Print pricing rarely scales in a straight line — costs tend to drop in steps as an order crosses certain quantity thresholds.
Why quantity changes the price so much
A large share of any print job's cost is fixed: plate-making (for offset), machine setup, and proofing don't change whether you order 100 units or 10,000. That fixed cost gets divided across the whole run, so the more units you order, the lower your effective cost per piece.
This is why print quotes are usually shown in quantity tiers — 500 / 1,000 / 2,500 / 5,000 — rather than as a flat per-unit rate. Ordering just above a tier boundary (say, 1,050 instead of 950) can sometimes cost less overall due to the price break.
If your business reorders the same item regularly, ask your printer whether they retain your print-ready file and colour profile — this usually qualifies you for a faster, cheaper reprint rate.