Why 20% can beat 50%

Why 20% can beat 50%

Does a bigger percentage always win? Not even close — and here's the math that proves it.

Think of two vending machines. One drops a big chocolate bar once. The other drops a small candy every single day. After a month, the small-but-daily machine gave you more.

1. Compare per-month dollars, not the headline %.
2. Multiply by how many months people stay.
3. The repeater usually wins over time.

Example: 50% one-time on a $40 product = $20, done. 20% recurring on a $40/mo product = $8/month — that overtakes $20 by month three and just keeps climbing.

In plain English: a small slice forever beats a big slice once, as long as customers stick around.

Try today: take any "50% off" offer and ask: is it one-time or recurring? That one question reframes everything.