Discount Rules and Markdown Cycles
You have two ways to adjust prices automatically: manual discount rules for one-time sales (like "50% off everything on day 3"), and markdown cycles for gradual price reductions over time. Together, they help you move inventory faster and adjust margins without manual repricing.
Discount rules: One-time sales and bulk price cuts
A discount rule applies a flat or percentage reduction to items matching specific criteria — tag, price range, category — at a specific time or condition.
When to use discount rules:
- **Day-2 or day-3 sale events:** "50% off all clothing after 2 PM on Saturday."
- **Last-day clearance:** "Buy 2, get 1 free" on remaining inventory.
- **Category sales:** "20% off furniture" for a weekend promotion.
- **Tier-based discounts:** "Everything under $10 is now $5" to move budget inventory.
**Set up a discount rule.**
- Go to **Settings** → **Discount Rules**.
- Click **New Rule**.
- Define the rule:
- **Name:** "Day 2 Half-Off" or "Furniture 20% Off" - **Criteria:** Which items? By tag, category, price range, or all items. - **Discount type:** Flat dollar amount or percentage off. - **When:** Immediate, or scheduled for a specific date and time. - **Duration:** Single day, 24-hour window, or ongoing until you manually stop it.
- Save and activate. The discount applies automatically at the scheduled time.
**Shoppers see the original price and the discounted price**, so they know they're getting a deal. You control how much visibility you give the discount (promote it on social, or let it surprise in-person shoppers).
Markdown cycles: Gradual price reductions
A markdown cycle automatically reduces prices step-by-step over the course of your sale. Each step lowers prices by a percentage you set, and the timing is automatic. Great for flea markets, consignment, and multi-day estate sales where items should trend downward.
When to use markdown cycles:
- **Estate sales (3–7 days):** Start normal, drop 20% on day 3, drop another 20% on day 5.
- **Flea markets (1–2 days):** Modest 10% drop at noon, another 10% at 3 PM.
- **Consignment shops:** New items at full price, 10% off after 30 days, 20% off after 60 days, 50% off after 90 days (or remove).
- **Seasonal clearance:** Gradual reductions throughout a season to make room for new stock.
**Set up a markdown cycle.**
- Go to **Settings** → **Markdown Cycles**.
- Click **New Cycle**.
- Define the schedule:
- **Name:** "3-Day Estate Sale" or "Consignment 30-60-90" - **Sale duration or frequency:** When does this cycle repeat? - **Steps:** Add each markdown step: - Step 1: Day 1, 0% off (full price) - Step 2: Day 3, 20% off - Step 3: Day 5, 40% off (or reset Step 2 off, not cumulative) - **Apply to:** All items, or only items with specific tags (e.g., consignment only).
- Save. The cycle starts automatically on your sale start date and ticks through each step at the scheduled times.
Pro tip: Markdown cycles are not cumulative by default. You set the discount for each step independently. If Step 1 is "20% off" and Step 2 is "30% off", Step 2 replaces Step 1, not stacks on it. Consult your settings to confirm how discounts combine.
Combining rules and cycles
You can run both simultaneously:
- Markdown cycle handles gradual hourly/daily reductions.
- Discount rule overrides or stacks for special events (e.g., "Everything 50% off on final day" overrides the cycle).
Decide your strategy upfront:
- **Simple:** Markdown cycle only. Prices reduce predictably.
- **Moderate:** Base markdown cycle + 1–2 special promotional rules.
- **Complex:** Multiple overlapping cycles for different item categories or consignment tiers.
Too many simultaneous rules confuse staff and shoppers. Start with one markdown cycle and add special rules only for high-impact promotions.
Common questions
If I set a markdown cycle, do I have to start it immediately?
No. You can create the cycle in advance and schedule it to start on a specific date. Set it up weeks before your sale, then activate it on sale day.
Can I pause or cancel a markdown cycle mid-sale?
Yes. Go to **Settings** → **Markdown Cycles**, find the active cycle, and click **Pause** or **Stop**. Prices revert to whatever they would be without the cycle.
What happens if a markdown cycle and a discount rule conflict?
Check your rules settings. Most systems show the lower of the two prices — whichever gives the shopper a better deal. But verify your specific setup to avoid surprises.
Can I apply different markdown cycles to different item categories?
Yes. When creating a cycle, specify which tags or categories it applies to. You might have a "Regular Markdown" cycle for most items and a separate "Consignment Fast-Clear" cycle for quick-turnover goods.
Do markdown cycles apply to online shoppers and in-person shoppers the same way?
Yes. The price is the price, whether someone buys in person or online. They see the same discounted amount.
Can I use a markdown cycle for multi-week or seasonal sales?
Yes, but set long intervals between steps. For a 30-day sale, you might have steps at day 1, day 15, and day 30. For a consignment shop cycling stock, steps can be 30 days apart.
What if I want to reverse a markdown (raise prices again)?
Discount rules and markdown cycles move prices down. If you want to raise prices, you'll need to edit individual items or create a new cycle with 0% off (full price) as a later step. Or stop the current cycle and let prices reset.
Ready to put this into practice? Your next sale starts here.