Price Bundling vs Volume Discounts: What Drives More Profit on Shopify?

Selling on Shopify isn’t just about listing good products anymore. Everyone’s doing that. What really makes a difference now is how you get people to notice, stick around, and actually buy. With so many stores popping up, it’s the strategy behind the scenes that gives you the edge.

Two tried-and-tested methods that often rise to the top are volume discounts and price bundling. Both aim to increase average order value (AOV) while giving customers more reason to buy but they work in different ways.

Not sure what brings in more sales discounts for buying more, or ready-made bundles that just make sense? You’re not alone.

This piece lays it all out. We’ll see how both strategies play out in real stores, where they work, where they might fall short, and how you can use them without relying on trial and error.

Key Takeaways:

• Need to move inventory or boost order size? Volume discounts are a simple way to encourage shoppers to buy more without overthinking it.
• Want to increase value without cutting deep into profits? Price bundling makes that possible and gives customers a smoother, more curated shopping experience.
• Don’t limit yourself to just one approach. There’s a whole world of product bundling formats: from pure bundles to build-your-own-box options. Try them. Mix them. See what sticks.
• One thing to watch out for: too many deals at once can confuse buyers. If your pricing strategies feel messy, they’ll bounce.
• Use your data. Trust it. The best profit optimization isn’t guesswork.
• Tools like BundleSuite let you build, test, and refine your volume discounts and bundled offers with zero coding.

Understanding Volume Discounts and Price Bundling

Before we dive deep, let’s get the basics right.

1.Volume Discounts:

When shoppers buy more, it often makes sense to give them a little something in return. That’s what volume discounts are all about. You might offer “Buy 2, save 10%” or toss in a free item when someone grabs 5. It works especially well for fast-moving, repeat-use items like snacks or skincare.

Bulk discounts, a subset of volume discounts, target shoppers placing large orders, often for resale or heavy use.

Pet supplies store hits different when they offer “Buy 50 packs of dog treats, get 30% off.” Suddenly you’re not just selling to pet parents — you’ve got groomers, kennels, and small resellers loading up their carts.

That’s how you turn occasional buyers into wholesale customers without setting up a separate B2B channel.

2. Price Bundling:

Price bundling is when you group different products together and sell them for less than buying each piece individually. Instead of customers hunting around for separate items, they snag the complete package and walk away feeling like they beat the system.

It’s convenience meets savings — always a winning combo. Think “Shampoo + Conditioner Combo” or those 3-in-1 skincare sets that make morning routines foolproof.

It’s not rocket science — just smart psychology wrapped in convenient packaging. There are many forms of product bundling, and we’ll dive into those soon.

Both strategies help increase AOV on Shopify, but the way they influence buying behavior is very different.

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Benefits of Offering Volume Discounts

Volume discounts tap into a universal shopping instinct: getting more value for less.

How Volume Discounts Can Boost Your Shopify Sales

1. Drive Bigger Orders:

Perfect for stuff people burn through regularly — vitamins, coffee, cleaning supplies. Offer a better price for stocking up and watch those cart totals climb.

2. Clear Out Stock Faster:

Got inventory collecting dust? Volume deals move it without screaming “desperate clearance sale.” Customers think they’re getting a smart deal, you think you’re getting your cash flow back.

3. Lower Cart Abandonment:

Seeing a “Buy 3, Save 20%” message can help convert an indecisive shopper, especially with a time-sensitive offer.

4. Increase Repeat Purchases:

Bigger orders often signal trust. That kind of buyer is more likely to come back.

Strategies for Implementing Volume Discounts

1.  Display Savings Visibly on Product Pages:

Show the original price vs. discounted price dynamically as quantity increases—this makes the value proposition obvious and compelling.

2. Segment Discounts by Product Category:

Don’t blanket your whole store with volume deals. Target the stuff that makes sense — consumables that people stock up on, accessories that pair well, seasonal items you need to move. Keep your bestsellers at full price.

3. Enable Auto-Applied Discounts:

Get every potential impediment off. Reach the quantity threshold? Discount seems quickly. No coupon hunting, no “Did I remember the code?” panic at checkout. Simply flawless savings that feel automatic.

