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Check three discount options against a margin floor
Practice: Catching mistakes and made-up facts. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
A prospect wants a discount on 12-month seats listed at $100/month. Your cost is $56 per seat per month and deal desk's margin floor is 30%. For each option, work out the effective monthly price, then margin = (price − $56) ÷ price. Write exactly 3 numbered lines showing that math with OK or BELOW, then one unnumbered last line: Offer: [lowest-price option that's OK]. Plain text, under 90 words.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Taking the rep's word. The AI agrees that B is 'just 10% off' and misses the free months. Try: Add: "Spread free months over 12 to get the effective price."
- Not giving your cost and floor. The AI can't judge margin without them. Try: Add: "Cost is $56; margin floor is 30%."
- Not asking to see the work. Deal desk will check your math. Try: Add a line to copy: "1. A: $80, (80 − 56) ÷ 80 = 30% OK"
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 20 words."
- Forgetting where it goes. AI loves markdown tables and bold, which show up as clutter in a deal desk request. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, headings or tables."
What a strong prompt includes
- Gives cost and floor
- Handles the free months
- Asks to show the math
- Sets a word limit
- Asks for plain text
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