First-Order Discounts: Setting Them, and Reading Them

A discount for new customers is the oldest promotion there is. Whether you offer one or accept one, the terms decide who benefits.

If you are the maker

A first-order offer costs you margin in exchange for a customer you hope returns. Set it so that you still cover materials and time.

Terms to state clearly

• Minimum order.
• What is excluded, such as commissions.
• Expiry.
• One per customer.

If you are the buyer

Look for the same four lines. A generous percentage with a high minimum may be worth less than a small one with none.

Matched and timed offers

Some promotions match what you put in, up to a ceiling, and depend on when you claim. A beginner's guide that works through exactly those two questions, in Traditional Chinese and from the gaming world, is this explanation of first-deposit matching: how much to put in and when to apply (首儲加碼新手指南). The arithmetic of "how much, and when" applies to any matched offer.

Keep it honest

Never raise a price in order to discount it. Customers notice, and the trust you lose costs more than the sale.

Reviewed 2026-10-14