4. Combine Volume Discounts with Upsells:

 Stack the wins. Give them that volume discount satisfaction first, then slip in the perfect complement. “Add this for just ₹99 more” becomes a no-brainer when they’re already pocketing serious savings. Double the revenue, half the resistance.

5. Promote with Countdown Timers:

Time pressure works every single time. Add a countdown to your volume deals and suddenly everyone’s a decisive shopper. That ticking clock does more selling than any product description ever will.

Benefits of Price Bundling in Maximizing Profit Margins

While volume discounts push customers to buy more of the same thing, price bundling lets you creatively mix and match different products for a bigger sale.

Why Price Bundling Works

1. Introduce New Products:

Bundle your hero product with a lesser-known one to increase exposure.

2. Cross-Sell With Purpose:

A good example: bundle your top moisturizer with a cleanser and toner. Now it’s a full routine.

3. Enhance Perceived Value:

Bundled items that “save 30%” feel more rewarding than individual items at 50% off.

4. Reduce Decision Fatigue:

A bundle makes it easier to choose. No extra thinking is needed.

Strategies for Implementing Price Bundling Techniques Not all bundled offers work the same way. Here’s how to mix it up:

1. Pure Bundling:

These are meant to be a set only; picking and choosing is not permitted. Ideal for seasonal collections or limited-edition sets. Example: Exclusive perfume gift box with products you can’t find anywhere else.

2. Mixed Bundling:

Purchase individually or take the combo offer—customer choice. Example: $25 for Shampoo + Conditioner as opposed to $30 separately. Both possibilities exist.

3. Build Your Own Box:

Turn customers into curators. Give them a selection and let them build their perfect mix. Snacks, beauty products, accessories — whatever fits your catalog.

4. Combo Kits:

Ready-made sets built around specific needs or moments. Example: “Work From Home Essentials” — laptop stand, wireless mouse, blue light glasses, 20% off the lot.

Curious which strategy suits your store best? Try both with zero risk using BundleSuite’s free demo.

Successful Volume Discounts and Price Bundling Examples

1. Volume Discounts:

These strategies reward customers for buying more of the same or similar items by offering progressive savings.

A. Gym Supplements Store:

• Buy 1 for $49.99
• Buy 2 for $89.99
• Buy 4 for $159.99

The more you buy, the better the unit price.

B. Snack Company:

• Pick any 5 snacks for $25
• Individual snack price: $6 each
• Encourages higher volume purchases with clear per-item savings.

2. Price Bundling:

At its core, bundling is about taking products that make sense together and packaging them into one neat offer—usually at a price that feels like a win compared to buying each item on its own.

3. Skincare Brand Example:

On their own: Moisturizer ($20), Toner ($18), Cleanser ($22).

Bundle them up: the “Glow-Up Trio” for $49.

That’s $11 saved and, more importantly, a full routine without the endless “do I need this too?” back-and-forth.

4. Tech Accessories Example:

Picture this: a Laptop Essentials Kit with a sleeve, a stand, and a keyboard cover all rolled into one deal. Buying them separately costs more. Buying them together? About 20% less. It takes the guesswork out of shopping and answers the nagging question, “What do I actually need for my setup?”—all in a single click.

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Potential Challenges and Risks to Consider

1. Overdoing Discounts:

Discount everything and customers start expecting it. Your margins disappear and your brand starts feeling cheap. Pick your spots wisely.

2. Inventory Complexity:

Simple stock monitoring becomes a headache with bundles. Your system has to manage the mayhem or you will be pledging things you lack.

3. Pricing Confusion:

To determine whether consumers are saving money, have them complete some math. They won’t. They will just go. Retain it quite clear.

4. Weak Bundle Value:

Anyone is not fooled by haphazardly packed items. Nobody is buying the story if there’s no genuine reason these items belong together.

Volume Discounts vs. Price Bundling: Profit Maximization Comparison

Final Thoughts

Still torn between bundling and volume deals? Don’t be.

Both work. It just depends on your products and your customers.

If your items go well together, price bundling offers a smooth way to boost cart value.

If your goal is bigger orders, volume discounts can get you there faster.

The best brands? They don’t choose one. They test both and lean into what works.

Start your free trial on BundleSuite and test your first bundle, no coding required.