Fixed Amount Discount
2 min read
Fixed amount discounts subtract a specific dollar (or currency) amount from product prices. This discount type is available in the Free version of Smart Cycle Discounts and works well for simple promotions with consistent savings.
How Fixed Discounts Work #
When you set a fixed amount discount, the plugin subtracts the specified amount from each product’s original price.
Formula #
Discounted Price = Original Price - Fixed Discount Amount Example: $100 product with $15 fixed discount $100 - $15 = $85
Price Floor #
If the fixed discount exceeds the product price, the product becomes free ($0.00) rather than going negative.
Example: $10 product with $15 fixed discount $10 - $15 = $0.00 (not -$5)
Configuration Options #
Discount Amount (Required) #
Enter the fixed amount to subtract from each product price. The currency symbol is determined by your WooCommerce store settings.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Amount | The value to subtract (e.g., 10 for $10 off) |
| Currency | Automatically uses your WooCommerce store currency |
| Decimals | Supports decimal values (e.g., 9.99 for $9.99 off) |
Validation Rules #
- Must be a positive number greater than 0
- No maximum limit (but health warnings for very large amounts)
- Decimal precision follows your WooCommerce currency settings
Setting Up a Fixed Discount #
- Navigate to SC Discounts → Campaigns → Add New Campaign
- Complete Step 1 (Basic Information) and Step 2 (Products)
- On Step 3: Discount Configuration:
- Select “Fixed Amount Discount” as the discount type
- Enter your discount amount (e.g., 10 for $10 off)
- Configure optional badge settings
- Continue to scheduling and review
Badge Display #
Fixed amount discounts display promotional badges showing the savings:
Auto-Generated Badge Text #
- “$10 OFF” — Shows the fixed amount
- Currency symbol matches your store settings
Custom Badge Text #
Override automatic text with custom messages:
- “SAVE $10”
- “$10 INSTANT SAVINGS”
- “TAKE $10 OFF”
Price Display #
When a fixed discount is active:
$100.00$85.00 You save: $15.00
Display Elements #
- Original price — Strikethrough styling
- Discounted price — Current price after discount
- Savings — Fixed amount shown (always the same)
Fixed vs. Percentage: When to Use Each #
| Scenario | Better Choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Products with similar prices | Fixed Amount | Consistent savings messaging |
| Wide price range | Percentage | Proportional discount across range |
| “$X off” marketing | Fixed Amount | Clear, concrete savings |
| Profit margin protection | Percentage | Scales with product cost |
| Low-priced items | Percentage | Fixed amount may make items free |
| High-ticket items | Fixed Amount | Percentage could be too much |
Variable Products #
For variable products, the fixed discount applies equally to all variations:
| Variation | Original Price | $15 Fixed Discount |
|---|---|---|
| Small | $50.00 | $35.00 |
| Medium | $75.00 | $60.00 |
| Large | $100.00 | $85.00 |
Note: The effective percentage varies by variation price (30% off Small, 20% off Medium, 15% off Large).
Low-Priced Product Considerations #
Be careful when applying fixed discounts to products priced below your discount amount:
Example Problem #
Campaign: $20 off all products Product A: $50 → $30 (40% effective discount) ✓ Product B: $25 → $5 (80% effective discount) ⚠️ Product C: $15 → $0 (100% off - free!) ⚠️
Solutions #
- Filter products by price: Use product conditions to exclude items below a minimum price
- Use percentage instead: Percentage discounts maintain proportionality
- Create separate campaigns: Different fixed amounts for different price tiers
Health Score Impact #
The health system evaluates fixed discounts relative to product prices:
| Scenario | Health Impact | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Normal discount range | No penalty | — |
| Discount exceeds some product prices | Warning | “Some products will be free with this discount” |
| Very large discount amount | Warning | “Verify this discount amount is intentional” |
Common Use Cases #
| Use Case | Typical Amount | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level promotion | $5-10 | “$5 off your first purchase” |
| Standard sale | $10-25 | “Take $15 off any order” |
| Premium product discount | $50-100+ | “$100 off electronics” |
| Shipping offset | $5-15 | “$10 off to cover shipping” |
Tips for Effective Fixed Discounts #
- Use familiar amounts: $5, $10, $20, $50 are psychologically comfortable
- Consider your price points: Match the discount to your typical product prices
- Communicate clearly: “$10 OFF” is clearer than obscure percentages
- Watch for margin erosion: Fixed amounts hit low-priced items harder
- Combine with minimums: Consider spend threshold discounts (Pro) for better margin control
Currency Considerations #
Fixed amount discounts use your WooCommerce store currency:
- Single currency stores: Amount shown as configured
- Multi-currency plugins: The fixed amount is in your base currency; conversion plugins handle display
- Currency symbol placement: Follows WooCommerce formatting settings
