In a typical awards setup, pricing is often based on category or volume. Some programs, however, require more advanced pricing structures. This example demonstrates how to configure different pricing rules for different categories, while still allowing entrants to submit entries in any order or combination.
Example pricing rules
Category A:
- First entry free, all subsequent entries $120
Category B:
- First two entries free
- Next two entries $150 each
- All remaining entries $125 each
Entrants can submit unlimited entries across one or both categories, and pricing will be applied correctly regardless of submission order.
Step one: create alternate prices
Because each category has its own pricing logic, you’ll need multiple alternate entry prices with category-specific variants.
For general setup instructions, see Payment configuration.
- In the Manage workspace, go to Settings > Payments > Prices
- Create the following entry prices
Price 1
- Type: Entry
- Variant for Category A: $0.00
- Variant for Category B: $0.00
- Default: $0.00
Price 2
- Type: Entry
- Variant for Category A: $120.00
- Variant for Category B: $0.00
- Default: $120.00
Price 3
- Type: Entry
- Variant for Category A: $120.00
- Variant for Category B: $150.00
- Default: $150.00
Price 4
- Type: Entry
- Variant for Category A: $120.00
- Variant for Category B: $150.00
- Default: $150.00
Price 5
- Type: Entry
- Variant for Category A: $120.00
- Variant for Category B: $125.00
- Default: $125.00
Step two: configure pricing rules
Next, apply the alternate prices using volume-based entry pricing.
- Open the Manage workspace and go to Settings > Payments > Pricing rules
- Toggle on Volume entry pricing
- Select Applies to entries in the same category
- Configure the following rules:
First 1 applications
- Type: Alternate entry price – Price 1
Next 1 applications
- Type: Alternate entry price – Price 2
Next 1 applications
- Type: Alternate entry price – Price 3
Next 1 applications
- Type: Alternate entry price – Price 4
Remaining applications
- Type: Alternate entry price – Price 5
Save your changes when finished.
Resulting behaviour
With this configuration in place:
-
Category A
- First entry is always free
- All additional entries cost $120
-
Category B
- First two entries are free
- Next two entries cost $150 each
- All additional entries cost $125
Pricing is applied correctly regardless of submission order or category combination.
Good to know
- Alternate prices can be reused across multiple pricing rules.
- This pattern scales to additional categories by adding more price variants.
- Volume pricing is calculated per category when Applies to entries in the same category is selected.
- Entrants do not need to submit entries in a specific order for pricing to apply correctly.