Dynamic Pricing
Dynamic Pricing#
Adjust ticket prices automatically based on timing, quantity, or customer role. Create early bird discounts, last-minute deals, bulk pricing, and member rates.
Pricing types#
Early bird pricing#
Lower prices for early purchases, encouraging advance registration.
How it works:
- Set a start and end date for the early bird period
- Define the discounted price
- Price returns to normal after the period ends
Example:
- Regular price: $100
- Early bird price: $75
- Early bird ends: 30 days before event
Last minute pricing#
Price changes as the event approaches. Can be a discount to fill remaining spots or a premium for late registrations.
How it works:
- Set how many days before the event
- Define the adjusted price
- Price changes automatically at that point
Examples:
- Last minute discount: $80 (normally $100) starting 3 days before
- Late registration fee: $120 (normally $100) in final week
Quantity discounts#
Discounts for buying multiple tickets. Encourages group attendance.
How it works:
- Set quantity thresholds
- Define discounts at each level
- Discount applies to entire order or per-ticket
Examples:
- Buy 5+: 10% off
- Buy 10+: 20% off
- Buy 20+: 30% off
Role-based pricing#
Different prices for different user roles. Useful for member pricing.
How it works:
- Select a WordPress user role
- Set the price for that role
- Logged-in users see their role’s price
Examples:
- Members: $50
- Non-members: $100
- Students: $25
Setting up pricing rules#
Access pricing settings#
- Edit a ticket product
- Go to the Event Ticket tab
- Find Dynamic Pricing section
Adding rules#
- Click Add Pricing Rule
- Select the rule type
- Configure the parameters
- Set the price or discount
- Save the product
Rule priority#
When multiple rules could apply:
- Quantity discounts calculate first
- Time-based rules (early bird, last minute) apply next
- Role-based pricing applies last
- Customer gets the best applicable price
Early bird configuration#
Basic setup#
- Check Enable Early Bird Pricing
- Set Early Bird Price (the discounted price)
- Set Early Bird End Date (when regular pricing resumes)
- Optionally set Early Bird Start Date
Display#
On the product page:
- Shows early bird price
- Indicates “Early bird ends in X days”
- Countdown to deadline
- Regular price crossed out
After early bird ends#
- Price returns to regular automatically
- “Early bird pricing ended” message
- No manual intervention needed
Last minute configuration#
Basic setup#
- Check Enable Last Minute Pricing
- Set Days Before Event (when pricing changes)
- Set Last Minute Price
Discount or premium#
- Set price lower than regular for a discount
- Set price higher than regular for a premium
Display#
When active:
- Shows last minute price
- Indicates urgency (“Only X days left”)
Quantity discounts#
Basic setup#
- Check Enable Quantity Discounts
- Click Add Tier
- Set Minimum Quantity
- Set Discount (percentage or fixed amount)
- Add more tiers as needed
Tier examples#
| Quantity | Discount |
|---|---|
| 5+ | 10% |
| 10+ | 15% |
| 25+ | 25% |
Per-ticket vs per-order#
Per-Ticket: Discount applies to each ticket
- Buy 5 at $90 each (10% off $100)
Per-Order: Fixed discount on order total
- Buy 5 at $100, get $50 off total
Display#
In cart:
- Shows quantity discount applied
- Breakdown of original vs discounted price
- Savings amount
Role-based pricing#
Basic setup#
- Check Enable Role-Based Pricing
- Click Add Role Price
- Select the user role
- Set the price for that role
- Add more roles as needed
Available roles#
- Subscriber
- Customer
- Member (if using membership plugin)
- Any custom role
Guest pricing#
Guests (not logged in) pay the regular product price. Consider showing “Log in for member pricing” message.
Display#
For logged-in users:
- Shows their role’s price
- “Member price” or similar label
- Regular price crossed out
Combining rules#
Rules can work together:
Example: Early bird + quantity + role
- Regular price: $100
- Early bird: $80
- Member price: $70
- Buy 10+: 15% off
A member buying 10 tickets during early bird:
- Base: $70 (member price, best role-based)
- Early bird not applicable (member price is lower)
- Quantity: 15% off $70 = $59.50 each
- Total: $595
WooCommerce coupons#
Dynamic pricing works alongside WooCommerce coupons:
- Dynamic pricing calculates first
- Coupon applies to discounted price
- Customer gets combined savings
Example:
- Dynamic price: $80
- Coupon: 10% off
- Final price: $72
Display options#
Price messaging#
Show pricing information on event pages:
- “Early bird pricing available”
- “Member discount: Save $30”
- “Buy more, save more”
Configure in Events > Settings > Display.
Urgency indicators#
Create urgency with:
- Countdown to early bird deadline
- Days until price increase
- “Only X spots at this price”
Best practices#
Plan pricing strategy#
- Set clear pricing tiers before launch
- Document pricing logic for your team
- Test all scenarios before going live
Communicate clearly#
- Explain pricing on event page
- Show savings amount
- Make deadlines clear
Monitor performance#
- Track which discounts convert best
- Adjust pricing based on demand
- Review pricing after each event
Avoid confusion#
- Do not create too many rules
- Keep rules logical and predictable
- Test customer experience
Troubleshooting#
Wrong price showing#
- Check rule dates and conditions
- Verify customer role if role-based
- Clear any caching plugins
- Test in incognito mode
Discounts not applying#
- Confirm rules are enabled
- Check quantity thresholds
- Verify date ranges
- Test with correct user role
Price calculation issues#
- Rules process in priority order
- Customer gets best applicable price
- Coupons apply after dynamic pricing