **Pick a believable base price**
- If your margin allows it, set a “compare at” that isn’t insane.
- Example: “$59.99 → $39.99” feels way more real than “$129.99 → $39.99”.
2. **Use discounts as campaigns, not default**
- Launch with a “New store launch – 30% OFF this week” promo.
- After that, either:
- Keep a smaller permanent discount (e.g. $49.99 → $39.99)
- Or run discounts during specific events (weekends, holidays, etc.)
3. **Make the OFFER, not just price, attractive**
- Bundle = “Buy 2, get 10% OFF”
- Bonus = “Free recipe ebook with every order”
- Risk reversal = “30-day money-back guarantee”
People don’t just buy because of “50% OFF”. They buy because:
- It solves their problem
- It feels like a fair deal
- They trust you not to disappear
So: yes, use discounts, but keep them believable and tied to a story (launch, seasonal, limited stock).
Here’s a simple approach that works better:
1. **Pick a believable base price**
- If your margin allows it, set a “compare at” that isn’t insane.
- Example: “$59.99 → $39.99” feels way more real than “$129.99 → $39.99”.
2. **Use discounts as campaigns, not default**
- Launch with a “New store launch – 30% OFF this week” promo.
- After that, either:
- Keep a smaller permanent discount (e.g. $49.99 → $39.99)
- Or run discounts during specific events (weekends, holidays, etc.)
3. **Make the OFFER, not just price, attractive**
- Bundle = “Buy 2, get 10% OFF”
- Bonus = “Free recipe ebook with every order”
- Risk reversal = “30-day money-back guarantee”
People don’t just buy because of “50% OFF”. They buy because:
- It solves their problem
- It feels like a fair deal
- They trust you not to disappear
So: yes, use discounts, but keep them believable and tied to a story (launch, seasonal, limited stock).