Packaging Tiers & Pricing Models

DRBU supports 2 or 3 packaging tiers and 4 pricing models for WooCommerce quantity discounts and volume discounts. This guide explains exactly how each model calculates the pack total.

Number of Packaging Tiers

In WooCommerce → Discount Rules Box → Tiers & Pricing you choose between 2 Tiers (1, 2 pieces) and 3 Tiers (1, 2, 3 pieces). Only the active tiers are rendered in the admin and on the frontend.

The 4 Pricing Models

All examples below use a base price of $18.00 per piece, a 2-piece tier and a 3-piece tier.

Model A — Discount on Additional Items

The discount applies only to the additional 2nd and 3rd items in the pack. The first item always costs the full price.

Tier	Calculation	Total	Per unit
1 piece	$18.00 (full price)	$18.00	$18.00
2 pieces (2nd item −40%)	$18.00 + $18.00 × (1 − 0.40)	$28.80	$14.40
3 pieces (3rd item −25%)	$28.80 + $18.00 × (1 − 0.25)	$42.30	$14.10

For quantities above 3, the 3rd-tier discount keeps applying to every additional item.

Model B — Discount on Entire Quantity

The discount applies across all items in the bundle. Set one discount per tier — the total is the base price × quantity, minus that discount.

Tier	Calculation	Total	Per unit
1 piece	$18.00 × 1	$18.00	$18.00
2 pieces (40% off all)	$18.00 × 2 × (1 − 0.40)	$21.60	$10.80
3 pieces (45% off all)	$18.00 × 3 × (1 − 0.45)	$29.70	$9.90

Model C — Fixed Total Bundle Price

You set an exact fixed total price for the entire pack. Perfect for round pricing (e.g. $28.00 instead of $28.80) and psychological price endings.

Tier	Fixed total set by you	Per unit
1 piece	$18.00	$18.00
2 pieces	$28.00	$14.00
3 pieces	$39.00	$13.00

Model D — Fixed Price Per Unit

You set an exact fixed price per single item for each tier. The pack total is the unit price × quantity.

Tier	Fixed price per unit	Total
1 piece	$18.00	$18.00
2 pieces	$14.40	$28.80
3 pieces	$12.60	$37.80

Discount Unit

For Models A and B the discount can be entered as a percentage (%) or a fixed amount ($). For Models C and D you enter explicit prices instead.

Settings Reference

All pricing configuration is stored in the drbu_settings option and edited in WooCommerce → Discount Rules Box → Tiers & Pricing:

Option	Default	What it controls
`drbu_pricing_model`	`model_a`	Which of the 4 models calculates the pack total (model_a / model_b / model_c / model_d).
`drbu_discount_type`	`percentage`	Discount unit for Models A & B: `percentage` or `fixed`.
`drbu_tier_count`	3 (Pro) / 2 (Free)	Number of packaging tiers rendered (2 or 3).
`drbu_tiers`	1/2/3 pcs	Per-tier quantity, title/label and discount value (or fixed price for Models C & D).
`drbu_best_value_index`	2	Tier that carries the "Best Value" badge (clamped to the active tier count).
`drbu_currency_display`	`default`	`default` (WooCommerce formatting) or `hide_zeros` (whole amounts without decimals).

💡 All math runs in DRBU_Pricing_Engine::tier_total(), so the price shown in the buy box, in the cart and in analytics always comes from the same function — the displayed pack total can never diverge from the charged total.

Which Model Should I Use?

Model A — classic upsell

Best default for D2C stores. Buyers see a clear "2nd item −40%" and perceive the 2-pack as the best value — the classic decoy-pricing pattern that lifts AOV.

Model B — aggressive volume

Best for wholesale-style stores and high-margin products where a deep all-quantity discount still keeps you profitable.

Model C — exact pricing

Best when you need round totals for fiscal cash register compliance or psychological price endings like $28.00 / $39.00.

Model D — per-unit clarity

Best when the unit price itself is the selling point (supplements, cosmetics) and you want each tier's unit price fixed.

Model	Perceived value	Best for	Watch out
A — incremental item discount	Strong — "2nd item −40%" is easy to understand	Most D2C stores; classic decoy-pricing AOV lift	First item always full price, so deep discounts on later items are needed
B — full quantity discount	Very strong — "40% off the whole pack"	Wholesale-style stores, high-margin consumables	Aggressive total discount; check your margins at every tier
C — fixed bundle price	Precise — exact totals like $28.00	Fiscal cash-register compliance, psychological price endings	Manual per-pack pricing; update every tier when the base price changes
D — fixed price per unit	Clear — $14.40 / unit speaks for itself	Supplements, cosmetics and per-unit comparisons	Unit price must stay above cost at the largest pack

💡 Price rounding is harmonized so unit price × quantity always matches the pack total down to the last cent.