Decoding BigCommerce Sale Prices: Understanding 'Was' and 'Now' Displays

Decoding BigCommerce Sale Prices: Understanding 'Was' and 'Now' Displays

One of the most common questions for BigCommerce merchants running promotions is how the "Was" and "Now" prices are displayed on product pages. This seemingly straightforward feature can sometimes be a source of confusion, as its behavior is deeply intertwined with specific product settings and, crucially, your store's active theme. Understanding this relationship is key to accurately showcasing your sales and ensuring your customers see the correct pricing.

The Core Pricing Fields in BigCommerce

At the heart of BigCommerce's pricing mechanism are three primary fields found within each product's settings. To access these, navigate to Products → View, select the desired product, and then open the Pricing section.

• Price: This is your standard, regular selling price for the product. In many scenarios, if a sale price is active, this field will serve as the "Was" price.
• Retail Price (MSRP): Often used for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, this field can also be configured by certain themes to act as the "Was" price, displaying the original recommended price against your current selling price.
• Sale Price: When populated, this field typically overrides the standard "Price" and becomes the "Now" price, indicating the current discounted cost.

The interplay between these fields determines what your customers see. For instance, if you have both a Price and a Sale Price entered, your theme will generally display the Price as "Was" and the Sale Price as "Now." However, if only a Retail Price (MSRP) and a Price are present, some themes might use the Retail Price (MSRP) as "Was" and the Price as "Now."

The Critical Role of Your BigCommerce Theme

While the product pricing fields provide the data, it's your BigCommerce theme that dictates how this data is presented to the customer. The exact logic for which field is designated as "Was" and which as "Now" can vary significantly between themes, and even between different versions of the same theme (e.g., Cornerstone, Supermarket, Fortune, etc.).

Premium themes, in particular, often come with advanced customization options that allow merchants to control pricing displays directly. You might find these settings under Storefront → My Themes → Customize → Theme Settings, often within sections like "Product Cards" or "Pricing." These settings empower you to fine-tune how discounts and original prices are communicated.

How to Verify and Troubleshoot Your Pricing Display

If you're unsure how your specific BigCommerce store is handling "Was" and "Now" pricing, here are actionable steps you can take:

1. Inspect Product Settings: For a product currently showing a sale price, go to its Pricing section. Note down the values in the Price, Retail Price (MSRP), and Sale Price fields.
2. Check Theme Customizer: Navigate to Storefront → My Themes → Customize. Explore the theme settings, looking for sections related to "Product Cards," "Pricing," or "Sale Badges." Your theme might offer explicit options for how these prices are displayed.
3. Cross-Reference with Known Products: If you have another product where you're certain about the "Was" and "Now" values, compare its pricing field configurations to the one you're troubleshooting. This can often reveal the pattern your theme follows.
4. Identify Your Theme: Knowing your theme name (e.g., Cornerstone, Supermarket) is incredibly helpful. With this information, you can consult your theme's documentation or reach out to BigCommerce support or a developer for precise guidance.

Ultimately, while BigCommerce provides the foundational fields for pricing, the visual representation of "Was" and "Now" prices is a collaborative effort between your entered data and your chosen theme's display logic. A clear understanding of these elements ensures your sales promotions are always presented accurately and effectively to your customers.