Volume discounts allow buyers to purchase goods at a discounted rate. These savings are often passed on to consumers. For example, Wal-Mart is able to purchase such large quantities of each particular good that it routinely receives volume discounts from its vendors. Wal-Mart's customers, in turn, are able to purchase these goods for less money than if they went to a store that did not buy in such great volume. Volume discounts are often tiered; that is, a specific discount is applied to X number of units. The discount increases as the number of units is increased.