It's kind of hard to explain the discounts -- but once you get it all in your cart and are checking out -- there is a place where you can get more discounts. On the left hand side -- below where you choose your payment type and all that. There is a standard on-line discount - and you just put S in the box (that's the one I get - if I use one at all) and then there is one for bulk -- and some others for professionals or something. If my order doesn't qualify for free shipping - then I take the standard on-line discount for sure. If I just barely qualify for free shipping, then I leave it alone because shipping is usually more than the discount. Still -- their prices are very good - even without the additional discount.
As far as the dose -- since my hair is only thinning and falling out - and I don't actually have bald spots -- I am just going with the dose on the bottle. I will also try and up the amount in the foods I eat. If I don't notice any improvement in a couple months (she said it took 2), then I might try upping the amount for a while -- but I think it's expensive to do at that high of a dose. Specially with all the other "stuff" I have to do for IBS.