SMARTER SHOPPING
50% off plus another 20%: that is not a 70% discount
Two consecutive discounts can sound enormous. The key is the amount to which the second discount applies.
Utilia Work · 3 min read
The headline percentage is not the final saving
The mistake is treating the second percentage as if it applied to the original price. Think in two steps: change the price first, then calculate the next reduction on that new amount. If an advertisement does not explain the base, check the basket total before paying.
| Scenario | Result |
|---|---|
| €100 with 50% + 20% off | €40 final · 60% off |
| €100 with 30% + 10% off | €63 final · 37% off |
| €100 with 20% + 20% off | €64 final · 36% off |
Start with a €100 product
First, 50% off reduces the price to €50. An additional 20% off that €50 removes another €10. You pay €40, so the total reduction is €60, or 60%. Paying €30 would require a total 70% reduction from the original price.
The formula that prevents the mistake
Final price = original price × (1 − first discount / 100) × (1 − second discount / 100). In this example: 100 × 0.50 × 0.80 = 40. Find the effective discount by subtracting the percentage of the original price still paid from 100.
What if the order changes?
For two successive percentage discounts without limits or extra conditions, the order does not change the result: 20% and then 50% also leaves €40. However, a fixed-value voucher, minimum spend, cap or rounding may change the calculation. Read the actual promotion terms.
Compare what you actually pay
Add delivery and mandatory charges. An item at €40 plus €7 delivery costs more than an equivalent item at €45 with delivery included. Compare final prices and what you need, rather than only the large percentage in the advertisement.
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